Everyone was pleasantly surprised when we got the Marvel vs Capcom collection from CAPCOM, considering that we believed the series to be dead after Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite. However, it seems that wasn’t the case, and everyone thought within the future we’d be presented with Marvel vs Capcom 4. I mean, it was just a matter of time, right?
Things took a twist that NOBODY saw coming.
Playstation Studios and Marvel Games have teamed up with Arc System Works to create MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, a 4v4 Tag based fighter for Playstation 5 and PC. This is a shocker as it is the game we were all hoping for, but without the CAPCOM element intact. Seems that they’ve had it with the screw-ups with Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Infinite, and have gone with a tried and true fighting game developer known for its myriad titles within recent years.
Sure, CAPCOM has a storied history, but lately we’ve seen Arc System Works knocking it out of the park. DNF Duel, Guilty Gear Strive, Granblue Fantasy Versus, Dragon Ball FighterZ, etc. They’ve gotten much more experience within this genre and working on their craft compared to CAPCOM who has only really released remakes and collections of their oldies while pumping out Street Fighters in recently memory. Considering that DBFZ sold 10 million copies and Arc System Works is now a veteran tag fighter creator, it’s something to make you wonder.
Overall, there’s quite a lot to cover with this trailer, so I’m going to point out the main things I’m worried about and interested in. While I am happy that MAHVEL is back, it’s going to be something entirely new than what we’re used to; that presents things that are both good, bad, and growing pains will definitely be had.
First off, the game looks AMAZING. The graphics are something that Arc System Works has been known for, and they definitely succeed. The Hyper Combos look phenomenal, character designs are eye-catching, and the special effects are flashy and spectacular in fashion. The fighting looks amazing, the characters shown are eye-popping, and we are in a timeline to see Arc System Works take a crack at something of this magnitude, finally getting the recognition they deserve as a company who pours their hearts into every single product they make. I am legitimately excited for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls and their upcoming character announcements.
The very first thing of actual concern is that we can expect all characters to play differently without access to the classic movesets and signature features which were present within the games made by CAPCOM. Spider-Man will no longer have the “Maximum Spider”, Iron-Man won’t be wielding the “Proton Cannon”, and even Captain America’s “Charging Star” looks very different. Doubtful that Doom will be using the “Foot Dive” or Storm using the classic “Hail Storm”. While it’s possible we may see homages to these classic moves or them done in as lightly different fashion, it’s more likely they will be something new entirely. Both exciting and discouraging considering the legacy this game is built upon. This IS Marvel vs Capcom’s spiritual successor, so it has big shoes to fill and insane expectations to meet.
The next thing is the 4v4 combat. This is a very new direction than what everyone is used to, and completely confused on what they meant by not having to learn all four combatants on your team. Does this mean that there will only be a single life-bar shared between all combatants and we won’t see character’s getting K.O.’d? If so, how will that work for “Happy Birthdays” where double characters can be juggled? What’s stopping someone from using the best character to lead and only followed by the best assists only? Will it simply be a ratio system similar to Skull Girls? There’s so many questions here.
The last thing about it is the things which made VS fighting games amazing for Marvel vs Capcom…the “broken” characters and systems. Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes was unable to be patched within arcades and it lead to one of the most enjoyable and long-lived fighting games ever; creating Evo as we know it today. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 barely received any patch either, and it has evolved into the perfectly broken, enjoyable mess we all know and love. While Dragon Ball FighterZ is an amazing game, we already know that the last few patches ruined the game for most people and additional characters like Android 21 [Lab Coat] really hurt the game for the worst. Having access to a long-line of characters and balance patches might see the game played in a way that’s less crazy than what we’re used to. While I do love balance within my fighting game, the absolutely insane stuff is what makes those games amazing.
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