Review: Marvel vs. Capcom 3

So I've had MvC3 for a little over a week now and have been playing it quite a bit. For those of you who have known me for a while (and let's face it, if you're reading this then you probably do) know of my affinity for Capcom fighters. What you may not know is that I'm not the biggest fan of the Versus series of games. Not quite sure why they've never really appealed to me. Maybe it's the fact that they're much more fast paced. Maybe it's because they focus more on air combo strings that require precise timing. Or maybe it's just the fact that they seem to be really flashy affairs that seem to take style over substance.

Be that as it may, I came into MvC3 with a very open mind. I have been enjoying the resurgence of 2D style fighting games recently, what with Super Street Fighter IV and BlazBlue leading the pack. So I thought I would give the Versus series another try. And without further ado, here is my review.

The Story
What story? From what I have pieced together through the game, there is some kind of powerful entity that is looking to destroy two Earths: Marvel and Capcom. As a result, the best fighters from each world must unite(?) to defeat said powerful entity. Except that they don't really unite since they spend most of the game beating the crap out of each other. So I guess it should be some kind of prize to face the big baddie on your own? Not quite sure how that works. In any case, you pick a team of 3 representatives from each universe and fight your way through other teams of 3 until you get to the last boss. Who is Galactus. And oh yeah. He gives the power cosmic to Dormammu and Akuma. But really, the two are just chump change, present just to whittle your energy bars down so Galactus "The Planet Eater" has even more of an advantage.

But yes, that's the story. To the best of my knowledge.

The Good
1. Simplicity - Much to the chagrin of many fighting game fans, Capcom made the decision to simplify the control scheme. Whereas the first few Versus games in the series followed the 6 attack button style of Street Fighter 2, MvC2 reduced it to 4 attack buttons and 2 assist buttons. This was simplified even further in this game with only 3 attack buttons, a "special" button that really just starts air combos, and 2 assist buttons. What this means is that instead of 2 punches and 2 kicks, you get 3 attack buttons that could be either or. And while this might confuse series stalwarts, I actually found the control scheme refreshing. Instead of trying to learn how to fight, I could focus on how to win. Much better.
2. Music - MvC2 had a soundtrack that you either loved or hated. It's odd elevator jazz pop struck a chord with some people and left others wishing they had ear plugs. MvC3 replaces that with stage music that recalls the specific levels from different games represented or the characters associated with those backgrounds. For instance, the Ghouls and Ghosts level features music reminiscent of that franchise. Awesome.
3. Characters - yes there are 20 less characters in this game than MvC2 but I think that the game is better for it. There were a lot of palette swapped characters in the previous game, with some other characters thrown in for fan service or as inside jokes but weren't really all that great. This game features a much more varied character group with more useful skillsets. This means that learning new characters is a lot more interesting this time around since each one is so unique and they all have their skills. Except for MODOK. He sucks. Oh and Sentinel. Completely overpowered. Just like MvC2.

The Bad
1. Graphics - I know I'll probably get some flack for this but I'm not a huge fan of the graphics. There is a weird, dark shadowy tinge to them that seems counter to the other games in the series, which tended to have bright sprites with less contrast. I liked the other games because they looked very cartoony/comic book-y. The art style in this one was heavy on the ink outlines and yet very 3D, which was an odd blend.
2. Lack of modes - The game has Arcade, Versus, and Mission mode. That's it. I don't exactly know what I was expecting but maybe a Tournament mode would have been nice. Or the ability to customize games better. Spectator mode on Live would have been great too. If nothing else, it would have added more to the replay value of the game and with only 4 unlockable characters, this game needs all the help it can get.
3. Learning Curve - Oddly enough, this might be the first Capcom game (actually Tatsunoko vs. Capcom maybe first but I haven't had the pleasure of playing that game) that may have more of a learning curve for veterans rather than newbies. The reason I say this is because of the aforementioned simplified controls. After playing fighting games for almost 2 decades that featured dedicated punch and kick buttons, it was weird going to this scheme. It took a while for me to adjust to it but once I did, I was in awe at how easy it was. But it still needed to be said. Those who were raised on Capcom fighters can't just jump into this game without expecting a period of adjustment.

In Conclusion
Overall, I like the game. It is very easy for newbies to get into and still offers the depth that veterans expect from a fighting game of this caliber. The selection of characters may be smaller than previous entries but the fact that they are more varied and balanced means that I'll actually have more viable choices than I did before. I'd say that this game perfectly bridges the gap between a game like Super Smash Bros. and more traditional fighting games like Street Fighter IV. If you're a fan of fighting games or are looking for a good game to dip your feet into, MvC3 is the game for you.