by darkmurder

© 2009 Noel Schneider

Marvel vs Capcom 2 returns to the Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) as one of the true classic fighting games. Now sporting an online mode, the question is does Capcom’s classic fighter still have the legs to be a fighting powerhouse in today’s saturated market of fighter games?

The game has three possible modes of play with an arcade mode, training mode and score attack mode. Arcade mode consists of the classic play where you and two other characters from the Capcom or Marvel universe pit it out against each other. Training mode is the perfect way to master the complex moves that the game entails, whilst score attack mode allows you to battle the computer controlled characters for high scores.

• Marvel V’s Capcom 2 Gameplay

When not playing multiplayer, arcade mode is the area where you will spend most of your time. With an array of over just 50 characters, there is much fun to be had. Each character has a complex set of skills you can learn and master and nothing is better than being able to choose Street Fighter characters versus classic Marvel icons such as the Hulk or Iron Man.

Multiplayer however was the main area of focus for Capcom with 8 of the 12 achievements being for online play. Unfortunately the online community is not that strong and I struggled to find a game which really put a dent in the game. The few games I did connect to suffered from severe lag issues and this really didn’t do the game any favours.

The game features a very complex list of moves and will take a long time to master every single character. Combos are generally quite complex to learn but if you put in the time and effort to practice and conquer moves, you will be rewarded in the game by being able to take out your opponents which is very tricky to do.

Due to the nature of the game, you choose three characters whilst the other team has three assigned. This makes the game extremely difficult once you play a match because of the fact that you have a minute to dispose of all three characters on the opposing side. It makes for an extremely hard challenge. However once you concentrate on a few certain characters, soon enough you pick up the moves and are able to compete somewhat competitively.

During in-game fights, you may “tag” in another character to assist you by pressing the left bumper, or alternatively when you are low on life you will be swapped for one with a higher health bar. This makes the fights more prolonged if you’re winning but also makes it harder to lose which is a win-lose situation (pun not intended).

Graphically the game has not had much of a makeover and still retains its arcade feel and look. The only real graphical upgrade has been made to the characters’ bodies where they are now much sharper and clearer.

Backgrounds are still the murky 3D with poor textures, however some feature 2D style backgrounds and these look very nice even in today’s high definition format. You have the option to revert to the classic graphical option which is a nice touch but realistically a lot of people will not be using this feature.

The audio has not had a revamp and does not feature remixed tunes like some other arcade games which is quite a disappointment.

Overall Marvel vs Capcom 2 is still a decent fighting game, but suffers from a few flaws. A lack of community and no extreme graphical upgrades disadvantaged the game.  However the backbone of the gameplay is as solid as it ever was. If you have mates who have the game you can be in for a great multiplayer match providing it doesn’t lag. On the whole Marvel vs Capcom 2 is a decent game but just falls short of being a classic masterpiece.

© 2009 Noel Schneider

“7/10 

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