With Dr. Doom the focal point of the current Fortnite season, players will have to confront one of the better-known antagonists from Marvel Comics. However, those with a keen eye who play fighting games may notice that Doom has an attack hearkening back to his Marvel vs. Capcom (MvC) days.

Players partaking in the new Absolute Doom season are feeling the wrath of the very notorious "foot dive" move he performs in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. On Twitter, user CaptainGalxy highlighted Dr. Doom's signature hit as it appears in Fortnite �??and it looks like plenty of folks have nostalgia for it.

It seems like Victor von Doom leaps into the air, charges up with a glowing green aura, and announces his attack with an insult-to-injury "you're beneath me" quip. Take the hit or move out of the way, as it won't kill you, but it will disorient you from its pushback. This has to be an intentional nod to the Marvel vs. Capcom fighting game franchise.

With the resurgence of the Marvel fighting games, namely the first two, this obvious nod to the franchise is just what we need to keep the momentum going. What better way is there to build hype than to possibly reenact the iconic moments between characters who appear in these older titles and who are now in Fortnite?  

As someone who puts dozens of hours a month into fighting games, this crossover, especially with its detailed fan-service additions, make the new season of Fortnite that much more enticing to hop back into. This really is the “New Age of Heroes�in a different coat of paint. Hopefully, some of these collaborations bring those who aren’t even into Fortnite out, at least to see how far it has evolved since t??he “OG�days.

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Broken characters are not a strange concept for fighting game fans, as ev??en the most cherished and acclaimed f?ranchises within the genre have a few within their mix.

But which among this wi?de array of infamous faces can be considered the strongest, or for some, most unfair? For all looking to see where their worst nightmares sit at the table, here are the 10 most broken fighting gam?e characters in history.

10. Phoenix/Dark Phoenix (Marvel Vs Capcom 3)

Although one of the most fragile members of its roster, Phoenix opens our list for one reason above all, she has a boss-like second phase. To be more specific, Phoenix can turn into Dark Phoenix and recover all of her HP in all MvC3 versions if defeated while having five-meter bars?. But like most bosses, she does not simply rise from the ashes, as the health regen is paired with a full-screen Hyper??, a 20% All DMG boost, and the ability to perform enhanced versions of all of her already upper-tier moves.

As a statement of how good the character is, even after being heavily nerfed with the release of Marvel Vs Capcom Ultimate, Phoenix is still one of the most br?oken members of its roster to this day??.

9. Hilde (SoulCalibur IV)

One of the most straightforward characters here, Soulcalibur IV's Hilde terrorized the community in the game's heyday given her long-range and known Doom Combo, which allows her to either get a guarantee ring-out from almost anywhere in most stages or start a massively damaging loop by chaining set charged?? attacks.

To no one's surprise, that caused her to be eventually banned from multiple tournaments, as matches involving her ?would often end as soon as sh??e managed to score a hit.

8. Bayonetta (Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS)

In 2016, Nintendo decided to stay true to a fraction of Bayonetta's true power for her debut as the final DLC of Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS (or 4), which resulted in the Umbra Witch being able to zero-to-death targets no matter her placement by performing Witch Twist mixups. But wait, what if you beat he??r to the punch? In this case, she can, to this day, lock you in place by performing Witch Time for a guaranteed combo as well as stop you on your tracks from a distance by using a wide array of different projectiles that, if hit, will open you for a TOD.

Even if nerfed heavily since her debut, it's no surprise why many still dread meeting Bayonetta when returning to SSB4 on either its native pl??atforms or on the Nintendo Switch.

7. Pet Shop (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future)

One of the most well-known broken characters in fighting game history and a highlight in a game famous for its unbalance, Heritage for the Future's Pet Shop is the definition of a frustrating matchup, as apart from being able to automatical?ly avoid lows and flying to create distance, he can also make use of homing projectiles and hit you at all times by dropping stalagmites with his Icicle Break Special.

The latter is what segments his spot here, as his ability to use the ability while being attacked ??and freely act while his projectiles are on the screen allows Pet Shop to perform multiple unblockable mixups, many known to lead t??o TODs.

6. Sailor Uranus (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen)

Arc System Works's Sailor Moon S is, for many, the most broken fighting game ever released, given its over-the-top damage calculations and easy TODs, but no member of its roster comes close to Sailor Uranus. The reason for that does not lie in her damage or the various applications of one of her specials. Instead, it's all about her broken Shadow Dash move, which allows Uranus t?o traverse almost the entire screen at unmatched speed and becomes invincible if performed as a reversal when on the player 2 side.

The above allows her to both avoid most attacks and perform easy punishers, which can lead to her TOD??s and a few highly damaging special moves. Like most characters here, Uranus is currently banned from many competitions.

5. Lab Coat Android 21 (Dragon Ball FighterZ)

Lab Coat Android 21 is both Dragon Ball FighterZ 's last DLC character and one of the most recent personifications of DLC-meta. The reason? She was in a league of her own at launch by having both no noticeable weaknesses and the ability to lower the DMG of enemies by 21% while also increasing her Special DMG by the same amoun?t through her Photon Pulse command grab —which, of course, could be easily performed mid-combo for a guaranteed hit.

The above led to the character being slightly nerfed a few months post its release, as well as banned from multiple tourname?nts. Today, Lab Coat 21 is still considered a top tier, even if she is no longer alone at the top.

4. Meta Knight (Super Smash Bros Brawl)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl's version of Meta Knight is considered by many as the most broken character the Smash franchise has ever produced, a title he earned in part given his phenomenal mobility, omnidirectional moves, and ability to juggle opponents to oblivion through his Shuttle Loop attack. The biggest reason, however, lies in his ability to stall, as Meta Knight players can force time-out wins by both planking and then siz-zagging (or scroog??ing) below the arena or by performing his vanishing move Dimensional Cape before making a series of key inputs to trigger a glitch and stop him from reappearing.

As a surprise to no one, the above saw Kirby's rival being banned from multiple competitions, while those?? who still consider him legal decided to apply specific rules to guarant??ee fair play.

3. Gill (Street Fighter 2nd Impact and 3rd Strike)

Another character capable of resurrecting, Gill is infamously considered the most broken character in the Street Fighter 3 series, which says a lot considering the series' other great surprises, such as 2nd Impact's Ibuki.

Available for the first time in the home console port of 2nd Impact, Gill brings to the field all you can expect of a boss character by pairing his already-mentioned ability to come back at full life with unblockable AoE suppers and the ability to deal massive amounts of chip damage, the latter which can cause you to be? defeated without him having to land a single clear hit. To top it all off, he can also perform TODs.

2. Akuma (Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo)

Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo's Akuma is both one of the most ruthless bosses in fighting game history ?and one of its most broken fighters. Showcasing what I can only assume to be a lore-accurate description of the Destroyer of the Heavens, Akuma can send off extremely fast projectiles, has access to an unbelievable on-air fireball, and can perform improved versions of all of Ryu and Ken's moves. That is then paired with the highest damage in the game and an ability to —like Pet Shop�perform unblockable mixups at will.

