Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicsis the latest entry in Capcom’sFighting Collectionseries. With seven games available to play, it’s set to revive some of the most classic fighting games of all time. Though it’s hard to get one’s hopes up after the issues the series has encountered in recent years, it’s impossible to ignore that there’s suddenly more cause to hold out for a newMarvel vs. Capcomgame.
Marvel vs. Capcomhas been dormant for a long time, with many thinking the series was dead for good after thebacklash incited byMarvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. By contrast,Marvel vs. Capcom 2is often considered to be the best of the series, and one of the best fighting games of all time. However, it has remained inaccessible for purchase since 2013.Marvel vs. Capcom FightingCollectionis finally putting games likeMarvel vs. Capcom 2back into the hands of players, and it could be a good sign of things to come.
Marvel vs. Capcom 4 Could Hit the Ground Running
Marvel’s Investment in Marvel vs. Capcom is On the Rise
Central to the identity ofMarvel vs. Capcom(andInfinite’s lackluster reception) is the presence of the X-Men on the game’s roster. Since Marvel lacked the film rights to the X-Men for a long time, it had a vested interest in scrubbing them from popular media. However, with therecent success ofX-Men ‘97, Marvel is embracing its old golden goose more than ever.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionseems like a clear extension of this. In contrast to the last two entries in the series, the compilation of classics features Cyclops front and center. Just as Marvel is trying to generate interest in the current trajectory of its brand, it’s not hard to imagine that Capcom is gauging interest in its own.
Marvel vs. Capcom, just like any crossover franchise, is very much beholden to brand synergy. This has led to many decisions throughout the franchise’s history that can be called into question, though it managed to persist through sheer quality. However,Marvel vs. Capcom Infiniteleaned into this concept to an infamous degree, withMarvel receiving a lot of the blame. As much as it may want to avoid invoking that memory again,Marvel vs. Capcom 4could be the perfect opportunity to invert this reputation.
Capcom is in a Golden Age
AlthoughMarvel vs. Capcomhas struggled to survive, Capcom as a whole is thriving.Resident Evil,Monster Hunter, andStreet Fighterare all core components of its library, and those franchises have released some of their most acclaimed entries ever in the past few years. Even franchises with a longer wait since their most recent entries, likeDevil May CryorAce Attorney,are in a healthy place right now.
Furthermore, many of these Capcom series has had representation withinMarvel vs. Capcom. Although the series has historically been a licensing nightmare, it remains one of the main places these two franchises can gain positive representation within the gaming space. With their unique ups and downs at the current moment, it seems both Marvel and Capcom are primed to crossover once again.
The collection is already poised to breathe life into classic games in the series, but teeing up a potential sequel is another beast entirely. As much as Capcom and Marvel could benefit from revisiting their iconic crossover, it’s hard to imagine that the failure of its last entry isn’t still burned into the minds of executives.
Speculation for Marvel vs. Capcom 4 Requires Cautious Optimism
Marvel vs. Capcom Has a Lot of Baggage
Marvel vs. Capcom 4may be highly requested now, but it seemed nearly impossible only a few weeks ago. Between the delisting of the series’ most popular games, and the overwhelming negative reception to the series' most recent entry, it is impossible to overstateMarvel vs. Capcom’s reputation as a dead franchise.
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinitereceives the bulk of the blame for the state the series has been in. In truth, it was simply the kill shot after several blows were dealt to the series. For starters, licensing any crossover can be a Herculean feat to execute, especially thanks to Marvel’s complicated relationship with the film rights of its own characters. The matter of licensing has made it difficult to keep previous entries of the game in circulation, which has only compounded the shifting reputation of later entries.
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite Nearly Buried the Series
EVO is the biggest fighting game tournament in the world. WithMarvel vs. Capcom’s reputation as a classic of the genre, it’s no surprise that the franchise used to be seen as a staple at EVO. However,Marvel vs. Capcom Infinitewas not present at EVO 2018, only a year after the game’s release. There was no better indication of fan reception, and no moment so clearly indicated the trajectory of the series.
With the game’s lifespan ending so swiftly and dramatically, many thought the entire franchise had gone with it. The series had already been in decline, and the effort to revive it was dead on arrival.Marvel vs. Capcom Infinitewas released nearly seven years ago, with radio silence surrounding the series until theannouncement ofMarvel vs.Capcom Fighting Collection.
Despite the cautionary tale ofMarvel vs. Capcom Infinite, the discussion around a potentialMarvel vs. Capcom 4is still largely filled with optimism. Although bringing the crossover series back with a brand-new game is a difficult road to take, it seems that enoughfan interest inMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectioncould further secure a place in the world forMarvel vs. Capcom 4.
Marvel vs. Capcom 4 Could Move Past its Predecessor
There are plenty of other factors that leave room for cautious optimism. Though it’s been a long time sinceMarvel vs. Capcom 2has been accessible to a broad audience, this is by no means the first time the game has been re-released. Only a year before the release ofMarvel vs. Capcom 3, Capcom released anonline port ofMarvel vs. Capcom 2.
With a port of the classic game closely proceeding a new entry, it’s easy to see the precedent this may have set. Just as the last return ofMarvel vs. Capcom 2led to a new game in the series,Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectioncould finally pave the road forMarvel vs. Capcom 4. However, theinfamous delisting ofMarvel vs. Capcom 2reveals the double-edged sword of this situation.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionis a clear effort to renew interest in one of the most classic fighting game series of all time. If it manages to succeed, it would make a strong case for thedevelopment ofMarvel vs. Capcom 4. Likewise, EVO is just a month away, with theMvC Fighting Collectionlikely to receive a release date announcement. However, despite the immense excitement a potential sequel might bring, it must be restrained with cautious optimism thanks to the series' troubled history so far.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
WHERE TO PLAY
The epic clash between two storied universes returns withMarvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, the next era of the highly revered action-fighting game series. Marvel and Capcom universes collide like never before as iconic characters team up for action-packed player-versus-player combat.Imagined and created through a shared vision between the two companies,Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinitewill feature a variety of exciting and accessible single player modes and rich multi-player content for new players and longtime fans alike. In addition to single player Arcade, Training and Mission modes, a visually stunning and immersive cinematic Story Mode will put players at the center of both universes as they battle for survival against a sinister new threat, Ultron Sigma.Marvel vs. Capcom: Infiniteis being built to highlight a combination of iconic locations and fan favorite characters from both universes, including Captain Marvel and Iron Man from the Marvel side, and Ryu and Mega Man X from Capcom.
