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 the series and newcomers alike. Its release was a welcome surprise, especially given the mixed reception of previous entries. This review covers experiences across Steam Deck, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, highlighting both the strengths and minor shortcomings.

Game Lineup

The collection boasts seven classic 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 arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a detail appreciated by fans (Norimaro's inclusion in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter's Japanese version is a highlight).

This review reflects approximately 22 hours of gameplay across various platforms. While lacking deep expertise in these games (this was my first time playing most of them), the sheer enjoyment, especially with MvC2, easily justifies the purchase price. I'm even considering the physical console releases.

New Features

The user interface mirrors Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, inheriting both its strengths and a few quirks (discussed later). Key additions include online and local multiplayer, Switch's local wireless support, rollback netcode, a robust training mode (with hitboxes and input displays), customizable game options, a crucial white flash reduction setting, various display options, and several wallpaper choices. A noteworthy feature is the new one-button super option, togglable for online play.

Museum and Gallery

A comprehensive museum and gallery are included, featuring over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork – some previously unreleased. While a welcome addition for long-time fans, the lack of Japanese text translation in sketches and design documents is a minor drawback. The inclusion of the soundtracks is fantastic, prompting hopes for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer

The options menu offers network settings (microphone, voice chat volume, input delay, connection strength on PC; limited options on Switch and PS4). Pre-release Steam Deck testing (wired and wireless) showed online play comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Cross-region matchmaking and adjustable input delay are available. The persistent cursor memory during online rematches is a thoughtful touch.

Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, plus leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode.

Issues

The most significant issue is the single, collection-wide save state. This is a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection and disappointing. Another minor complaint is the lack of universal settings for light reduction and visual filters; per-game adjustments are cumbersome.

Platform-Specific Notes

• Steam Deck: Verified and runs flawlessly, supporting 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (tested at 1440p docked and 800p handheld). 16:10 support is absent.

• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but load times are significantly longer than on other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option is also a drawback. Local wireless support is a plus.

• PS5: Played via backward compatibility; PS5 Activity Card integration would have been beneficial. Performance is excellent on a 1440p monitor, with fast loading times (even from an external hard drive).

Overall, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a top-tier compilation, excelling in extras and online play (especially on Steam). The single save state is its most significant flaw.

Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5