1. Ivan Ooze (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition)

The most infamous face when the subject is broken characters and by far the most unfair to ever be featured in a fighting game, MMPR: The Fighting Edition's Ivan Ooze is a nightmare capable of performing a wide array of spammable and multi-hit homing moves??, most of which posses?s invincible variants. Also, did I mention that he is immune to throws, is the only character in the game capable of flying, and makes his inability to block meaningless through the way all of his moves —that's right, all of themâ€?can lead to TODs?

Now that you know who are the most broken characters to ever debut in a fighting game, don't forget to also check out the 10 best fighting games that aren't Street Fighter, Tekken, or MK.

The post The ??10 most broken fighting game characters in hi?story appeared first on Destructoid.

Schoolgirl Superhero

You may remember, at the start of the year, we reported that a modder had made the world that little bit better, having successfully modded a playable Juri Han into Capcom's comic-book fighter Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 �well, i??t seems that Ms. Han is not the only street fighter squaring up against the Marvel alumni, as a brand new mod brings with it the inimitable Sakura Kasugano!

Talented modder Dragonify released a video showcasing their hard work in action, as Sakura �sporting her Street Fighter V duds �steps up to the plate against a team of Marvel vs. Capcom comrades. Mapped over the form of Ryu, a given considering Sakura's shoto move set, Sakura is equipped with many of her distinct specials, including her air Tatsu, high-arc Shinku Hadoken, and even her running double Dragon Punch. You can check Sakura out in the video below and download her files from Nexus Mods.

//twitter.com/?DragonifyDev/status/1536427077364244480???s=20&t=cjF114DTGAA9hNq_3mRxJA

In recent years, multiple new characters have been added to the UMvC3 roster via mods. Sharp eyes will spot SFV's Rashid also putting in an appearance in this video, while Dragon Ball Z's Goku, Marvel meme Morbius, and even *checks notes* Smol Ame have also been made available to the popular fighter's PC community. Given that UMVC3 is now a creaky 11 years old, it's a testament to the Marvel vs. Capcom community, internationally renown??ed for its passion and dedication toward the cross??over fighting franchise.

Sakura Kasugano is yet to be revealed for the roster of Street Fighter 6, but it's good ?to know that the fight-loving teen is still keep?ing her fists and feet flying after-hours.

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Unless we're all being taken for a ride

One of the most beloved fighting games of all time, Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, might be in line for a f?resh revival, ac??cording to remaster squad and long-time Capcom associates Digital Eclipse. The developer has reportedly reached out to the bigwigs at both Capcom and Disney with an eye to licensing a remaster/remake of the smash hit.

"We’ve begun some discussions on that right now and we’re trying to see how far we can go. But ultimately, at the end of the day, it’s really not up to us," said DE's Mike Mika, speaking in an interview with Yo??uTube channel GamerHubT??V. ??"So all we can really do is just make the best case possible and try to make? it easy for them, and see if they’re interested."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-wQJmLU2h0

Released in 2000 to the arcade and home console market, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (or simply "MvC2") sees some of the raddest characters from Marvel comics face off with a wild roster of Capcom veterans, including characters from the Street Fighter and Darkstalkers series, as well as older Capcom classics such as 1984 release SonSon. With fast-paced action, deep fighting mechanics, an electric soundtrack, and plenty of custom strategy options, MvC2 took the fighting game scene by storm and is stil??l played competitively the world over �some two ?decades on from its initial release.

A port of MvC2 launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2009, but has since been removed due to licensing issues follow Disney's purchase of Marvel Comics. It is these exact licensing issues that are preventing a rerelease, remaster, or remake of the classic fighter from coming to fruition. As such, Digital Eclipse is hoping that some sort of red-tape-clearing agreement can be reached between the developer, Capcom, and The House of Mouse in order to kickstart any form of Marvel vs Capcom 2 revival.

And that's a lot of red tape to?? clear, so don't hold your breath on this one just yet.

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You don’t have to say MvC2!

Outside of MMOs, one of the longest "gauntlet-runs" I've ever done for a single game involves Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

I picked it up from a local game store for Dreamcast, and played it for what felt like an entire day: I nearly unlocked everything. It was a breezy summer afternoon in 2000, and the world was my oyster. But as simple as it would be to say "that's my favorite Marvel vs. Capcom," it's not! Let's talk about the impact of each ga??me, briefly, and discuss our t?op picks.

For the purposes of this post, we're not counting X-Men Vs. Street Fighter, or Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter. Just raw mainline "Marvel vs. Capcom" titles, starting with Clash of Superheroes from 1998. We can add way more of those into the mix at some point, like Children of the Atom.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1998)

Shockingly, the first Marvel Vs. Capcom mainline entry is still my favorite. And my first ever experience ?with money-matches, and the moment I started to get into ??local and regional fighting game tournaments. I'll never forget it.

There's something so special about the streamlined "versus" approach, providing easy access to the "guest assist" system (in which crazy, mostly unplayable characters come out for a special attack) while cementing the tag-team format. It also had an insanely varied roster (which would become a series staple), which it deserves a lot of credit for. I remember playing Captain Commando for the first time here and rushing to play his game because his mechanics were so buttery smooth. Mega Man was a complete shocker to witness in a versus fighter (and led me to seek out Power Fighters and Power Battle), as was a Darkstalkers crossover (Morrigan).

??It was a dream of a game. Something so ambitious that the prior crossovers paled in comparison to it. And it's clean enough to go back to constantly, even today.? For a lot of people, that rang true for roughly two years: until the sequel eclipsed it.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000)

That&rsqu??o;s what I expected! I think this one will win it by a mi?le.

It's the daddy of everything discussed here. It's the incredibly packed sequel that defined fighters after it and helped popularize the entire fighting game community (FGC), thrust?ing it into the zeitgeist; for better or worse.

A roster of 56 playable characters is pretty much all the ammo you need to sell this to someone. "Do you have a favorite Marvel or Capcom character?" Odds are they're in it. Nearly everyone from past "Versus" entries made the cut, as did Amingo, Ruby Heart, and SonSon. There was an MvC lore now. A loose storyline that served as the connective tissue of Marvel vs. Capcom. This was a?? new thing, and it took over and dominated the previous versus formula.

In every way you can imagine?, it impacted the genre. Like Thanos (?who is playable), it's a formidable Titan, and still in the "best fighter of all time" conversation.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds/Ultimate (2011)

And now we come to the third entry, which should give everything but Marvel vs. Capcom 2 a run for its money.

It's here, nearly a decade and change later, that Capcom continued the goodwill that they garnered with the second game. Now, it wasn't perfect! Not everyone made the cut and that pissed a lot of people off. But it played well, introduced new mechanics into the mix, and added a few characters (some of which wer????e assists in the original!) from all walks of Capcom life.

The Ultimate version allowed it to extend its life onto other systems for years to come. Little di?d Capcom know they'd have a bumpy road ahead of them six years later.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (2017)

To predict this wou?ld come in dead last is to state the inevitable.

