Summary [9.0 out of 10]

After years away, Marvel vs Capcom is back sporting a new roster, a new look and refined gameplay. Don’t let the changes fool you though because the game is as fast paced and chaotic as ever. The game is tight, polished and balanced with all the right tweaks in all the right places. This third installment may not offer up much by way of story but that isn’t what you are here for and if you came looking for a faced paced three man tag team based fighting extravaganza then you have come to the right place. Fighting fans in general and series fans in particular will find a lot to like here.

What’s it like:

• Previous Marvel vs Capcom games: While there are a few changes here and there, the core gameplay and concept remains largely unchanged from previous games in the series. The help keep things fresh and easier on the player but they don’t take away from the overall experience. If you loved the previous games, you will love this one.

• Street Fighter IV: The gameplay in Street Fighter is slower and more deliberate than the chaotic action found in the MvC series, it still has left its mark here and not just because the games share some fighters. The input windows have been lengthened to slow things down a bit and give players more of a chance to compete but the action is still faster paced.

The Great:

• Graphics: The look of the game has been changed from a cartoony comic influenced design scheme to a much more realistic style but the change is pretty awesome and the game looks completely gorgeous. The animations are fluid and the effects are eye-popping. Backgrounds are detailed and player character models look great. The whole thing is fluid and wonderful to look at.

• Controls: The controls have been refined and simplified but have lost no nuance and precision. As with previous entries, the game relies on three buttons instead of six and focus on weak, medium and heavy attacks. Kicks and punches come out based on input, proximity and character which can be off putting if you are used to the classic six button configuration but it is easy to get used to and works very well. In addition, one button controls juggles and another is responsible for bringing in assists from teammate characters. If you are playing with an arcade stick particularly everything rolls off like butter.

• Balancing: With a 36 character roster and a bunch of super heroes on it, one would expect that balancing would be a big issue but MvC3 completely avoids this problem and offers a group of characters who all have different strengths and weaknesses but with few overpowered characters who need to be nerfed. Given the history of the series, this is a pretty impressive accomplishment. It is nice to pick up the controller and choose a character knowing that, given proper skill with the character, you will be able to compete no matter how obscure or weird that character might be. I will say I am a little incredulous when I kick the Hulk’s ass with Ryu. It seems like that shouldn’t be possible but it goes to show how balanced the game is.

• Replay: As with all good fighting games, MvC3 is a gift that keeps on giving all year long. With local and online mutliplayer and a big roster of characters to master there is always something to keep you busy. Add in training and challenge modes and you have a lot of material to cover. Online competition should keep this one in your library and in your 360 for a long time to come.

• Taskmaster: This may just be me but I am super stoked to see Taskmaster show up in the game and to be such a good character. He is a bit of an amalgam of other characters as he has photographic reflexes and can learn other character’s moves and abilities just by watching them. You don’t have to study anyone to gain moves here but there is very little the character can’t do and he plays very well. He also looks pretty badass and that is worth something too.

The Good:

• Roster: 36 fighters might not be as much as previous entries in the series but this roster has cut out the chafe and palate swaps and delivers tight and viable fighters that are pretty much all worth it to play. Some of the omissions are curious and some of the additions are equally head scratching but they all bring something to the table. The Capcom side of the table is the most exiting for me and Chris Redfield and Albert Wesker from Resident Evil are awesome. It is also nice to see Mike Haggar show up outside of a Final Fight game. Guy and Cody have been out for awhile and it is nice that he was able to suit back up in his goofy suspenders to make an appearance here.

• Fighting System: Mentioned above in the controls section, the system here is very tight and responsive. Move priorities feel fight and while it is flashy and fast paced, button mashing isn’t going to get you very far against a seasoned player who know what they are doing. Likewise it is accessible and easy to pick up if hard to master.

• Online Play: As with Street Fighter, MvC really lives and dies by its online stability and here it works just fine. With some of the same modes available on SFIV, the online experience is quick and easy allowing for a stable online environment. Your mileage may very depending on connection strength and the player load on the servers but so far it has been pretty stable and easy to connect to.

• Simple Mode: If you are a noob, Simple Mode will help you get into the action without the deficit of having to learn all the move inputs and precise timing. This simplifies things down to one button for attacks and the rest for specials. You hit the right button and push the right direction and there you have your special move. This is nice for a start but could become an annoying crutch if it is abused. Still it should cut down on the frustration for newcomers to the series.

The Bad:

• Story: The story is just sort of there and basically shoe-horns the two properties together with the thinnest of connective tissue. That the endings consist of still frames and text, the whole experience is underwhelming and feels tacked on. It doesn’t matter as much as the fighting but since all you are going to be doing is fighting, it would have been nice to have more to keep you going. The anime sequences at the end of SFIV were sort of cheesy but way better than what we have offered here.

• Missed Opportunities: There are some weird touches that make me realize that they tried a little bit at fan service but either ran out of time, resources or imagination. When you go to Spider-man’s alternate color you get the alien symbiote costume (which makes me feel better about not having Venom in the game) so why is it that Captain America’s alternate costume is red and white instead of the US Agent costume? I might be nitpicking but there are several missed opportunities like this that would have fleshed out the experience a lot better.

• Lack of Modes: At this stage of the game, with so many other iterations of these sorts of games that are also made by Capcom the cupboard is remarkably bare. You have the basic training modes, a mission mode and then the online offerings. That is pretty much it. Once you unlock the four extra characters you are done with things to see. I hope that eventually we get some downloadable content to flesh this experience out.

Conclusion [9.0 to 10]

Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds is a triumphant return to the fighting arena and offers up tight and fast paced play for those who want to get out of the more strategic and measured fighting style. It is still deep and engaging enough to keep pros interested and accessible enough for newcomers to not feel so intimidated. It looks great, plays great and online play runs smoothly. With some additions to the modes and a fleshing out of features it could be almost perfect. As it is it is really, really great.