Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classicswas recently released to near-universal acclaim. Many of the classic fighting games included were delisted from online stores years ago, and rendered completely inaccessible to a general audience. Along with the immense effort to resurrect these titles,Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionhas gone the extra mile for preservation.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionsent shock waves through the fighting game community from the moment it was announced. Revealed during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, fans were pleasantly surprised by the return of manyiconic games in theMarvel vs. Capcomseries. This act alone was enough to earn goodwill for years, but Capcom didn’t stop at bringing these games back from the dead. TheMarvel vs. Capcom Collectionincludes a robust gallery that can make sure their history is protected well into the future.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Makes History with Gallery Mode
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionis a direct response to fan outcry. The FreeMvC2 trend was undoubtedly the most high-profile community campaign in recent years, but the demand for this series has always existed. After years of radio silence, even veteran fans began to lose hope that these classic games would ever return. These expectations were shattered by the announcement ofMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, and have been shattered once again since its release.
Making these games available to play on a modern console would have been enough, and many additional features seem like the cherry on top. Of course, the collection isn’t without its issues.Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionhas had issues with online play, which was undoubtedly a top priority for many players. However, art preservation is at the heart of the collection, and this is one area where developers have truly outdone themselves.
Marvel vs. Capcom’s Rich Legacy was Nearly Erased Before the Fighting Collection
WhenMarvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroeswas taken off shelves, much of its history was seemingly erased with it. Even the most prominent official art was nearly impossible to find in any sort of high resolution. This was especially unfortunate, as the game’s key art contains some of the most iconic designs for its many characters. Worse yet, this principle rang true forevery game now included inMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, especially its most obscure titles.
Thankfully,Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionmakes an effort to correct thisas well. Not only is key art available for every character in the game, but it’s at the highest resolution most fans have ever seen. Once again, this baseline expectation was met and exceeded. In a huge victory for video game preservation, the game’s robust gallery contains so much more than its character designs.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Features Never-Before-Seen Concept Art
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionis chock-full of incredible concept art, with many of these images making their public debut for the very first time. Key art and official promotion are valuable in their own right, but the obscurity of this concept art proves the collection’s dedication to preserving some ofCapcom’s most classic fighting games. After all, much of the concept art now included in its gallery mode was likely doomed to rot away in a filing cabinet.
Better yet, this concept art is well worth exploring in its own right. Many of these rough sketches are cute character interactions, such as Chun-Li bashfully receiving a rose from Iceman, while Cyclops looks on in confusion. Others seem like core design concepts, with one sheet showing an entirely different vision for Doctor Doom’s moveset compared to its final version. Both of these can provide endless enjoyment for fans, and proof thatMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionrecognizes its place in history.
Preservation means much more than making the games playable online or bolstering the quality of life. Although the collection does manage both, its gallery mode is a clear standout. Final character designs, official promotional art, and rough sketches are all presented in the same high fidelity.Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectionuncovers concept art that has never been seen before and undoubtedly serves a valuable purpose in each game’s history.