Although I enjoyed Infinite as a casual "kitchen table" fighter, the community overall did not take to it. One? chief point?? of contention was the "MCU-ification" of the Marvel side, which was heavily skewed toward Disney's influence; chucking a few prior staples to the side.

Characters that were once vibrant and full of life felt deader, and the mechanics just didn't stick. Very shortly after launch fans rebuked it, and erred on the side of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 or 3 competitions instead of Infinite. If you had told me a storyline where Ultron and Sigma merged to destroy the w??orld would fail as a kid, I wouldn't have believed you. It was so stupid?? it had to work.

Capcom tried to market this one, hard, but even some of those efforts fell flat, like the off-brand "Infinity Stone" debacle. At the end of the day, "Marvel" still meant Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

And I suspect? it still does! Time to find out. We'll post the results within the next week.

The post Let’s go crazy! What is the best mainline Marvel vs. Capcom? appeared first on Destructoid.

No quarters required

One of the most exciting announcements to come out of this wretched summer was Arcade1Up's reveal of its Marvel Vs. Capcom and X-Men Vs. Street Fighter arcade cabinets. I've been salivating over the latter one ??for weeks now, and today I can finally put my money where my mouth is because both cabinets are now available for preorder. As a?? reminder, here are the games that come with each unit:

Marvel Vs. Capcom Cabinet (Best Buy Exclusive)

• Marvel Super Heroes
• X-Men Vs. Street Fighter (Original Arcade ROM)
• Marve Super Heroes: War of the Gems
• Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter
• Marvel Vs. Capcom (Original Arcade ROM)

X-Men Vs. Street Fighter Cabinet

• X-Men: Children of the Atom
• X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse
• X-Men Vs. Street Fighter (Original Arcade ROM)
• Marvel Vs. Capcom (Original Arcade ROM)

A tough pick between the two, but no matter which cabinet you choose, Arcade1Up has confirmed they will support online play through WiFi. Both cabinets are available for pre-order today, as well as the Ms. Pac-Man arcade announced earlier this year and two new Counter-Cade units and two new head-to-head table cabinets for Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.

X-Men Vs. Street Fighter Arcade Cabinet [Arcade1Up]

The post The Arcade1Up Marvel vs. Capcom c?ab?inets are now available for preorder appeared first on Destructoid.

Just a great bunch of games

As great as the current era of fighting games is, my heart will always belong to the '90s. The decade produced some of the fighters I consider to be my all-time favorites because they featured characters from X-Men: The Animated Series, my favorite cartoon at the time. Games like X-Men: Children of the Atom and Marvel Super Heroes sucked the quarters directly out of my wallet. Last year, when Arcade1Up revealed its Capcom Marvel Super Heroes Home Arcade Game, I didn't think it could get better than that.

I was wrong.

As part of its upcoming lineup, Arcade1Up announced it is creating an X-Men vs. Street Fighter cabinet that will include X-Men: Children of the Atom, X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse, and the original arcade ROMs for Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Heroes and X-Men vs. Street Fighter. A second cabinet is also being produced for as-of-yet unnamed exclusive retail partners. It will feature Marvel vs. Capcom decals and will come loaded with MvC, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes, and Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems. That's a lot of Marvel!

If that cabinet wasn't great enough, Arcade1Up will also be releasing a 3/4-scale recreation of the original Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine. Ms. Pac-Man is coming back nearly 40 years after she struck a blow for women's rights and she's bringing Pac-Mania, Pac-Man Plus, and Galaxian with her. The company is also creating its first light-gun cabinet with Big Buck Hunter Pro, which also features Big Buck Safari, Big Buck Safari: Outback, and Big Buck Hunter Pro: Open Season.

Finally, for the pinball fans out there, Arcade1Up is releasing a Marvel Digital Pinball unit. The machine will feature a 24" HD LCD screen, haptic ?feedback, and a built-in accelerometer. The unit is the result of a collaboration between Arcade1Up, Marvel Studios, and Zen Studios, a developer that's cornered the market on kick-ass pinball games.

Pre-or??ders are expected t??o open soon. The cabinets are expected to launch in time for Holiday 2020 and will retail for between $399 and $599.

The post The Marvel vs. Capcom and X-Men vs. Street Fighter Arcade1Up cabinets will include th?e original ROMs appeared first on Destructoid.

But Killer Instinct did

_{[Image Courtesy @Sora_Sakurai]}

Evo is the only esports event I look forward to every year. Where else can I see a guy in a full-body fox costume wipe the floor with opponents in Dragon Ball FighterZ? Sadly, with COVID-19 destroying every gaming event its path, a traditional Evo won't be happening this year. As announced back on May 1, the i??n-person tournament -- which is the only proper way to host a fighting game tournament -- will be replaced by an online event. All of the original titles pla?nned for Evo 2020 will be a part of Evo Online. Well, all except one.

In a new trailer advertising the upcoming online tournament, the logo for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is nowhere to be seen. Here is ??the lineup as it was ann?ounced earlier this year:

?And here is what it looks like in?? the trailer below:

Interestingly enough, the logo for Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is also no?? longer present, however, the "2ournament of Champions" remains.? 

Nevertheless, seeing Smash Bros. cut from a tour?nament that's going online isn't the most shocking development. A few days ago, I was schooling my nephew in it online, and while the connection was pretty stable, there were multiple instances where the action on the screen would completely stop. Having the best-selling fighting game of all-time turn into a slideshow in front of millions of viewers around the world is obviously the last thing Nintendo or Evo organizers would want.

So at least one game is missing, but there will be four new games coming to take its place. Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Killer Instinct, Skullgirls 2nd Encore, and Them's Fightin' Herds have all been added as open online tournaments. Better luck next year ARMS. More information about the now five-wee??k event will be announced at a l??ater date.

I, for one, look forward to our own Chris Moyse defeating SonicFox in the Mortal Kombat 11&nb?sp;open tournament, something I'm very sure will totally happen.

Evo [Twitter]

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But no Mortal Kombat 11

The EVO Championship Series will return to Las Vegas this summer??, and the team has finally announced the nine titles that will take to the main stage for the biggest fighting game tournament of the year, and a highlight of the competitive gaming calendar.

While many expected sluggers will be making their welcome return, such as Capcom's Street Fighter V: Championship Edition, Bandai Namco's Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, arguably the biggest news concerns the return of the prodigal son. Yes, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes will o??nce again be making its presence felt on the main stage.

MvC 2 has long been a beloved title on the competitive circuit, and can still bring the hype in a tournament environment. EVO 2020's special "Tournament of Champions" on the classic 2000-era fighter will see eight of the best players of all time compete for a hefty prize ?pot, and could see the old-school fighter stealing the entire show.

Surprisingly, NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat 11 did not make the cut, having made its EVO debut a mere year ago. Any and all reasons for this are purely speculative at this point. Fortunately, MK fans still have other events to look forward to, such as Final Kombat in March. Also stepping down is exciting anime fighter BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.

Rounding out the main stage are Bandai Namco's Soulcalibur VI, SNK's Samurai Shodown, Arc System Works' Under Night In-Birth EXE Late [cl-r] and the debuting Granblue Fantasy Versus. We can also expect a whole host of side-tournaments to take place across the weekend on various other fighting games... And Windjammers... probably.

