Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review – Switch, Steam Deck, and PS5 Covered

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of Capcom's fighting game history, especially considering recent events and the mixed reception of the last Marvel vs. Capcom title. This collection offers a fantastic opportunity to experience classic titles for the first time, or revisit beloved favorites. My review is based on extensive playtime across Steam Deck, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Game Lineup:

The collection boasts seven titles: 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, not a fighter). All are based on the arcade versions, ensuring a complete and authentic experience. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a delightful detail for fans.

My personal experience playing these games for the first time has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly Marvel vs. Capcom 2, exceeding expectations and justifying the purchase price multiple times over.

New Features & Enhancements:

The user interface mirrors Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, inheriting both its strengths and weaknesses. Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch local wireless, rollback netcode (a significant improvement), a comprehensive training mode with hitboxes and input displays, customizable game options, a crucial white flash reduction setting, various display options, and several wallpaper choices. A helpful "one-button super" option caters to newcomers.

Museum & Gallery:

A rich museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While a welcome addition, Japanese text in sketches and design documents remains untranslated. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant win, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer Experience:

The online experience, tested extensively on Steam Deck (wired and wireless), is comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a marked improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Rollback netcode ensures smooth gameplay, even across distances. Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. Conveniently, rematch selections retain character choices, a small but appreciated detail.

Issues:

The collection's most significant drawback is the single, global save state. This applies to the entire collection, not individual games, a frustrating carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection. Another minor inconvenience is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction; adjustments must be made per game.

Platform-Specific Notes:

• Steam Deck: Perfectly functional, Steam Deck Verified, running smoothly at 720p (handheld) and supporting 4K docked.
• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but load times are significantly longer than on other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option is also disappointing. Local wireless is a plus.
• PS5: Runs via backward compatibility, performing well with fast loading (especially on an SSD). The absence of native PS5 features, such as Activity Cards, is a missed opportunity.

Overall:

Despite minor flaws, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a superb compilation, exceeding expectations in its breadth of content and online functionality. The excellent extras, robust online play (especially on Steam), and the sheer enjoyment of experiencing these classic games make it a must-have for fighting game fans. The single save state remains a significant point of frustration, however.

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