Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Thumbs
If you are anything like me, the ten months of following the news and announcements surrounding Marvel vs Capcom 3 were painful and anxiety inducing. Now it finally hits store shelves; no more Youtube previews and guides for a game you couldn't even touch. I managed to snag a copy of Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds and so far it's taking me for an epilepsy-bound ride.
Let's get one thing straight, this is the third installment in a long going and famous crossover series with Marvel Comics and legendary videogame company, Capcom. Of course you know all of this but what story elements have been added? Despite what you have heard about "a more robust plot", it's mostly just knowing the motives for our favorite characters teaming up; to save both the Marvel and Capcom universes. That statement is actually less succinct than the actual arcade mode. Fight your way through some AI's for a final fight against (spoiler warning)...Galactus himself. But this fight is only two rounds. First round is two clones of either team's villains and then finally the big guy himself. Congrats, you saved the world, now do it over and over and over again for different endings per character. The endings are the only reason you'll be returning to Arcade mode and the Galactus battle (however fun and difficult) is the only thing setting this mode apart from any other. It will get old fast.
The gameplay is much like a fusion of the previous installment and Tatsunoko vs Capcom. The speed is toned down when compared to MvC2, however still decisive and unforgiving likes it ten year old brother, but simple and easier to pick up like its accessible half-sister. You have four attack buttons from light, medium, heavy, and special whist two other buttons control your partners. It's different yet familiar.
The multiplayer/versus mode is getting to the core appeal of MvC3. Dominate your friends with a variety of attacks, techniques, and siezure-inducing combos and come out on top among your peers. The sheer charm will bring people to pad and you can go at it for hours with new combinations and characters however experieneced they are.
Mission Mode is starting to become a staple in any modern fighter. It's just as you'd expect; a sequence of moves and combos are given to you and you must complete them. I say must because many of the combos slated in mission mode have serious viability when you show your face around the ring and it's something you really shouldn't keep off if you're serious about getting good at this game.
The online modes will make the game last and is the meat of the entire experience. Play against players online with most streamlined online server for any fighting game I've played thus far. Weak signals will fair well and you hardly notice since matches barely lag or freeze. You can filter out and specify the player you're looking for. One on your skill level or some exotic stranger who could be anywhere on the skill gambit. You can also view their License Cards to see their best teams, most used characters, win loss ratio, play styles, strengths, weaknesses, and so on...hell, I wouldn't be surprised to see their Social security numbers, hair and eye color, weight, likes, dislikes, fears, aspirations (you get the idea of how extensive and thorough the license card system is) and it could prove helpful to peruse their stats.
Ranked Matches are less customizable than Player Matches but will track your standings through many regions and nations and your ultimate title and standings in the MvC online universe from the levels of beginner and beyond. But then again most players are at least beginners since the game is as old as a hospital infant so this could be a good time to start crushing some newbies before the seasoned vets of MvC2 move in. But fear not since we're all starting fresh. The online community is no longer ahead by ten years and we're all on each other's level. May the best man/woman win for top fighter!
There is also a lobby feature that can keep the action going, one match after another for friends or unknown players to join. Pretty much like the Blazblue lobbies where you can set preferences in location, connection speed, language, and even setting room names. These lobbies look to be a slight tweak of most fighting game lobbies so there's really nothing too stunning here...so just play I guess.
The characters in MvC3 are a culmination of new and old. The MSS team is back and some hard-hitting newcomers enter the fray to fight for the the ever coveted God Tier crowns and it looks like a close race thus far. The game is evenly balanced, there is no character that I would mar as "cheap" or who have staggering advantages. Now the amount of time it takes to balance a roster can be vast and this is apparent in this installments final roster count of 36 as opposed to MvC2's 50+ characters. It goes to show that we finally have a legitimate and solid roster with a good amount of variety and accessibility. Some characters may have a learning curve a little steeper than others but you can dive on in to just about anyone you choose. You'd think you'd be disappointed with the final build but don't knock it 'til you try it.
Alas, the unlockables are a shallow endeavor. The only things that are truly worth unlocking are the four (that's right, four) hidden characters and they are dead easy to obtain. Just go through a few arcade playthroughs or training sessions and voila, four characters and not much else worth your time. I mean...yeah...there's icons and banners to achieve through trophies/achievements and title you can obtain but they come with just about any actions. Stand still looking pretty, TROPHY! You moved your foot half a degree to the right, TROPHY! You put on your sunblock like a responsible young person...wait you didn't...TROPHY ANYWAY! Hey you got sunburnt for not applying afformentioned sunblock, TROPHY!
Other than endings, teaser trailers, and movies (which aren't that great if you've already seen them through the course of waiting for this game to release) the content lacks and the fun of this game stems from the few precious minutes of actual gameplay.
So, Marvel vs Capcom is indeed a fun and hectic experience that welcomes brawlers of new and old but the content lacks alot. You'll be enjoying countless hours of online hi-jinks and challenges to be concerned with much else. It isn't shallow and skin-deep; there is a powerful and technical fighter under the hood of this game where gameplay itself is just as enriching and exciting.
P.S. There will be no more "Take You For a Ride" jokes but there are several remixes of the infamously bad character select music in-game, go check it out.
