The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal compilation for fans of the series and newcomers alike. Its release was a surprise delight, especially considering the mixed reception of previous entries. This collection offers a fantastic opportunity to experience classic titles previously inaccessible to many.

Game Lineup

The collection boasts seven titles: 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 Punisher (a beat 'em up, not a fighter). All are arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets. Both English and Japanese versions are included, a significant bonus for fans.

This review is based on extensive playtime across Steam Deck (LCD and OLED), PS5 (backward compatibility), and Nintendo Switch. While lacking deep expertise in these games (this was my first time playing most!), the sheer enjoyment, particularly with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, easily justifies the price. The experience has even spurred me to seek out physical copies.

New Features and Enhancements

The user interface mirrors Capcom's Fighting Collection, including some of its drawbacks (discussed later). Key features include online and local multiplayer, Switch wireless support, rollback netcode, a comprehensive training mode with hitbox displays, extensive customization options per game, adjustable white flash reduction, various display settings, and several wallpaper choices. A helpful "one-button super" option is also included for online play, catering to newcomers.

Museum and Gallery

A rich museum and gallery are packed with over 200 soundtrack tracks and 500 pieces of artwork, some previously unreleased. While a welcome addition, Japanese text in sketches and documents remains untranslated. The inclusion of the soundtracks is a major win, hopefully paving the way for future vinyl or streaming releases.

Online Multiplayer Experience

The online experience offers customizable network settings (microphone, voice chat, input delay, connection strength on PC; limited options on Switch and PS4). Pre-release testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) revealed online play comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection on Steam, a significant improvement over the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, along with leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. A smart feature retains cursor positions after rematches, enhancing usability.

Issues and Shortcomings

The most significant drawback is the single, collection-wide quick save slot. This is a carryover from Capcom Fighting Collection and is disappointing. Another minor issue is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction.

Platform-Specific Notes

• Steam Deck: Perfectly functional and Steam Deck Verified, offering 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (16:9 only).
• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from noticeable load times. The lack of a connection strength option is also a drawback. Local wireless is a plus.
• PS5: Runs via backward compatibility; looks great but lacks native PS5 features like Activity Cards. Loading is fast, even from an external drive.

Overall Impression

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a top-tier compilation, exceeding expectations in many areas. The excellent extras and online functionality make it a must-have, despite the minor save state limitation.

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