There’s no denying that Capcom’s running the town this year. Beloved franchises such as Resident Evil, Street Fighter and Bionic Commando all saw new entries into their canon; not to mention Street Fighter IV sold like hot cakes when it was released. Expectedly, the giant developer also decided to play ball on the Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) side of things, releasing a not-so-rehashed version of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (MvC2) for those that crave a sprinkle of nostalgia and a whole dose of flashy, flamboyant, epilepsy-inducing game. To call MvC2 a geek’s gaming wet dream wouldn’t be too far off. Obviously I personally wouldn’t have a clue as to what that actually would be, but mashing classic comic book heroes with Capcom’s more renowned characters into one game seems like something they’d dream about. Let’s skip the history lesson about MvC2 journeying to arcades and home consoles, because all you really want to know is if the game’s any good and if it’s worth your virtual Microsoft points. In short, kind’a.

Gameplay:

If you’ve never played MvC2, the fighting mechanics are a little different to your traditional mano-a-mano versus mode. Capcom’s basically thrown gamers in a world where there’s 56 characters to choose from and three to induct into your prestigious, kill-everything team. You can choose whoever, even the same character thrice if you really want to (for the Ken fans in all of us). Once you start a game, you’ll realise that MvC2’s no conventional fighter. Stringing 30-50 hit combos are nothing and making that number rise won’t be as difficult as pulling off a Cancel Dash before an Ultra in SFIV.

Graphics:

Though many retro titles this year received the remake treatment, Capcom seemed to pass up on this opportunity and left MvC2 in its almost-original form. No, the visuals didn’t turn from 2D to 3D, hell, it didn’t even make the leap to 2.5D. Actually, thinking about it now, the characters could use a resolution bump to the in this world of high definition. But then again, for the old-schoolers, the same atmosphere they’re used to may not be such a bad thing. MvC2 contains a lot of fireworks, sometimes to the point that it may be a little too chaotic for those used to traditional fighters. The game’s undoubtedly trying to tap a more casual market than, say, Soul Calibur 4. The distinctly drawn characters, the zany, over-the-top mega-moves from the likes of Iron Man, Wolverine, Jill Valentine and Ryu all add to the fanfare of the game. MvC2 looks like fireworks during Independence Day; it doesn’t let up and relentlessly tries its best to blind you with the action that’s on screen at a particular time. That said, we prefer Street Fighter IV’s (SFIV) more subtle presence, though fans of the original may find renewed value in its true-to-form presentation.

Sound:

Plain and simple, MvC2’s soundtrack sucks. To what category such music belongs in we really wouldn’t have a clue. The pseudo neo-jazz’ish tunes are in loop most of the time, and we find no real merits in such corny, cheesy music. Though it could be argued that the audio fits the whole exaggerated atmosphere, we just feel that they were offensively unnecessary. But then again, it is a fighting game and no one truly pays attention to how the notes are hit, instead focusing on their opponent’s remaining-tag-partners-to-kill list.

Longevity:

The gameplay in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 will cater to most novices and button mashers, though Rockys of the arcade arena will definitely get their money’s worth. The game has an ‘easy-to-pick-up-but-hard-to-master’ attitude, which coincidentally, may seem like that last trip you made to the bar. What may seem easy offline isn’t such a stroll in the park online, the main selling point of Capcom’s latest XBLA title. With the inclusion of an online multiplayer mode, fighters all around the world will now be able to see who actually has bragging rights. You can either play 3v3 against some Karate Kid on the other side of the world, or join forces with two other gamers in a six-man lobby for them to individually control their characters in the team. To be frankly honest, I tend to get slaughtered by the better players online, resulting in some of the more embarrassing gaming moments I’ve experienced. Make sure you train up before you put on your Van Damme gloves online.

Overall:

We’re confident to say that the main allure for one to buy Marvel vs. Capcom 2 would be the new online play and its sense of nostalgia. Though the multiplayer component may be worth checking out, don’t let that trip down memory lane fool you. MvC2 isn’t an enhanced version of the original, nor does it usher anything new for old gamers to toy around with. In fact, it’s pretty much a port for the die-hard and dedicated fighting fans who want the game on their shiny, new Xbox 360. If you already own Street Fighter IV and aren’t wavered by the list of combos and commands, just stick to that, after all it also has online play covered. But if you’re in it for the nostalgia; dust off your old Dreamcast, grab a wooden chair, chew on some gnarly broccoli and play your old copy of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 instead. Just leave this to the gamers who’ve never experienced the chaos and pandemonium of the original.