EVO 2020 takes place at the Mandalay Bay resort, Las Vegas NV, on the weekend of July 31. Registrations are open now over at the official EVO 2020 website.

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Capcom presents...

The silver age of the fighting game genre is seemingly over. There are tons of great titles to play, both old and new, but many discussions I've come across are constantly debating problems like netcode, season passes, and the balance of individual rosters. To me, this renaissance of fighting games that started with Street Fighter IV ended at the conclusion of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3's reign. Now more then ever, with Capcom's fighting game division floundering with an overall lukewarm reception of Street Fighter V, the failure of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, and the success of Arc System Works in the hyper fighting category, the ghost of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 persists well beyond its dusting in the past.

2019 for Capcom was undoubtedly a great year. Monster Hunter World was receiving accolades and its Iceborne expansion released to great results. Resident Evil 2 simultaneously revived the classic feel of Resident Evil while also instilling new things. Devil May Cry V heralded a return to form thanks to Hideaki Itsuno after years of languishing since Devil May Cry 4. But somehow Street Fighter V doesn't really figure so much into this picture, let alone Capcom's fighting games division. And that picture started to get really painted in when Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 had its last hurrah at Evo 2017 by getting in via do?nations.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as we know it released the same year as its title predecessor, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. It was a seemingly unthinkable move, attempting to move the player base from its February release to its newest title in November of the same year. But the adjustments in Ultimate were just too? good to pass up on?? an already great game.

Overall redesigns made effects like X-Factor easier to see in the heat of the moment. While still powerful, the parameter increases of X-Factor were slightly toned down as well. A glitch that invo?lved tagging out partners with certain delayed hyper combos to reset the damage scaling, was fixed, and character diversity became better for it. Of course the bread and butter of the updated game was the addition of 12 more characters to the roster: Strider Hiryu, Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Nova, Rocket Raccoon, Firebrand, Frank West, Nemesis T-T?ype, Phoenix Wright, and Vergil.

That's probably a factor as to why UMvC3 hit so many good notes but Street Fighter V and Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite continuously strikeout: UMvC3 released before an age of the games-as-a-service model. Even if there was the occasional DLC wishlist, UMvC3 was a complete package, with no plans to disturb the ecosystem it created. Street Fighter V is constantly trying to update itself and Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite poorly planned out its DLC releases. Infinite also had the misfortune of having some of the worst character models of the console generation. Its fighters were ugly as sin and the complete antithesis of what we saw in UMvC3??, which presented its characters look like th??ey were just a comic book come to life.

Graphics aren't really an issue for Street Fighter V as it has its own distinct style. The problem with that game in comparison with UMvC3 is the expression of the player's individuality. When I think of Combofiend, I think of his anchor Nathan Spencer and his Bionic Arm comebacks. When I think of Justin Wong, I think of his Akuma doing impeccably timed goshoryu reversals. When I think of FilipinoChamp, I think of his mind-numbingly solid keepaway with M?orrigan and Dr. Doom. When I think of AhegoJoe, I think of Viewtiful Joe and his Frank West which stoppe??d Dark Phoenix cold in its tracks.

Any player in UMvC3 can create a distinct experience for themselves thanks to the 3-on-3 format. One person might play Wesker using assists for cross-up shenanigans while a different Wesker will use assists for keep-away while using gunshot. Some people may lead with Frank West to level him up quickly while others will use him as an anchor bolstered by X-Factor. This sort of freedom doesn't really exist in Street Fighter V. Unless you see something truly wacky like Itazan flexing Zangief's V-Skill 1 into something crazy, it gets old fa?st. This doesn't even touch on fishing for Crush Counters and the fact that some characters get Crush Counters all the time and other??s are lucky to even use their own as a punish.

Half of this post is about how UMvC3 has impacted this past decade while the other half is really about how its absence has impacted this past decade. Dealin??g with Marvel may be a different be??ast now with Disney in ownership, but Capcom's fighting games really haven't been cutting it in the latter half of the decade. But hopefully, that could all change with just two words in a confident voice on a black screen: Capcom presents...

The post Capcom needs to bring back Marvel vs. Capcom b?y remembering what made it great in the first pl??ace appeared first on Destructoid.

Check the Tapes

_{[Photo: Cross Counter]}

It's the end of an era for the Fighting Game Community. After eight long years of guest stars, salty losses, sofa-leaping wins and drinking wine wh??ilst also collecting wrestling figures, Cross Counter's YouTube show Excellent Adventures is coming to an end.

The announcement was made by long time host and Cross Counter co-founder Ryan "Gootecks" Gutierrez in the email listing of the Excellent Adventures website, where he spoke of his future plans to spend more time recording podcasts and shows to be featured on his Twitch channel. "After eight years since Mike and I first put out the first episodes on? YouTube, it’s time for Excellent Adventures to come to an end," said Goo??tecks in an email listing. "There are two remaining episodes that need to be released... These will be added to the site as they are ready, starting this week."

Excellent Adventures will be mostly remembered for its amazing run during the Ultra Street Fighter IV era, where Gootecks and Mike Ross - alongside fighting game royalty such as Justin Wong, K-Brad, Ricki Ortiz, Smug and many others - threw down endlessly with random playe?rs online, leading to incredibly hype moments, angry instant messages, extreme salt, self-realisation, and a lot of genuine hilarity.

In my (very humble) opinion, the release of Street Fighter V undeniably hurt the show at its apex. Lacking an online character select screen, ropey online s??tability at launch, plus a general lack of interest from the community messed with the show's natural flow, despite its hosts' best (and?? ultimately successful) efforts to keep the Excellent Adventures vibe and spirit flowing. The loss of Mike Ross and Producers Steve Hwang and Ian Cofino are noted by Gootecks as major contributors to the show's closure.

Regardless, the preceding years were amazing. During the SFIV era I tuned in weekly, never fail, (even watched some episodes multiple times). I not only learned more about USFIV itself, but remained consistently entertained by a grou??p of people that, weirdly, came to feel like actual friends I was welcoming into my home. Thanks to all of the Excellent Adventures crew for years of quality entertainment.

I'll never f??orget to Check the Tapes (performs Decapre?? win pose).

Excellent Adventures is officially ending [Event Hubs]

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Two classic games added today

Subscribers to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service might be surprised to find two cool new titles newly-available on the paid service. Not only has Avalanche Studios' destroy 'em up Just Cause 3 been added to the line-up, but Capcom's comic-book fighter Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is also jumping into battle.

UMvC3 was the expanded follow-up to Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, which back in February 2011 on PS3 and Xbox 360. Ultimate followed a mere nine months later, featuring a new U.I., a crop of new features and a bunch of cool extra characters. Today UMvC3 ??remains an excellent fighter, still adored on the FGC circuit.

Just Cause 3, which dropped back in 2015, o??nce again puts players in the shoes of maniac mercenary Rico Rodriguez, as he once again decimates his home island of Medici in efforts to usurp yet another evil overlord. Hi-octane action and batshit crazy set-pieces await those willing to guide Rodriguez and his famous grappling tether through this open-world adventure.

