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Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds by Capcom
Product SummaryBrand: Capcom Audio: English (Unknown) Published: 2011-02 Release Date: 2011-02-15 Platform: Xbox 360 Model: 33026 Color: One Color Publisher: Capcom Product features: - Powered by an advanced version of MT Framework, the engine used in Resident Evil 5 and Lost Planet 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 brings beautiful backgrounds and character animations to the forefront
- 3-on-3 tag-team fighting action as players build their own perfect team, assigning unique "Assist Attacks" for each character and utilize each character's special moves to create their own unique fighting style
- Simple Mode with streamlined button mapping option that allows novice players to perform moves like a pro
- See the most adored characters from the Capcom and Marvel Universes brought to life in a "moving comic" style, blurring the boundaries between 2D and 3D graphics
- A mix of returning characters like Spider-Man, Ryu, Wolverine, Morrigan, Iron Man, Hulk and others, mixed with newbies Chris Redfield, Thor, Trish, Super-Skrull, Amaterasu, Dormammu, Wesker, X-23, Deadpool, Dante and more
Video Game Reviews of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two WorldsCustomer Review: Happiness is a 3 character aerial combo with a hyper finisher. Summary: 5 Stars
Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a fan-favorite offshoot of the long-running Street Fighter series that branched out with the well-received X-Men vs. Street Fighter back in the competitive glory days of the 2D fighter. Over the series' evolution the character rosters would eventually expand over time to include all Marvel comics heroes and villains as well as Capcom's entire legacy of classic video game characters. The result was, of course, insanity. MvC is one of the flagship competitive fighting series known for it's complex game mechanics that reward player creativity, extremely hectic action, and deluges of winking fan service towards comic geeks and gamers alike. It's been a decade since the last MvC title, but with Street Fighter 4 having brought 2D fighters back into the spotlight, the time has never been better to revisit the eternal question once again: could Ryu whup Spider-Man?
So how does this crossover extravaganza match up against previous titles in the series? Very, very well. While a lot of fans are decrying the relatively smaller 36 playable character roster (down from a mind-shattering 56 in MvC2), the fact is that it's better this way. The old MvC games pretty much cut-and-pasted the characters from the slew of other versus games out there and threw everyone in the mix which led to mismatched and useless characters. Competitive play pretty much boiled down to a handful of characters that were clearly much better than the rest. MvC3 may have trimmed the roster, but it is a phenomenally fun, deep, and balanced roster with each character being useful in their own way and full of nuance. Both companies also have a lot of new faces representing them, with some of the more obscure characters being surprisingly interesting. Plus, they all look marvelous. Even with the fan complaints this is probably the best thing about MvC3. Yes, in high-level play, there are certain characters that are overpowered, but that list is small and most of us playing this game to have fun and not to win at all costs as a pathetic attempt to boost misguided egos (which probably shouldn't be built around being "good" at video games) are not going to spam Sentinel beams ("neutralizeneutralizeneutralize"...ugh) and Dark Phoenix every match. That would just be pathetic. So yeah, MvC3 features one of the coolest and most balanced rosters in a 2D fighter that I`ve ever played and after a few of weeks of play, I have yet to find my favorite character and have settled mainly into a 9 character rotation. This is the highest praise.
As before, this MvC title features single 3-on-3 tag matches instead of the classic 1-on-1/best-of-3 format favored by most fighting games. This is really what sets the series apart from other hardcore 2D fighters. While you can only control 1 character at a time, you are able to change at will and to call in "assists" from your offscreen characters to supplement your offensive and defensive endeavors. For example, if you are trapped in the corner by Wolverine while using a character with poor melee capabilities like Arthur (of Ghosts and Goblins fame), you can call in Haggar (from Final Fight) to come out swinging and knock Wolvie back so you have room to breathe. This feature adds exponentially to the strategy and complexity of the game and makes forming an effective team combination both vital and fun with so many possibilities. This brings me to the point that needs to be hammered home the most since I am about to drop some complaints: this gameplay is AMAZING. It's fun, fast-paced (I have been sweating in the dead of winter), complex, yet very easy to pick up and play assuming you understand the basics of fighting games. The controls have also been streamlined for console play, much to the chagrin of those who spend way too much money on specialized arcade-style stick setups. While beginners may want to polish their skills in training and arcade modes before tackling veterans online, they shouldn't be too overwhelmed. This is the definition of easy to learn, difficult to master. There is also a "simple mode" to the controls to level the playing field between friends with skill discrepancies in multiplayer that allows some more complex moves to be pulled off with the push of a button at the expense of variety. It's an alright idea, I guess, but it's not for me. Mission Mode allows for players to challenge themselves to duplicate combos dictated by the game, which is a cool challenge, but the fact that some of the combos are so long the commands can't even fit onscreen makes it feel like you are practicing for a piano recital and not playing a game. Not fun, but a good way for beginners to learn the art of comboing, nevertheless.
