Marvel vs. Capcom 2

"So...many...choices....GAH!"

Capcom just keeps dishing out the fighting games, and we're there to take it, play it and beat it into the ground. In this installment in the long standing vs. series, you take control of some of the most famous characters through several different games that encompass all of the Capcom cash cows and most of the Marvel Universe to boot! Back again are the button mashing combinations, slick fighting abilities and characters that we've all come to know and love that range from Mega Man to Ryu, Morrigan to The Sentinel and Cable to Shuma Gora. You'll find that the combinations from the previous Marvel vs. Capcom battle are here, as well as a ton of new combinations and tag team battles that are no longer two on two but three on three battles to the finish! With 57 characters to choose from, this is quite possibly the largest character selectable fighting game that has ever graced the market, and probably ever will.

-Game Play 9/10-

The sheer amount of selectable characters is truly amazing, all of which have made an appearance in some Capcom game or Marvel comic book in the past! You'll find a ton of new team combinations, that range from the ultra technical to the ultra cheap and cheesy. The fighting pretty much revolves around your ability to switch out characters in the middle of a heavy hitting combo, or use your team mates to create custom combos in a way that hasn't ever been duplicated to this extent before! What MvsC 2 has to offer is the amount of characters, and a new three on three type of battle as well as creating different character abilities depending on what type of assistance you choose for each character to be. Again, this opens up a near endless stream of team and character combinations that suit your fighting skill and style! The storyline isn't that important, and is really weak in some aspects, not really highlighting the reason of the game, though the challenge is enough to keep you riveted to your seat for hours of game play.

-Control 9/10-

The tested and battle worn Street Fighter type control is back, as it has been in several games that Capcom has produced over the years. Three different strengths of punches and kicks as well as the hyper jumps and Super Moves that you've come to know and love! All of the characters fall into the traditional Street Fighter style of special attacks and controller movements, so anyone who is familiar with the series, Capcom fighters in general, will find that the control interface is everything that it has been for several games prior!

-Visuals 9/10-

Clean, crisp and overall amazing, the amount of animations and special attacks that are reproduced are truly a feast for the eyes! Characters from several walks of Capcom and Marvel life have all been drawn in and placed with plenty of detail to give any fan little to complain about, and with the amount of life that is seen during the battle. With a ton of Super Moves that bring one, two or even all three of your team mates onto the screen, you'll find that the action is visually intense as well as visually fast!

-Audio 9/10-

Battle music that keeps the upbeat pace and overall speed of the game, you'll find that everything here matches the game and the amount of fighting that you'll find in MvsC! The sound effects include the traditional Street Fighter sounds as well as some voice overs from previous games like X-Men, Mega Man, Darkstalkers and the original MvsC fighting game. With this being said, the music and sound doesn't take away from the rest of the game, but rather blends into the overall feeling and makes good accompaniment!

-Quarter Crunching 10/10-

With the amount of characters, team possibilities and special move combinations you'll find that MvsC 2 is a quarter eating machine that leaves a good taste in the mouth of any fighting game fan! With endless possibilities that range in a wide variety of ways, the amount of quarters you spend won't be too much of a problem and you'll be glad to give them up!

-Overall 9/10-

MvsC 2 is a Capcom great that surpasses most of the other fighting games that Capcom has produced up to date! With several characters covering plenty of games, and comic books, as well as flaring visuals, awesome sound and traditional control, fighting game fans everywhere will rejoice, and line up to play simply for the depth that this game finally offers!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/11/01, Updated 10/11/01