Let's not neglect the addition of Chainsawesome Games indie title, Aftercharge, a neon-soaked sci-fi adventure featuring skirmishes with invisible robots. This title is also being added to this late??st batch of Game Pass offerings.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, Aftercharge and Just Cause 3 are being m?ade available on Xbox Game Pass today.

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Better late than never

Razer (popular PC peripheral maker) and Capcom are teaming up to create the official Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite arcade stick. Priced at $219.99/€239.99, this PS4 exclusive piece of tech will be ??based on the Razer Panthera and include premium Sanwa hardware. Much like the old MadCatz sticks of the last generation, this stick has been tested by eSports legends and will be fully customizable.

Here ?are the official specifications of what the s?tick is made with:

• 10 tournament-grade Sanwa™ Denshi buttons
• Authentic Sanwa joystick with ball top
• Easy one-touch access to internals and storage
• Fully accessible internals and storage compartments for easy modding
• Honeycomb structure on the inside for easy screw mounting
• Storage room for alternative bat top joystick (not included) and more
• 9.8 ft. / 3 m detachable screw-lock USB cable for secure connection
• Screwdriver included for modding

The stick should currently be available in Europe from the official MadCatz website and will be heading to North and South America next month. I would link to the website, but that just redirects to a 404 error. I'm guessing the excitement of something actually happening with MvC: I took down Razer's servers.

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Will anyone buy the Windows 10 version?

During E3 2016, Microsoft took to the stage to announce its "Play Anywhere" initiative. This new program would see games being released simultaneously on PC and Xbox One with crossplay enabled. One purchase (most of the time) would grant you access to both versions and you wouldn't need to worry about restarting your progress as save files would transfer over. While there aren't that many titles available with "Play Anywhere" (this Wiki page lists 57), Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is suddenly now a part of the program.

Popping up on the Windows store out of the blue, the crossover fighting game is currently available for $39.99 with the entire host of DLC ready to go. A deluxe version is also available for $59.99 and includes the character pass DLC. If you purchased this game digitally on Xbox One, you should already have the PC?? version (along with any DLC), but anyone who was waiting (for some reason) should know that this version is Windows 10 exclusive. It will also be a UWP (Universal Windows Platf?orm) app, so that might bring performance problems or installation oddities.

I have very limited experience with newer UWP apps, but both Forza 7 and Age of Empires: Definitive Edition run perfectly fine. I wou??ld imagine this does, too, as the previous PC version was solid.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite gets Xbox Play Anywhere support [Windows Central]

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Neither will the X-Men

After being rejected for EVO 2018, you'd think Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite would avoid more headlines about exclusions from tournaments. Turns out that isn't the case. As reported by Kotaku, MvC: I won't be pr??esent at the Capcom Pro Tour, otherwise known as Capcom's own serious tou??rnament for fighting games.

As pointed out in the Kotaku report, MvC: I was also not present at last year's Capcom Pro Tour, but this was due to releasing too late for inclusion. This year, it just seems like Capcom is moving on from the game. Capcom reps didn't have much to share, saying that the company is focusing on Street Fighter V's recent Arcade Edition and t??hird season of charac?ters at the moment.

While I've only played the demo for Infinite, I can't say I'm surprised. The game seems like a rushed attempt to capitalize on Marvel buzz following the success of the films. With more polish and attention to detail (not to mention a year delay to possibly incorporate X-Men), I feel like fans would be more on board with Infinite. As it stands, it looks like even C??apcom doesn't care anymore.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Won’t Be On The Capcom Pro Tour [Kotaku]

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Though I'm sure it'll probably be there

Alongside last weekend's Capcom Cup, which saw the best on the world throw down on Street Fighter V, there was also a tournament held on Capcom's crossover title, Marvel vs Capcom Infinite.

The "Battle for the Stones" tourney had a great trophy and some wacky rules, me?ant to represent the chaos of the Infinity Gems. These allowed players to mess with various conditions. Including gimmicks such as screwing with button layouts, or guaranteeing first hits etc.

Unfortunately, the tournament didn't set Twitch alight for the most part. There were a lot of empty seats in the audience, and an online count of around 5,000 viewers. Many fans have pointed out that this number was on a dedicated "Battle for the Stones" channel, and that the game may have seen more success were it broadcast on the ??more established "Capcom Fighters" channels. It should be noted that viewing figures ??did pop over 17k for the grand finals.

Regardless, the figures didn't go unnoticed, clearly, as EVO organiser Joey Cuellar (aka Mr. Wizard), posted on Twitter yesterday, straight up asking followers if MvC:I was "dead". When asked whether the response would affect Marvel's appearance in EVO 2018, Cuellar f?ollowed up by admitting the team was "torn" on the idea.

First up, I'm pretty sure MvC:I is going to be at EVO. Chances are that Capcom, publishers of EVO's main game, will make sure of it. But Cuellar's brazen comment, coupled with the game's relatively muted showing at a major tournament, speaks v?olumes of the crossover fighter's status. Perceived or otherwise.

Mr. Wizard's poll, for whatever its worth, is currently evenly split, but is ultimately a figure that lacks weight and shouldn't be used toward the decision. The EVO 2018 line-up is expected to be revealed sometime in January, so I guess we'll find out if MvC:I makes the cut soon enough.

Blowup Tuesday! Is Marvel dead? T??here was no reveal at Capcom Cup. Only 5K viewers on Twitch. Poor sales. Only 350 people online max. Chime in now!

— Joey Cuellar (@MrWiz) December 12, 2017

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Bucky and Co. join the battle

Comic crossover fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite gets?? a boost in content today, with update 1.05 bringing new costumes, new char?acters and balance tweaks to the tag-team punch-up. The 2.7GB patch is available to download on consoles now.

The update actually went live? yesterday, re-balancing various characters -- including the much desired Dante nerf -- but Venom, Black Widow and Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier, were not made available for purchase. That changes today, as the three new fighters will be good to go, priced at $7 each, with a 2017 Character Pass also being available for $30

Also available are two DLC packs containing new costumes for a selection of the game's roster, the mos??t important skins being Casual Fridays Thanos and At-The-Office Haggar. The costumes are priced at $4 each, $12 per pack or, for another ??$30, you can buy a teeth-grindingly gross Premium Costume Season Pass.

If you want to check out how your favourite heroes and villains have fared in the balance overhaul, then full patch notes can be found right here. I hope December brings you all the buffs... unless you're Dante.

Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite Update 1.05 [Capcom Unity]

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New looks for Earth's Mightest

Next week is a biggie for crossover fighter Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite. December 5 not?? only sees a trio of new characters join the game, but there will also be around $25 worth of costum?es available to buy.

Two videos have been released by Capcom to show-off the DLC skin packs that launch Tuesday. The Cosmic Crusaders pack will feature new gear for Rocket Raccoon, Gamora, Nova, X, Zero and Strider Hiryu. The second pack is the Stone Seekers set, which houses alternate looks for Spider-Man, Ultron, Thanos, Jedah, Frank West and Haggar, who's gon??na fight in his civvies, like the man's man that he is.

