Capcom, along with a lot of fighting game developers, release several versions of the same fighting game with extra or balanced content with each iteration. In a move that some fans are unhappy with, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is out just nine months after its predecessor. Has nine months extra in the oven given this game a new lease of life, or is it the same old same old?
Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 has had a successful nine months on the scene, as a casual game and as a tournament level regular. It’s provided a fair amount of hype and excitement, something that Capcom should be proud of. However, it has occasionally been the cause of ire; glitches run rampant, balance has been hard sought, matches can be too random and damage too high. With that in mind, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is something to be admired. As a straight comparison, it blows the original out of the water. Every new character feels, well, new. They are all different, not only from each other, but with the entire roster. They all have interesting and exciting tools that make them stand out, and I had a true kid-in-a-candy-shop type feeling looking at the new character select screen. Nemisis stomps on opponents hard and is like a freight train once he gains momentum. Phoenix Wright has a lot of tools to keep your opponent having to check what mode you’re in to try and predict what you might do. Firebrand is annoying as all hell, swooping and diving around the screen and being a general nuisance. Everyone is exciting, and will take even MVC3 veterans a while to get to grips with. That is indeed the beauty of their uniqueness.
Other features are sparse. Anyone who was a fan of watching two online players’ “licence cards” banging off each other will be deeply saddened. Online multiplayer now has a spectator mode, something Capcom claimed was impossible with the original. You can also kick people from lobbies, a little bit of a head-scratching omission from the previous version. A layer of polish has indeed been run over the online features, something I know many players will be happy about. Apart from that though, you’ll need a keen eye to spot other big changes.
Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom could have been a game changer in the fighting game world, and had it been the first game in the series it would have been mind blowing. As it is, it’s a fun addition on top of a fun game. If you’ve held out so far, this is a great jumping on point, although prepare to be stomped by 9-month veterans.
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