Summary
The superhero genre is one that seems like it would fit perfectly withthe fighting game genre. Most of the characters in the roster for these games are superhuman entities that can take a beating already. That may be why one of the world’s biggest comic book publishers,Marvel, often release video games featuring their characters that fit this genre.
Marvel fighting video games have existed ever since the days of the arcade. However, not all of these games are created equal, and some are destined to be better than others.
The 2000s brought about a new era for the superhero genre. Marvel characters, like the X-Men and Spider-Man, have received some very successful live action movie adaptations, and the video game industry was thriving due to the release of the PS2 and Xbox. That is why a new Marvel fighting game was proposed to be released to capitalize on this newfound success.
Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfectswas released in 2005,with a tie-in comic series released at the same time to boost sales figures for both mediums. The video game followed the comic story, and featured a roster of Marvel heroes including Wolverine, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Iron Man, who were teaming up to fight new characters who were part of the Imperfects. Instead of recreating an old fighting game formula, though, this game opted to try something new and innovative. The fighting arenas were fully 3D with a moveable isometric camera used to follow the combat and included objects that could be used as environmental weapons. The concept was great, but unfortunately, the execution wasn’t, as many of the arenas were too dark to see and the combat sequences were repetitive.
In 1996, there were two big franchises that were on the minds of all young gamers.Marvel’s X-Menwere becoming huge due to their complex comic book history, the previous arcade game based on these mutants, and the success of the then-current X-Men animated series. Also, Capcom’sStreet Fighterfranchise lit up local arcades as one of the most consistent and enduring two-player video game series. As a result, merging the two properties seemed like an easy decision to make.
The result of this crossover wasX-Men Vs Street Fighter, and the game is exactly what the title suggests. This video game used the art style of the first twoStreet Fightergames, and gameplay mechanics. This time, though, the roster included some of the most popular X-Men from Marvel’smutant team. As such, players could enjoy theseStreet Fighterspin-offs with some of the regular characters, while also choosing to shoot lasers like Cyclops ortear through their opponents like Wolverine. It was a simple crossover, but one that worked out well. Sadly though, the PS1 release had to cut the tag team mechanic because of the console’s limitations.
Once CapCom and Marvel had successfully merged their two big franchises together withX-Men Vs Street Fighter,Marvel saw an opportunity to use this popularity to boost the profile of some of their other characters. It is hard to believe, but before the MCUbegan, most people were only really familiar with Wolverine, Spider-Man, and The Hulk in the early 90s. That is why these characters were included inMarvel Superheroes Vs Street Fighter,which also included the likes of Captain America, Shuma Gorath, and Blackheart, to give them more of a spotlight.
In terms of gameplay, this video game behaved very muchlike the classicStreet Fightertitlesthat had come before, and the previously releasedX-Men Vs Street Fighter. This means it kept many of the same combo moves, the art style, and the PS1 release still could not retain the tag team mechanic from the arcade version.
TheMarvel Vs Capcomseries is one that has been going from strength to strength since the first game was released in 1998. AfterMarvel Superheroes Vs Street Fighterexpanded on the concept ofX-Men Vs Street Fighter, Capcom decided that it was their turn to expand their side of the roster withMarvel Vs Capcom: Clash of Superheroes.This 2D fighting game included the same expanded roster of Marvel characters from the previous games, while also adding more Capcom characters to the mix, including Mega Man, Strider, and Morrigan.
The following games in the franchise stuck to this formula, but this fighting game franchise remained dormant for five years untilMarvel Vs Capcom: Infinitewas released in 2017. This new game in the saga returned to the 2D, tag team, fighting format that the series was known for. However, the success of the MCUseemed to dictate the plot of this adventure. Both Marvel and Capcom heroes had to team up tostop Ultron from gathering the Infinity Stones. These stones also added a unique super-move to any playable team who held one.
With mobile gaming on the rise, it makes sense that Marvel would want to get in on the action with a free-to-play fighting game for iOS and Android.Marvel Contest of Championsis a mobile game that was released in 2014 that is still getting updates. It features a large roster of Marvel characters, who have all been summoned into a battle arena. Players mustlevel up their chosen fighterby battling through a number of fights against classic Marvel characters.
The gameplay in this mobile game is very similar to that of the recentMortal Kombatgames. All characters are rendered in 3D, but they all fight in a 2D environment. Sadly, this fighting game is not as detailed as that of other console releases. Being played on a phone means that controls are limited to only tapping the screen. As a result, the move list for each character is limited, and some fights can feel repetitive.
It seemed that there was little that the developers could do to improve on the previous fighting games that featured both Marvel and Capcom characters. These 2D fighting games had already perfected the formula, and it seemed that the next game would only improve on the graphics and shuffle in some new playable characters into the roster.
However,Marvel Vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroesimproved the gameplay of its predecessors in almost every way. Firstly, the tag team combat system was changed to include three team members on each side, instead of having one of these as an NPC. Also, the team members who are not on-screen will slowly regain health until they are called in to fight again. They are small changes, but this second installment of the series changed everything for the series moving forward.
Coming off the back of the previous game posed a challenge forMarvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.The second installment improved things so well that it seemed that the final game in the trilogy had some big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the final game in the series kept everything that worked in the last one, and added some excellent new features.
As expected, the graphics in this new game were vastly improved into 3D for the next generation consoles, but the combat system was changed from four main attack buttons to three to make this fighting game more accessible to new players. Luckily, the combo moves remained as intricate as ever to satisfy long-time fans of the series. Plus, the new X-Factor gauge, that filled to give players improved attacks, added another level of strategy to the series.