These premium outfits will cost $4 each, $12 per pack, or can be ??picked up as part of the $30 Premium Costume Pass, a term that is so fucking gross my fingers turned black momentarily whilst I was typing it. The same day will also see ne?wcomers Black Widow, Winter Soldier and Venom available for purchase.

Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite is available now on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

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Here come the men (and women) in Black

Ever since Venom's symbiote was revealed to be a part of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite's story mode, I'm sure we've all been curious as to how? he would look and play. Luckily, it's the same as he's been in the rest of the series but with a few new tricks. 

The second wave of DLC fighters includes Winter Soldier (a gun boy with some impressive invincibility frames), Black Widow (whose moveset thankfully focuses on the electric gauntlets seen in the Avengers films), and Venom (who has made the tr??ansition to 3D pretty well). 

The three fighters will be available for purchase December 5, though it'll be included in the 2017 Character Pass for those who purchased it. 

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I'm your prom date you ugly sack of

Despite the disappointing sales, Capcom is still hard at work updating Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. On December 5, a big shakeup will occur with a few characters, as well as some general mechanical twe??aks.

To sort of sum up the big stuff, the Reality Stone is getting overhauled a bit, and you can now move forward/backward after getting crumpled. OTG (off the gro??und) relaunches are now limited to two per single combo, and a bunch of bugs have bee??n squashed.

As fa?r as specific characters go, Dante got hit with the nerf bat significan?tly, as nearly all of his stats have been changed, including a 10% health decrease, a removal of homing capabilities from nearly all his abilities, and smaller hitboxes all-around. Conversely Chris Redfield got damage increases for almost all of his specials, ranging from 10% to over 100% in one instance (his grenade toss HK explosion damage).

Others are sprinkled in there like Ultron, Thanos, Gamora, and Captain Marvel, but their changes are smaller than the above two. Although I don't have many people to play with I'm still having fun with Infinite, a??nd these changes mostly are a step in the right direction (Dante might b?e overkill though).

Patch Notes for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite – Dece??????????????????????????mber 5 Update [Capcom Unity]

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18 Premium costumes on the way tomorrow

Along with additional characters Black Panther, Sigma, and Monster Hunter, 18 premium costum?es will be available for purchase tom?orrow. 

They'll run $3.99 USD individually, $11.99 for a specialized six pack, and $29.99 for the "Premium Costume Pass," which includes all 18. Some of these may be neat pulls like Hulk's Joe Fixit outfit and the DmC version of Dante, but the price is admittedly a bit too steep for my blood.? But if you're interested, here's how they break down into six packs:

Avenging Army: Iron Man, Hawkeye, Thor,?? Dante, Spencer, and Arthur

World Warriors: Capta?in America, Captain Marvel, Hulk, Chris, Ryu, Chun-Li

Mystic Masters: Doctor Strange, Dormammu, Ghost Rider??, Morrigan, Firebrand, Nemesis

According to the post on Capcom-Unity, the remaining characters should recei??ve costumes before the end of the year. 

Battle in style with these new Premium Costumes available on Oct??ober 17 in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite?! [Capcom-Unity]

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Coming October 17

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite took a lot of heat from the gaming community for its launch roster, but just seeing how great Sigma (who has a great Level 3 Hyper) and Black Panther (who has some major Sabretooth vibes) are makes me feel a bit worse about the whol?e thing??. They undoubtedly are going to be exciting additions to the roster, and would've for sure been more welcome outside of these DLC trappings. 

Regardless the two characters, along with the recently shown off Monster Hunter (complete with their premium costume variants), are part of the 2017 Character Pass and will be available October 17. You can als?o purchase them separately for $7.99 each. 

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Pokken Tournament DX squeezes into Top 5

Bungie's space RPG Destiny 2 has held off competition for a third week at number one in the UK Charts. This is despite a very successful debut for Bandai Namco's Project CARS 2, which parks neatly into second place.

In other news, Pokken Tournament DX on the Nintendo Switch smashed into a very impressive fifth place slot, likely the highest it will climb, as most Switch releases have peaked in their first week or two. Capcom had less success with their fighter, as Marvel vs Capcom Infinite failed to pop? the Top Ten on its debut, ultimately p?lacing twelfth.

Project CARS 2 was a decent contender to the throne in the UK. Boy, do we love cars. But it seems that Destiny will continue to hold fort at?? least until October's range of big releases hit the shelves.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: September 23 2017
(Chart reflects in-store sales only)

1. Destiny 2 - Activision Blizzard
2. Project CARS 2 - Bandai Namco
3. NBA2K18 - Take 2
4. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 - Konami
5. Pokken Tournament DX - Nintendo
6. Grand Theft Auto V - Take 2
7. Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy - Activision Blizzard
8. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy - Sony Entertainment
9. Forza Horizon 3 - Microsoft
10. LEGO Worlds - Warner Bros Interactive

U.K. video game charts [GFK Chart-Track]

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Discussing Marvel vs. Capcom's big eSports push

Now that Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is out, and those interested have played around for a little while, there's a question that's been bugging me ever since I first laid my eyes on it. I've openly gone back and forth over Infinite's visuals, and the strong gameplay and netcode made it harder, but I've been trying to figure out wh??y that is. Why do the visuals suddenly ??matter so much to me given the how little they should matter in fighting games? 

I think it's because it feels like Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, the latest in a series known for its carnival atmosphere welcoming everyone to its broken ride, ??seems to be more focused on those who'd be willing to buy a ticket regar?dless since their careers could depend on it. 

Since this is such a huge topic, and because it's far too early to definitively come to a conclusion, I reached out to Reviews Director and Co-Editor-in-Chief Chris Carter (who wrote Infinite's review) for a second opinion. Hopefully this is the start of a conversation around eSports and its effect on the Versus series that'll be clearer as the months roll on.&n??bsp;

Nick: Before Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite's release I know I was openly against its art style, and you seemed to react the same way per your review, but I've been trying to figure out why they would even pursue a style with such a lack of fanfare. But after playing it for two weeks, I think it's because there's a greater focus on professional player?s this time around. Much of the, well, "excess" seems to be stripped away in favor of a more easily discernible game that could be shown on ESPN. What d??o you think?

Chris: The "pro" angle is such an interesting phenomenon. We saw how well it worked out for Street Fighter V, given that it was the most-played competitive fighter to date at major tournaments, but at what cost? Sales were lower than expected, and the lack of ancillary modes for casual players to mill around in crippled the franchise. There's a lot of reasons why SFV performed below expectations (console exclusivity didn't help, as did the ultimately harmless, yet ??????????????????????????confusing Fight Coin system), but that was a big part of it.

Part of my heart breaks that Capcom decided to effectively neuter a Versus game. I've been all-in on this concept since I used my first-ever Birdie attack in X-Men vs. Street Fighter. Mec?hanically I'm okay with reigning in the crazy assists and the like, but I really miss the wacky touches like comic book font and the more outlandish character designs. Do you think people will be okay with this long term?

