Coming to Switch, PS4, and Windows on September 12, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a terrific re-release of a classic fighting series. The first re-release of the early games in the series for over a decade, the collection contains seven Capcom and Marvel collaborations. After steadily becoming a highlight of the arcade 2D-fighter genre, older Marvel vs. Capcom titles have become largely unavailable on modern platforms.

It’s notable that the collection isn’t a remaster or reimagining. The title brings together seven titles: X-Men: Children of the Atom and 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 even the arcade beat-em-up adaptation of The Punisher.

It’s not their previous console ports, either, but rather their original arcade formats. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics highlights the series’ historic strengths by reproducing the original games in all their retro glory. The series is among the highlights of arcade fighting output in the era, and an exciting title to see brought into the modern era.

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Marvel Vs. Capcom Is A Classic For A Reason

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics brings back a compelling corner of gaming history. The collection does a great job recreating the original games, right down to the presentation. The graphics and controls are reflective of their original formats. The more deliberate fighting style of the early games is a far cry from the more kinetic and bombastic action of the later titles. The benefit of the different styles of fighting games give players different options to dive into depending on preference.

This is core to the entire experience. The collection brings back the original arcade games to the present day instead of any of their ports over to home consoles. It’s a straightforward translation to consoles, with no additional tweaks or changes. The gameplay remains as vibrant and energetic as ever, recalling why this series of crossovers became so popular in the first place.

The collection is a great way to chart the growth of the franchise, building from the more grounded X-Men: Children of the Atom to the three-character tag-team chaos of Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The controls are tight but flexible, and keep the spirit of the original arcade games even when played through modern controllers. The collection remains impressive, even decades later.

It helps that its final title, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, is still one of the best 2D-fighting games ever. A tightly designed cacophony of controlled chaos, it’s thrilling to see the game back in the original format. The game series always brought a touch of Capcom’s traditional design to the distinct X-Men characters, an evolution that only became more pronounced as the crossover expanded to include the rest of the Marvel Universe and the Capcom franchise.

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A Super Experience

The games reached their height with the addition of teams, fully pairing the two franchises in a gleefully over-the-top franchise. In an era of gaming that leans more heavily towards remakes instead of restorations, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics feels like a monument to the history of the series and the genre. The decision to bring back the original titles feels more bluntly reverent, allowing the titles to remind players why they’re classics. That respectful vibe is evident from the key game art, showcasing Ryu and the X-Men’s Cyclops confidently grasping hands in mutual respect in a reference to X-Men vs. Street Fighter.

Above all, the game faithfully recreates all seven games, providing plenty of throwback fun. More than anything, the collection serves as a blueprint of the franchise’s evolution. The relatively grounded X-Men: Children of the Atom, a Street Fighter-stylized fighting game is incredibly different from the 3v3 tag-team throwdown in later titles. It’s a celebration of the past, even beyond the fighting games.

The collection includes another long-lost bizarre classic of Marvel and Capcom’s collaborations: The Punisher, a side-scrolling beat-em-up starring Frank Castle, Nick Fury, and a lot of wild violence. A precursor to 1994’s X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse and 1996’s Marvel Super Heroes in War of the Gems for the Super Nintendo, The Punisher is an authentic recreation of a wild beat ’em up classic.

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I Wanna Take You For A Ride

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is more a monument than a new release. This isn’t necessarily a remaster and it’s definitely not a remake. That’s not a bad thing in the slightest. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is game development in a microcosm, showcasing the evolution of the fighting genre through natural escalation.

Even just as a testament to the history of the genre, the collection is worthwhile. However, it helps that Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics also includes some of the genre’s best entries. For fans of the original, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a must-get. For everyone else, the tight recreation and bright graphics make the collection a fascinating (and fun) dive into gaming’s recent past.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics comes to Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Windows Sept. 10. The game is expected to arrive on Xbox in 2025.

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