The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a phenomenal release for fans of the series and newcomers alike. This comprehensive collection, available on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation (with Xbox coming in 2025), offers an incredible package of classic fighting games. Let's delve into the details.

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). All are based on the arcade versions, ensuring complete feature sets. English and Japanese versions are included, a notable detail for fans of variations like Norimaro in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.

This review is based on extensive playtime across Steam Deck (both LCD and OLED), PS5 (via backward compatibility), and Nintendo Switch. While I'm not a seasoned expert on these classic titles (this was my first time playing many of them), the sheer enjoyment, especially with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, easily justifies the purchase price.

New Features and Enhancements:

The user interface mirrors Capcom Fighting Collection, offering both online and local multiplayer (including local wireless on Switch). Crucially, rollback netcode ensures smooth online experiences. Other additions include a training mode with hitbox displays, customizable game options, a valuable white flash reduction setting, various display options, and wallpaper choices. A helpful one-button super move option caters to newcomers.

Museum and Gallery:

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

Online Multiplayer Experience:

The online options menu allows for microphone and voice chat adjustments (PC only offers more extensive controls than Switch). Pre-release testing on Steam Deck (wired and wireless) revealed online play comparable to Capcom Fighting Collection, a significant improvement over Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. Matchmaking supports casual and ranked matches, plus leaderboards and a High Score Challenge mode. The convenient retention of character selections between rematches is a thoughtful touch.

Issues:

The collection's biggest drawback is the single save state for the entire collection, not per game. Another minor inconvenience is the lack of universal settings for visual filters and light reduction.

Platform-Specific Notes:

• Steam Deck: Perfectly functional and Steam Deck Verified. Supports 720p handheld and up to 4K docked (16:9 aspect ratio only).

• Nintendo Switch: Visually acceptable, but suffers from noticeable load times compared to other platforms. The lack of a connection strength option is also disappointing. However, it does offer local wireless play.

• PS5: Runs via backward compatibility. Looks excellent, loads quickly (especially on an SSD), but lacks PS5 Activity Card integration.

Overall: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a superb collection, offering exceptional extras and fantastic online play (on Steam, particularly). The minor issues with save states and settings don't significantly detract from the overall experience.

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