Nick: It's funny you bring up parallels to Street Fighter V's initial release, because it's at a much better place now than it was then. Missing features began cropping up, DLC characters added more variety, etc., but SFV never q??uite recovered outside of the professional scene. It has its staunch defenders, but those who decided to ignore it based on its troubled l?aunch never looked back. I'm hoping this isn't the case here.

Infinite shares a lot of this same vibe. It may have a story mode and standard arcade, but the little personality touches casual onlookers have come to know from the series may find this lacking. To nitpick, there isn't an intro (not even a collection of gameplay clips) nor is there a reward for completing Arcade mode beyond a simple "Congratulations" screen. Like it or not, aesthetics play a huge role in whether or not someone plays a game, let alone play it enough to dig into its mechanics. So I do believe it's something we'll be okay with given time (I'm personally already adjusting to it), but it's going to have to work in order to have lasting power. Infinite's roster is also meant for a wide appeal.

Will the focu?s ??on the Marvel Cinematic Universe draw the attention Capcom wants?

Chris: Good call on the intro, that's not even something I thought of the fourth or fifth time I loaded it up. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is the Soylent of video games, confirmed!

You nailed it when it comes to presentation. Positive affirmation and the like can go a long way, which is why they noodled around with auto-combos. But look at a competitor like Dragon Ball FighterZ -- Arc tried to incorporate those same ideas but the game looks amazing as hell. You can have both! And with a marquee series like MvC you really need to.

As for the MCU, I uh, don't know if people will c??are. Iron Man was cool years ago when I acquired my?? first target with Proton Cannon, not because he cracks wise in the story mode many folks won't even play. I also found it really odd Rocket's character selection portrait heavily plays up the fact that Groot, a cloying MCU posterboy, is involved in his kit when he really isn't. I kind of just wish they went all out and gave us more daring roster additions like....dare I say, Daredevil, or Jessica Jones. Gamora was a step in the right direction but it's not enough. Imagine years from now saying "I can't wait to see Justin Wong's Daredevil!" Maybe that'll still happen with a character like Black Panther?

Nick: Back when the ??first couple of roster leaks revealed a heavier focus on the MCU, I thought a character like Black Panther could become a new central figure overall. But admittedly holding him (and the majority of the new additions) back as DLC will definitely limit the audience.

Professional players will buy them regardless, but I don't know if I'm ready to read "Can't wait for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite" a billion times. Infinite i??s a full title that doesn't feel like anything necessary was stripped away, but it does feel like I have to pay extra to get crazier stuff that I'm more inte??rested in. What do you think?

Chris: Yeah it's weird to see fighters come to this. Versus games used to have wacky experimental stuff from the start, and were packed with characters. I played Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for 24 hours straight when I pi??cked it up on?? the Dreamcast just because I wanted to see who I unlocked next! Now Capcom just tells me who I need to pay for weeks in advance. They're not the only ones guilty of this, as Arc System Works has leaned heavily into the DLC angle too. It's always strange to see a DLC character enter the meta, prompting everyone to buy them.

In this case, I can't be too mad. I think Infinite is complete when it comes to content. But like you?? said, billions will disagree!

Nick: As much as I want a little more flair, I can't knock Infinite's launch package too much. It does feel like a full release that'll please passersby for a weekend with enough depth to its mechanics to please professional players, but this is another title in a line of Capc?om's laser-focused tournament marketing.

Because it also begs the question of how exploitative this model can potentially be, right? Are companies like Capcom, NetherRealm??, and the like, focused on initial sales anymore? Or is this new model of using a base game as a platform to layer? transactions onto those dedicated players, and those whose careers rely on practicing against every possible outcome, the better business model?

I guess I've just been going back and forth on Infinite because it's the first, and most prominent, of a very vibrant series to emphasize functionality over personality. So my final question to you, Chris, is whether or not you see mostly catering to the professional scene as the right decision. I know it's much too early to ask, but do you see Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite's potential being as "infinite" as its namesake?

Chris: Capcom goes back and forth too. The whole "one SKU, always'" sorta bombed and potentially died with Street Fighter V. Hell, we've seen more rumors of a "Super Street Fighter V" than we can shake collective sticks at, but they're kind of bent? over a barrel there and will likely offer that as a free update.

Either way, you're not the only one going back and forth. Fighting games are ever-evolving, and publishers constantly seesaw between wh??ether or not they want to placate the casual or competitive crowd first.

As for what's right? I feel like it depends on the series. For something that has a wide appeal like Versus, Dragon Ball, or even Street Fighter, catering to everyone but fine-tuning for the pro scene is a great idea. But for other niche titles like Guilty Gear, I hope they keep them as complex as they've always been. Infinite seems to be going down that road, but I wonder if it'l?l fizzle out after the first season pass salvo quiets down.

You've read our thoughts, now let's hear yours! Does Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite focus too much on professional players? Is the eSports push the right direction for a series like this? Did you even notice any of this?

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I took my roof off at the red light

Regardless of how I've felt about the launch roster for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, I'm pretty excited about all of the interesting things the DLC characters will bring to the table. If the rest of the characters look as good as Monster Hunter from Monster Hunter, I think we're in for a good set of new characters.&nb?sp;

Monster Hunter, first seen in Infinite's story mode, utilizes different weapons in her moveset. A bow projectile gives her spacing options, one of her supers seem to charge her dual swords, and her Level 3 hyper combo has a ton of super armor on start up. I hope she comes to Infinite sooner rather than later. 

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Gonna take you for a ride

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite has finally launched, to some pretty positive reviews. Hopefully fans will feel the same way?? about the latest iteration in Capcom's long-running, crossover, fi??ghting game series.

However some fans, those that forked out $200 for the game's Collector's Edition, are already less than enthused, thanks to the "Infinity Stones replica set" contained within. Far from being six glowing soul gems, containing the power to manipulate time, reality and the universe itself, they're more somewhat-glowy, pastel-col??oured, plas?tic eggs.

Though the GameStop pre-order page told wannabe intergalactic tyrants that the set would have fans "...behold dynamic replicas of the infamous Infinity Stones..." in actuality we get a cruddy box containing six miserable o??vals that look, quite frankly, like Love Eggs.

The stones cannot be removed from their housing, and all light up together via a warm bulb housed behind them, which is a far cry from the glowing, crystalline spheres in the promotional image. Already some fans have taken to Reddit and other social media to express th??eir displeasure at the poor quality of the product.

But you have to really feel for Thanos, who is going to show up to his hot date with Death bearing these gifts. We reached out to Nebula for further comment, but she just told us that her adoptive patriarch "was a real dick", that she hadn't played MvC since she sold her Dreamcast, and finally adding that Street Fighter V needs an arcade mode.

Source and photo credit [Eventhubs]

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From Digital Deluxe to Standard Edition

Pre-load has started for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and if you're thinking about picking the game up on release week, digital copy is probably the way to go for those without membership with Best Buy GCU or Amazon Prime. As of writing, you can score up to 35% off on digital version of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite depending on the edition and plat??form you choose.

