Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics delivers a knockout punch for fighting game fans. This collection, a surprising release given recent franchise history, offers a nostalgic trip back to classic arcade brawlers. For those familiar only with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, this collection is a revelation. The inclusion of the iconic Marvel vs. Capcom 2 soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission.

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 arcade versions, ensuring a complete and faithful experience. Both English and Japanese versions are included – a delight for fans wanting to experience the nuances of the Japanese release, like Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.

This review is based on extensive playtime across Steam Deck (LCD and OLED), PS5, and Nintendo Switch. While lacking deep expertise in these classic titles, the sheer enjoyment derived from Marvel vs. Capcom 2, alone, justifies the purchase price. The desire to own physical copies is a testament to the collection's quality.

New Features & Enhancements:

The collection's user interface mirrors Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, inheriting both its strengths and weaknesses. Key features include online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless play, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode (with hitboxes and input displays), customizable game options (including crucial white flash reduction), various display settings, and a selection of wallpapers. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.

Museum & Gallery:

A treasure trove for fans, the museum and gallery house over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unseen. While the extensive collection is impressive, the lack of translation for Japanese text in sketches and design documents is a minor drawback. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant win, sparking hopes for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer:

Network settings are customizable, allowing adjustments to microphone, voice chat, input delay, and connection strength (PC only; Switch lacks connection strength). Pre-release online testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) revealed smooth gameplay, comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. The inclusion of casual and ranked matches, leaderboards, and a High Score Challenge mode adds depth to the online experience. The clever retention of character selection cursors after rematches enhances usability.

Issues:

The collection's single, universal save state (not per game) is a significant drawback, inherited from Capcom Fighting Collection. The lack of universal settings for light reduction and visual filters is another minor inconvenience.

Platform Specific Notes:

• Steam Deck: Runs flawlessly, as expected of a Verified title, supporting 720p handheld and 4K docked.
• Nintendo Switch: While visually acceptable, suffers from noticeable load times.
• PS5: Plays via backward compatibility; looks excellent but lacks native PS5 features.

Conclusion:

Despite minor flaws, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics stands as one of Capcom's finest compilations. The exceptional extras and smooth online play (on Steam) make it a must-have for fighting game fans. The single save state remains a frustrating limitation.

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