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. This review covers experiences across Steam Deck, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, highlighting both the strengths and minor shortcomings of this impressive package.

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 complete feature sets. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a significant boon for fans.

Extensive playtime across multiple platforms revealed the sheer enjoyment offered by these classics, particularly Marvel vs. Capcom 2, justifying the purchase price many times over. The experience is fresh even for those unfamiliar with the earlier titles.

New Features and Enhancements:

The user interface mirrors Capcom's Capcom Fighting Collection, including online and local multiplayer (with wireless on Switch), rollback netcode, training mode with hitbox displays, customizable game options, adjustable screen settings (crucially, reducing screen flash), and various wallpaper options. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.

Museum and Gallery:

A comprehensive museum and gallery showcase over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While a treasure trove for fans, Japanese text in sketches and documents remains untranslated. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a significant win, though vinyl or streaming releases would be welcome additions.

Online Multiplayer:

Online play, tested extensively on Steam Deck (wired and wireless), offers a smooth experience comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection but a significant improvement over Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Options include adjustable input delay, cross-region matchmaking, casual/ranked matches, and leaderboards. The intelligent rematch feature preserves character selections, a small but appreciated detail.

Issues and Shortcomings:

The collection's most significant flaw is the single, global save state. This is a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection and a missed opportunity for improvement. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction; adjusting these options requires individual game adjustments.

Platform-Specific Notes:

• Steam Deck: Verified and runs flawlessly, supporting 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (16:9 aspect ratio only).
• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable but suffers from noticeable load times compared to other platforms. Local wireless is supported, but a connection strength option is missing.
• PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; native support would have enabled PS5 Activity Card integration. Loads quickly, even from an external drive.

Overall:

Despite minor drawbacks, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics stands as one of Capcom's best compilations. The superb extras, excellent online play (on Steam, particularly), and the joy of rediscovering or experiencing these classic games for the first time make it a must-have. The single save state remains a significant letdown.

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