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Capcom had a commanding presence at Gamescom 2024, where they showcased several upcoming titles, including Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection. Although Gamescom is one of the premier events in the gaming industry, not everyone could attend. Thankfully, Capcom decided to showcase their game at their San Francisco office.

Gamescom 2024 by the Bay was a special event by Capcom that invited commentators and members of the press for a hands-on preview. Among the games I got to preview during the event was Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection. This is a look at my experience of playing the game for the PlayStation 5.

Fighting Collection

During my playthrough of the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, I focused on a few familiar titles. I chose to revisit games I had previously played, allowing me to easily compare the remastered versions with the original arcade releases. Specifically, I revisited Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter to assess the differences and improvements. I should also note that I played the PlayStation 5 version using a console controller.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2

I began my session by playing one of my favorite arcade fighters. I created a team comprised of Jill Valentine (using projectiles), Wolverine (using dash), and Chung-Li (using expansion type). The gameplay was set to assist style and I began my playthrough.

In the first stage, I battled a team up comprised of Venom, Cammy, and Charlie. I was able to defeat Venom as Jill before being taken out by Cammy. Luckily, Wolverine proved to be an effective character and I was able to defeat Cammy and Charlie. In the second stage, it was a battle against Dan, Gambit, and Cyclopes. However, there was no mercy here as Gambit decimated Wolverine and Jill while Cyclopse finished off Chung-Li.

Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter

I began my session of Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter by creating a team comprised of Captain America and Ryu. The gameplay was set to assist style and I began my playthrough. In the first stage, I went up against M. Bison and the Hulk. In the second stage, it was a quick battle against Dan and Sakura as they knocked me out quickly.

In my second playthrough; my team comprised of M. Bison and Spider-Man with the gameplay set to assist. Our first battle was against Shuma-Gorth and Dhalasim, who defeated me but at least I put up a solid fight.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes

I began my session of Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes by creating a team comprised of Spider-Man and Chung-Li. The gameplay was set to assist style and I began my playthrough. In the first stage, I went up against Strider and Venom. It was a quick session as I was able to defeat them but my time with the collection was over.

Final Thoughts

I’ve played Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter at arcade expos and anime conventions in recent years. This collection brings significant improvements to these games. The controls are more polished and responsive, even compared to well-maintained arcade cabinets. The graphics are sharp, yet they retain the 2D charm that defined the era. I also have to note how the audio quality was sharp while also keeping it true to how it sounded back in the arcade days.

Overall; this is going to be a treat for those who grew up on Marvel and Street Fighter in the 90s.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection will launch digitally for all major consoles and the PC on September 12th. The physical version of the game will launch on November 22 and fans who pre-order the game will receive a 32-page bonus comic featuring the characters from the collection. The comic will be exclusive to those who pre-order the physical game. 

8Bit/Digi is an independent news outlet that provides insight into the video game and fandom community of the San Francisco Bay Area.