Okay, folks, it's whiny time. While I have nothing but praise for the gameplay and graphics, I have to take MvC3 to task for a stunning lack of features. First off, as I write this there is no lobby spectator mode in multiplayer. That is to say that when you join an online lobby, you don't get to watch the other players' matches while you wait your turn. You pretty much get to sit and stare at a loading screen. That is not why I play these games, and it`s unacceptable. The fun and learning experience of watching and commentating on ongoing fights is a huge part of any fighting community and while Capcom has claimed they will patch this in later, I cannot think of a good reason to not have it there in the first place. This STANDARD. Frankly, I'm tempted to drop a full star off of the rating, but assuming they make good on the promise of a patch, I'll hold off on that. Now, in one of Deadpool's 4th wall-breaking antics (a staple of the character in the comics) he occasionally addresses the player personally at the end of the match during his victory rant with "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WEREN'T RECORDING THAT?!". Good question, Wade. Why couldn't we record that? It's becoming pretty handy to post videos and study recordings of matches to show off to friends and learn different gameplay techniques. Again, this should be standard. In addition to the massive multiplayer gripes, the single player lacks a lot to see and do. No in-game cut scenes aside from the canned match openings really hurts the production value of the arcade mode. The endings are cool and all and usually filled with crazy crossover goodness featuring characters that we wish had made the roster but didn't, but the static comic images pale in comparison to the fully animated and voiced finales and story sections of games like Dead or Alive 4. It's ridiculously easy to unlock the very few characters that aren't immediately available and the other unlockables are mostly things like art and character profiles. Not super-rewarding, but better than nothing, I suppose. Worst of all, word has it that a lot of the alternate costumes (and possibly even full characters) are already present on the disc, but are being sold as DLC. This is not good, Capcom. Making us pay to unlock something on the disc we already paid for is no way to do business and I WILL NOT DO IT. The price for upcoming downloadable characters is about $5 apiece. A bit steep, if you ask me. Also, your non-ranked online stats aren't displayed and are lumped with Arcade Mode victories instead. Not cool. This should have been an all-time great fighter, but as it stands, it feels half-@$zed and unfinished in a lot of areas and having Capcom charge us for things like alternate costumes after leaving so much out of the game does not help.
So in conclusion, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a deliriously entertaining fighting game. It's full of surprises, little obscure touches for fans, funny verbal interplay between characters, and most of all good times. You really can't beat it for awesome gameplay. However, I'm going a bit easy on the rating in anticipation of the patch for spectator mode and I need to point out that companies need to stop putting out unfinished games and then charging us for extra content. It feels like Capcom held back features from this game intentionally (possibly anticipating a "Super" edition in a year or so?) and that stops this from getting a perfect score. However, since the game itself is so damn fun I've still got to give it very high marks since that`s always the final word with me. Comprehensive features or not, this is still an awesome game and I'm having a ball with it online and off.
4 ½ stars rounded up because I can't stay mad at you, Capcom.
Description of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two WorldsAfter a decade of waiting, iconic Marvel and Capcom characters join forces again in a re-envisioned team fighting game for a new generation. Fill the shoes of legendary characters from the most beloved franchises in entertainment as you battle in a living comic book brought to life in a VS. fighting game for the first time by Capcom?s MT Framework. After a decade of waiting, iconic Marvel and Capcom characters join forces again in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, a re-envisioned team fighting game for a new generation of gamers. Fill the shoes of legendary characters from both the Marvel and Capcom universes as you engage in 3-on-3 battles within living comic book art style environments powered by Capcom's MT Framework, an advanced version of the graphics engine used for Resident Evil 5. Additional features include: a single player story and online multiplayer modes, new playable character additions, a simplified three-button control scheme and a character-specific "Simple" Mode which can function as a tutorial. Tag-Team Gameplay Although Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds features a single player story mode in which you can play the Fate of Two Worlds storyline out in the role of each of the playable characters, the game is primarily a one-on-one crossover fighting game featuring heroes and villains from the Marvel Comics and Capcom video game universes. In this, action is team-based as players, either fighting against AI or a human opponent select three characters to stand against their opponent's three characters. Battles are essentially tag-team events, as at any time players can choose to switch characters as they look to string together combos that will do the most damage against opponents. All characters have special moves. In addition, special combos can be unleashed by each character after filling their power gauge while playing. Team combos can also be unleashed by switching between certain characters at specific times during fights. 3-on-3 Marvel vs. Capcom battles like never before. View larger. Single Player Story Mode The respective arch villains of the Marvel and Capcom universes, Doctor Doom, nemesis to the Fantastic Four and Albert Wesker, STARS turncoat and flunky for the Umbrella Corporation in the Resident Evil franchise, have joined forces in a quest for overall conquest in both worlds. Marvel and Capcom heroes stand ready to do all that must be done to stop the fiends, but may have to set aside their quest for justice and join forces with their sworn enemies as an unforeseen evil rises as the result of the initial actions of Doom and Wesker. Key Game Features - Innovative Graphics and Gameplay - Powered by an advanced version of MT Framework, the engine used in Resident Evil 5 and Lost Planet 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 brings beautiful backgrounds and character animations to the forefront.
- Evolved VS. Fighting System - Wild over-the-top gameplay complete with signature aerial combos, hyper combos and other original systems. The evolved new battle system, the "Team Aerial Combo," takes the exciting action to a whole new level.
- 3-on-3 Tag Team Fighting - Players build their own perfect team by assigning unique "Assist Attacks" for each character and utilize each character's special moves to create their own unique fighting style.
- Simple Mode - Streamlined button mapping option will allow novice players to perform moves like a pro.
- Living Comic Book Art Style - See the most adored characters from the Capcom and Marvel Universes brought to life in a "moving comic" style, blurring the boundaries between 2D and 3D graphics.
- New Characters - Popular returning characters include Spider-Man, Ryu, Wolverine, Morrigan, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Felicia, Chun-Li, Tron Bonne, Magneto and Doctor Doom. Viewtiful Joe will make his debut in the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. Additional characters joining the playable cast for the first time in fighting game history include Chris Redfield, Thor, Trish, Super-Skrull, Amaterasu, Dormammu, Wesker, X-23, Arthur, Deadpool, Nathan Spencer, M.O.D.O.K. and Dante.
Additional Screenshots Easy to pick-up controls. View larger. | Special abilities & combos. View larger. | Comic book art style. View larger. | Tag-team combat action. View larger. |
Fighting Games
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