"Not the best game, but 100% more fun than new SFs or Tekkens"

Everyone likes to bash on the Versus games. It's too easy to combo, they say. It doesn't take that much skill, they say. 2D is out, 3D is in, they say. Well, I have only one thing to say to them... GAMMA CRUSH. Okay, that was pretty stupid, but then again, that's close to what Marvel vs. Capcom is ... good, clean, mindless fun. And if you know all your tricks... you win. Doesn't sound much different from the early SF2 days. And it's more fun than being Custom Comboes, V-ismed, or parried to death any day of the week. I'll take easy combos over ridiculous ten-hit chains at the drop of a hat. This game is fun, and that's all you really need. I mean, what other game lets you choose from Venom, Hulk, Mega Man(!), Captain Commando, a male stripper, and Roll as your characters?

GRAPHICS: 8/10. The new characters are drawn very well, unlike some other offerings (cough, cough, Alpha 3, hack). I have a few minor complaints, though. The old characters get NOTHING in the way of new animation, and I have a quibble with the designs for Mega Man and Roll, who look a few years too young. Plus, most of the secret characters are palette swaps. This isn't a bad thing if you consider them as alternate versions of the characters you have come to love, but it's still disheartening to see Capcom fall into the Lin Kuei syndrome. The backgrounds are new (at last) and fit in with the themes of the characters, and everything else is done pretty well. Although I don't like that most of the endings use the character sprites.

SOUND: 8/10. The music is decent, which is a huge improvement from the terrible, ghastly MSHvSF music. And the sounds are pretty good, too, with all the vocal effects coming through loud and clear. Again, the new "kiddie" Mega/Roll design irks me, but that's a minor qualm.

GAMEPLAY: 6/10. Well, it's still as simple as it was before, but now there are some new additions. Replacing the Crossover Assist of MSHvSF, where the inactive player would come in and attack, is the new Helper concept of MvC. Before every match you pick a third character that you can call a limited amount of times. Some people really dislike this part of the game, but I think it adds something interesting. What I don't like is the new Crossover Team (2-on-1), where both players will come in and take on the opponent. You have infinite Super meter in this mode, which means you can pull off massive chipping damage with Versus style Supers. This is pretty cheap and easily abused (all apologies), but it's impressive that for the most part there's no slowdown at all. There's still the issue of losing 60% of your life from eating a Super combo starting with a ducking Short, but we'll never lose that. *sigh*

STORY: 4/10. As usual, the Versus games have a pretty crappy storyline, and the final boss just had to be Onslaught (who singlehandedly destroyed Marvel Comics as we know it). But you don't need much of a story... just kick some ass.

DIFFICULTY: Moderate. The computer opponents are pushovers, and although Onslaught is the hardest boss of a Versus gets really easy with time. However, these games are all about human competition...

COMPETITION/FUN FACTOR: 9/10. The competition for MvC is always there, and chances are you'll find someone to play against. And that's what makes this game fun. Sure, I'll agree with all the complaints about the easy combos and the overpowered 2-on-1s, but that doesn't stop the game from being enjoyable unlike the Variable Combos of Alpha and the parries of SF3. I enjoy the King of Fighters game much better... but nobody plays those. :-( Overall, it's a good game to have a good time with, albeit not a serious fighting game. Orange Hulk forever!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 03/20/03