Marvel vs Capcom Arcade Classics Reviewed on Switch, Steam Deck, PS5

For avid fans of Capcom's fighting games, the announcement of the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics was nothing short of a dream come true, especially considering the rocky reception of the last entry in the series. As someone who's only experienced Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Marvel vs Capcom Infinite, I've always been curious about the earlier titles, drawn by the glowing reviews from both competitive and casual players alike. And let's not forget the iconic Marvel vs Capcom 2 soundtrack, which I've been eager to hear in its official glory. Fast forward to today, and the collection is now available on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation, with an Xbox release scheduled for 2025.

Games Included in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

The Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is packed with seven games: 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 PUNISHER, a beat 'em up rather than a fighting game. These titles are based on their arcade versions, ensuring you get the full experience without missing any features, unlike some older console ports. Both English and Japanese versions are included, so fans can enjoy Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter by selecting the Japanese version.

Having spent about 15 hours with the collection on the Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED), 13 hours on the PS5 (via backward compatibility), and 4 hours on the Nintendo Switch, I can confidently say that the enjoyment I've derived from Marvel vs Capcom 2 alone has more than justified the purchase price. The experience has been so fulfilling that I'm tempted to buy the physical console releases just to own a tangible piece of this collection.

New Features in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

If you're familiar with the Capcom Fighting Collection, the interface and front-end of this new collection will feel like home. However, it's not without its inherited issues, which I'll address later. Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics boasts both online and local multiplayer support, local wireless on the Switch, rollback netcode for smoother online play, a training mode, customizable game options, an essential feature to reduce white flashes or light flickering per game, various display options, and a selection of wallpapers.

For those new to the series, the included training mode is a godsend, offering hitboxes, displayed inputs, and other useful tools. Additionally, a new one-button super option can be toggled on or off during online matches, making it easier for newcomers to jump into the action.

Museum and Gallery in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

The collection also features a comprehensive museum and gallery, housing over 200 game soundtracks and more than 500 pieces of artwork. Playing online with a friend who's also reviewing the collection, he pointed out that much of the artwork here has never been publicly available before. As a first-time player, everything was new to me, but this is a significant highlight for long-time fans. However, it's worth noting that sketches and design documents lack translations for Japanese text.

As for the music, having an official way to listen to these soundtracks in 2024 is fantastic, and I'm hoping this is a precursor to vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer Experience with Rollback Netcode in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

Before diving into the online experience, it's worth mentioning the options menu's network settings. On PC, you can adjust microphone settings, voice chat volume, input delay, and connection strength. On the Switch, only input delay can be adjusted, while the PS4 version allows tweaks to input delay and connection strength but lacks voice chat options, likely relying on native PS5 and PS4 voice chat instead. The absence of a connection strength option on the Switch version is disappointing.

Pre-release testing on Steam Deck, both wired and wirelessly, with another player on Steam, showed that the online experience in Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection and closely mirrors the Capcom Fighting Collection. We tested most games and even did some co-op in The Punisher, and it worked seamlessly despite the distance between us.

The collection supports matchmaking for casual and ranked matches, as well as leaderboards with a High Score Challenge mode. A thoughtful feature is how the cursors remain in the correct position when rematching online, allowing you to quickly select your previous team in games like Marvel vs Capcom 2, adding to the overall polished feel of the collection.

Issues with Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

My primary grievance with the collection is the single save state (quick save) for the entire set of games. Unlike having one save state per game, this applies to the entire collection, a recurring issue from the Capcom Fighting Collection. Additionally, the lack of universal settings or an easy way to apply light reduction or visual filters across all games at once is a minor annoyance. While options per game are great, a global toggle would have been more convenient.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on Steam Deck – Already Verified

My initial experience with the collection was on the Steam Deck, and it ran flawlessly right out of the box, as expected from a Steam Deck Verified title. In handheld mode, it runs at 720p, supporting 4K when docked. I mostly played at 1440p when docked and 800p in handheld, though it remains in 16:9 without 16:10 support.

The PC graphics options are accessible under the PC Settings menu, allowing adjustments to resolution, display mode (fullscreen, borderless, windowed), and toggling v-sync.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on Nintendo Switch

On the Switch, the collection looks good but suffers from longer load times compared to the Steam and PS5 versions. The difference is noticeable when switching between games. I hope the connection strength option is added in future updates, as it's available on PlayStation and PC. The Switch version, however, does offer local wireless support, which is a unique feature.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on PS5

Playing on the PS5 via backward compatibility, the collection looks excellent on a 1440p monitor and loads quickly, even from an external hard drive. Moving it to the SSD would likely enhance loading times even further. I have no complaints about the PS4 version on the PS5, though I wish it were a native PS5 title for added features like Activity Card support.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics stands out as one of Capcom's finest collections, offering a wealth of extras, superb online play on Steam, and an overall delightful experience for newcomers and veterans alike. The only major drawback is the single save slot for the entire collection.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5