This review covers Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, a compilation of seven classic fighting games, including X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Super Heroes, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, and the beat 'em up The Punisher. The collection boasts arcade-perfect versions of each title, featuring both English and Japanese language options.
The collection was tested across Steam Deck, PS5 (via backward compatibility), and Nintendo Switch, totaling over 30 hours of playtime. While lacking expertise in these games prior to this collection, the reviewer found Marvel vs. Capcom 2 particularly enjoyable, justifying the purchase price.
New features include online and local multiplayer, Switch-specific local wireless, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode with hitbox displays, customizable game options, a crucial white flash reduction setting, various display options, and several wallpaper choices. A novel one-button super move option caters to newcomers.
A substantial museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While the soundtrack is a welcome addition, the reviewer hopes for future vinyl or streaming releases.
Online multiplayer, utilizing rollback netcode, performs admirably, comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam but significantly improved over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Options include adjustable input delay, cross-region matchmaking, casual and ranked matches, and leaderboards. The persistent cursor memory during online rematches is a thoughtful touch.
However, the collection suffers from a single universal quick save slot, a drawback inherited from Capcom Fighting Collection. Additionally, the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction across all games is inconvenient.
Steam Deck compatibility is excellent, running smoothly at 720p handheld and supporting 4K docked. Switch performance is acceptable but hampered by noticeable load times. The PS5 version, while via backward compatibility, performs well, though native support would have enabled PS5 Activity Card integration.
Overall, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a high-quality compilation, praised for its extras and online functionality. The single save state remains the primary shortcoming.
Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5