Here's the quick breakdown: PS4 gamers gets a nominal 10%? off while PC gamers can pick up Steam version from 25% to 35% off. If you're buying on PC and you pre-order before its official launch time (should be 9am Pacific) - you should still be able to get the pre-order bonus of DLC c?ostumes. 

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Digital Deals

PC

• Standard (Steam) — ~$40.47  (list price $60) <- after GBP to USD
• Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $67.49  (list price $90)

PS4

• Standard (PSN) — $53.99  (list price $60)
• Deluxe Edition (PSN) — $80.99  (list price $90)

Pre-load has been live for the game across all platforms and all retailers above are sending out keys as of writing. Xbox One gamer? You're SOL because we haven't spotted any deals on the game, digital or physi??cal (except for aforementioned membership route). If we spot some deals on the game, we'll be sure to add them above during re?lease week.

Deluxe Edition of the game gets you the 2017 character pass which contains access to six additional characters post-launch. Pre-order?? the PC Digital Deluxe also gets you 4 costumes vs 2 in the Standard Edition.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite releases in the US/EU on September 19, 2017. For gamers in Japan and Asia, you need not apply to the deals above given the game is region locked and releases later on September 21, 2017. You can read the review of the game here.

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Bucky!

Let's break down the DLC for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite so far -- I mean, it's Capcom, we probably need a chart or some sort of mathematical formula at some? point. So far, we have Black Panther and Sigma confirmed. Outside of pre-order costumes that isn't super convoluted, but it'll probably ge??t there.

Today, Capcom has confirmed that four more characters will be coming as DLC "in 2017," though -- "Monster Hunter" (she's already in the story), Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Venom. All of them are either relevant in the film industry (Venom is getting a new movie) or have a new game coming out (Monster Hunter World), so you could have probably put money on these, no problem. A leak almost had this spot-on?? too, it just had Gill in place of Black Widow.

No f??ootage or screens were provided, but you can expect lots o?f streams once they do hit.

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Let's go crazy

When's Marvel?

It's a phrase you hear all too often. Like Smash it's worked its way into the vernacular of fighting game fanatics and has earned its place into the annals of FGC history. But it's not just all memes and hype -- one of the first games I ever watched grainy videos for and competed at regionally was Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

It's always had an endea?ring, dedicated place in my h??eart, but I fear it's been slowly losing favor for a while.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (PC, PS4 [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: September 19, 2017
MSRP: $59.99

I'm not entirely sure the fangasm narrative for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite works as well as Capcom would have hoped. Years back, when Mega Man was more? relevant, the idea of Sigma teaming up with a Marvel villain would have been pretty damn explosive. But with so m?any crossovers, a complete and utter lack of X-Men, and a basic story that mostly just involves a clash with a big bad isn't as impressive.

It lasts a few hours, and will keep you engaged throughout, but there's?? a few hangups? I had with the campaign. For one, they should have gone a little harder on some of the Marvel characterizations if they so desperately wanted to incorporate MCU elements. They went full RDJ knockoff for Iron Man but many others are more forgettable, including meat-head Thor.

The art style is a crime against humanity. Capcom basically went "what if we took the Disney Infinity Marvel look, then made it more realistic, and didn't make any adjustments beyond that?" Cartoony characters like the ones from the Mega Man stable, or robots like ?Ultron mostly look fine, but others, like Tony Stark with his helmet off, are garish.

Infinite's story does try to mix things up a little when you're actually fighting, to its credit. There's some accounting for 1v2 fights, a remnant of Street Fighter experiments, and some battles are just fodder with the same few "infected" NPCs or Ultron Drones. Then there's a really cool fight with Ultron Sigma! Then there's more fodder. They tried. And hey, hey, at least it has a rea??l story mode at launch (and an arcade mode, trials, online lobbies, plus tons of challenges).

But, as most people know, as a long term fighting game player I'm more concerned about the guts than the pageantry, and these guts are good. Infinite is an amalgam of multiple iterations, as it brings back the (working) four-button system from the second game.? In terms of the fundamental shift from 3v3, I actually like th??e 2v2 conceit better.

It's more intimate, and although many would argue that the more characters there are that are out at any given time the more complex the game is, the original Marvel vs. Capcom worked just fine with 2v2. The lack of traditional assi??sts (it's all tag-base?d now) also cuts down on spam from a casual perspective, as you now need to tag to meaningfully combo with your partner.

The Infinity Stones (you can choose one per match), which folks feared would be another Gem-like Street Fighter X Tekken gimmick, have been reigned in. All six of them are manageable in that they give small buffs or powers, but they need to be accounted for with each individual combatant. Players can take r?ushdown characters and min-max them with the Time gem that allows you to dash through projectiles, a strategy that you'll need to both mas?ter and counter when any opponent picks a specific stone. You can also proc them to initiate Infinity Storm, a much more balanced form of X-Factor that operates as another super.

Let's break the roster down, because these Versus games can get out of hand. There's 30 characters, and seven are new (at launch). Having played all of them, there really isn't a face I don't like (well, figuratively, because some of the faces are mutated). I know people are going to get up in arms that the roster doesn't hold a candle to [x] Versus game, but for me, it's right on the money. I have at least 10 that I really dig, and I was willing t??o try out everyone wit?hout groaning or feeling like any of them were inadvertent joke characters.

No Wolverine (who is practically the Versus poster boy) still stings but you have heavy-hitters like Strider and Morrigan, as well as Captain America and Spider-Man -- and even Dante from Marvel 3, who has earned his place. Combos are intuitive, rushdowns are quick a??nd frenetic, and keep away characters have plenty of tools in their toolkit. The only real complaint I have against the movesets is a petty one -- most of the ultimates (level 3 hyper combos) aren't flashy enough.

Although it didn't directly impact this review as it's content yet to come, Capcom is dangerously flirting with DLC. We have a Season Pass of characters on top of multiple pre-order bonuses, which is typical Capcom fare. But this is in a post Street Fighter V world, where sales were lower than expected and a lot of the good will from IV has been evaporated. I hope they cool it and let people focus on Infinite where it counts.

I feel like Capcom was finally able to settle on a formula that doesn't feel too experimental, while at the same time not being so safe that it's a bore. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is sterile on the surface, but a functional as hell fighter. I'm fine with that. Are yo??u?

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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An early access advantage

When I think of Marvel vs. Capcom, I think of Justin Wong.

While there are plenty of other big names in the community like ChrisG or Filipino Champ, some of my favorite FGC matches of all time are from Wong's work in the Marvel vs. Capcom 2 scene. We'll have to wait a little bit, it seems, to see him in Infinite.

Announ?ced via Twitter, Wong will not be competing formally in the game until October, despite the game's September 19 release. The reason for this delay is because he's had early access to the game, and thinks that with his bout of extra practice, it wouldn't be fair on others.

Now, you can either see this as a kindness to the community so he doesn't wipe the floor with them, or a form of showmanship. Either way Wong is a huge name in the Marvel vs. Capcom community, and?? when he does make his debut, it'll probably be explosive.

Justin Wong [Twitter]

The post Justin Wong won’t compete in Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite until October because he has an edge appeared first on Destructoid.