Marvel vs. Capcom

"Crossover Fever! 'nuff said!"

When it comes to 2D fighting games no one can beat Capcom, they are best, only SNK comes close and the only one that can be considered a rival. Capcom fighting games is evolving without making bad gameplay but rather improving it in terms of graphics and gameplay, from Street Fighter 2 to Street Fighter Alpha, to X-men children of the atom to Marvel Superheroes vs Street Fighter and now Marvel vs Capcom and in my opinion this is the best yet. Marvel vs Capcom is the third game of capcom's versus series originally released in arcades in 1998, now it has made its way to game consoles, first on the Sony Playstation and now on the Dreamcast, and the DC version is a perfect arcade port with fun gameplay to boot. And now for my review:
NOTE: Scoring system - 10 is the best or highest score, 5 means average, 1 is the worst score. I don't give ratings on the game's controls, I only describe and comment on it.

GRAPHICS
- The graphics are awesome, huge 2D character sprites, superb animation, nice vibrant colors, busy backgrounds, and chaotic lighting/flashing effects on the characters' special moves and hyper combos. The Dreamcast port is arcade perfect with no loading time and no slowdown even if all four characters are on-screen at once performing special attacks. As amazing as the graphics is, it's still the same old graphics engine of the previous versus games with little revamp. Graphics deserves a very pleasing score of 8 out of 10.

MUSIC and SOUND
- Is very good, the Background music really fits the game's theme of comic book characters versus video game characters. Two of my favorites are Megaman's music which is a remixed version of his theme in megaman games(but it sounds closely to the megaman 2 theme) and Capt. America's theme which is the same theme in capcom's previous fighting game, Marvel Super Heroes. Character voices are excellent, really fits the characters' attitude/personality. The announcer is very good too, her voice is not annoying but rather pleasing to hear unlike in other fighter games. The smacking and attack sounds are fair, but the booming and clashing sounds from Special attacks and super attacks are very good, really sets the speakers pumpin'. Music and Sound scores an 8 out of 10.

CONTROLS
- Easy to learn controls, the same old button config of the Street Fighter games and Capcom's versus games. You have Punch, Medium Punch, High Punch, Kick, Medium Kick, and High Kick plus the new moves from the previous versus games like the high jump and taunt. With a simple button scheme, it's easy to perform combos, you'll learn it in no time, you will have a tough time learning and mastering the advance combos though especially aerial raves. There is also a move assist(easy mode) for beginners, when turned on, the computer will assist you or make thinngs easier in any way possible like auto-guard, easy combos, and one button projectiles or special moves. If you are a veteran of capcom's previous versus games, you will get the hang of Marvel vs Capcom easily. It is hard to play the game with the standard DC controller but it is possible to adjust yourself, I even got used to it after playing alot. The dreamcast fighting game controller is recommended for this game and the sega saturn controller is a must if you have a controller converter.

GAMEPLAY
- It is the same old gameplay of the previous versus games(X-men vs Street Fighter, Marvel vs Street Fighter), you can perform unbelievable attacks, lightning fast combos, hyper combos, high jumps, and tag your partner to change characters. But there are new features like back-up helper/support which you can summon to do various tasks like cancelling enemy attacks or add damage to your attack or combos and variable crosses where all four characters are on-screen at once attacking their respective opponents. Some of the characters are from previous capcom fighting games but the new ones are a blast to play especially Megaman and Venom. The game has the standard arcade/story mode which is not much interesting, versus mode(2P mode), time attack, survival mode, and the very fun 4 player cross over fever mode. The fast and furious gameplay and the 4 player cross over fever make this game rock!. Extremely fun gameplay gets 10 out of 10.

REPLAY VALUE and EXTRAS
- The 4-player cross over fever mode is so fun to play over and over again. It's so fun to team-up with a friend, tag, double team, and beat the other guys. This version lacks the Playstation version's gallery mode which decreases a point in the extras section. There are secret characters but most of them are just slightly altered versions of the default characters. I'm not sure if Magnetic Megaman and Onslaught are playable in this version of the game, I have yet to unlock him but if they're not in the game, another point decrease for the extras section. Still the secret characters are fun to play because they have some different attributes, moves, and special attacks. Replay value gets an 9 out of 10 for the very fun 4 player mode and Extras get a 6 out of 10 for the secret characters I've unlocked, add 1 point if you've discovered that Onslaught and magnetic megaman is playable in the game.

WHAT THE GAME LACKS:
- Even more characters: I just can't get enough of this game and because of that I want more characters, 15 characters is not enough.
- Something really new or more features: How about 3 on 3 matches, some bonus stages ala Street Fighter 3 Third Strike, why not include the Marvel Super Heroes' infinity gems power-ups as added bonus. All arcade to home console ports should have tons of extras.
- Gallery mode: The Playstation version has it, why not include it on the DC version.
- Network mode/Online Play: Do I really have to explain what this is?

THE VERDICT:
This one of the best 2D fighting game ever along with the King Of Fighters games and other SNK fighting games on the Dreamcast, I like this game better than its sequel Marvel vs Capcom 2(annoying jazz music) and Guilty Gear X(slow compared to this game). The only thing that keeps this game from getting a perfect score is because it lacks more characters(the sequels has loads of 'em), enhanced graphics(Guilty Gear X has the best 2D graphics and animation and Marvel vs Capcom 2 has the best background graphics), Online play, and more extras. I highly recommend this game, this is one of the best Dreamcast game ever, one of the reasons I wanted a Dreamcast and overall a great first generation Dreamcast game. Hardcore fighting game fans should never miss this game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/10/03, Updated 07/10/03