Written by: Mark

 

 

 

On July 16th 2000 a groundbreaking 2d fighting game was launched on the much loved Sega Dreamcast console, the game in question was "Marvel v Capcom 2".

 

Whilst the game may have been the fourth (and final) game in the Marvel v Capcom series it is the one that truly went down as a timeless classic thanks in no small part to the re-invention of the fighting mechanics and the strategic use of teams of three fighters.

 

Whilst the game has since had a release on the original Xbox console it always remained a very desirable title which has sold for increasingly high prices on auction sites and between enthusiasts.

 

Since the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) service gamers everywhere have been crying out for the game to be released on the service, and such has been the popularity, Microsoft have duly obliged and added online play to boot.

 

 

Before we take a look at the graphics, gameplay and online aspects it should be mentioned that in terms of available fighters Marvel v Capcom 2 has yet to be beaten with a very impressive roster of fifty six fighters to choose from.

 

The major difference with the XBLA version is that all fighters are unlocked from the outset which certainly makes the game more accessible for newcomers however veterans of the game may feel that this has certainly taken away a lot of the challenge of unlocking characters as you progress.

 

The actual fighters are well split between the Marvel comic franchise and those featured in the massive amount of Capcom games. Whilst the majority are easily recognisable such as Spider-man, The Hulk, Captain America, Street Fighter characters etc there are also many that a lot of people will not recognise as easy.

 

 

What is surprising is the inclusion of characters such as Jill Valentine from Resident Evil and Mega Man which if am honest are a little strange as they do not strike you as being characters you would ever find in a fighting game.

 

Whilst this does make the game more diverse players will probably be tempted to stick with those which they recognise and understand their special moves. However the gameplay is such that it is imperative that all characters are tried at least once in order to find the perfectly balanced team and that is where the real depth of the game lies and proves to be different to any fighting game ever released.