Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Review – Switch, Steam Deck, and PS5 Covered

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a dream come true for many fighting game fans, especially given the mixed reception of recent Marvel vs. Capcom titles. This collection offers a nostalgic trip back to the arcade era, featuring seven classic games: X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Super Heroes, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, and the beat 'em up The Punisher. All games are based on their arcade counterparts, ensuring a faithful and complete experience, including both English and Japanese versions.

The collection boasts a comprehensive feature set. Online and local multiplayer are supported, along with local wireless on Switch. Crucially, rollback netcode ensures smooth online play. A robust training mode, customizable game options (including a vital setting to reduce screen flashing), various display options, and several wallpapers enhance the experience. A new one-button super move option caters to newcomers.

A treasure trove of extras awaits in the museum and gallery. Over 200 tracks from the game soundtracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased, are included. While the artwork lacks translations for Japanese text, the sheer volume of content is impressive.

Online multiplayer, powered by rollback netcode, performs exceptionally well, mirroring the quality of Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam while significantly surpassing Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Cross-region matchmaking and adjustable input delay are available (though connection strength settings are absent on Switch). The online experience is further refined by features like persistent cursor positions during rematches, enhancing usability.

However, the collection isn't without flaws. The single, global save state (rather than per-game saves) is a significant drawback inherited from Capcom Fighting Collection. Additionally, the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction is inconvenient.

Cross-platform performance varies. The Steam Deck version runs flawlessly, achieving 720p handheld and 4K docked. The Switch version, while visually acceptable, suffers from noticeable load times. The PS5 version, running via backward compatibility, performs well but lacks PS5 Activity Card integration.

Despite minor shortcomings, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a high-quality compilation. The inclusion of extensive extras, excellent online play (on Steam, particularly), and the opportunity to experience these classics for the first time make it a highly recommended title. However, the limited save states remain a significant point of frustration.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Steam Deck Review Score: 4.5/5