Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

Review from Jae - Wednesday, 14 December 2011 @ 9:22am

I really dislike Capcom's update to fighters. Street Fighter IV to Super Street Fighter IV to Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition was a prime example of where I paid three times for essentially the same game. I dislike it because each iteration is justified yet frequent leaving me confused and dealing with a complex of love and hate . I feel I'm being bent over and sodomised but in the most gentle way like with a pink fluffy plush baseball bat. Thanks Capcom you always catch me off guard and get me handing over cash for extra characters and features. I'm not complaining I'm simply explaining the predicament that comes with updated fighters. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is another prime example but I can't speak ill of something so fun.

The new 12

The last two years has seen an abundance of fighters that we enjoy. From the likes of classic returns such as King of Fighters and Mortal Kombat to the introduction of new IPs like BlazBlue. I'd love to see this genre continue for years to come without absence and one of the only ways to do this is to create updates to the existing titles. With Ultimate MvC3 we're given 12 new characters which brings the full roster up to 48 fighters to choose from. The new characters include Dr. Strange, Frank West, Firebrand, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Nemesis, Nova, Phoenix Wright, Rocket Raccoon, Strider and Vergil. The characters add to the already ludicrous roster of over the top fighters. It's great how Capcom bring in the elements of these character's orginal games into a fighting universe. Phoenix Wright needs to gather evidence to annihilate his opponents and Frank West needs to take photos to use his best abilities. Dr. Strange uses traps to attack and add a new level of strategy to defence. I do get the feeling that Capcom have deliberately invested in projectile and distance abilities in the newest roster. Much of MvC3 involved cornering your opponent in close combat and throwing in an aerial combo for maximum strike rate. I'm guessing that we'll see less of that online in the long run with Ultimate MvC3.

Don't assume that Ultimate MvC3 is just a set of new characters, your original 36 characters all have subtle and not-so-subtle updates too. Your less commonly used fighters or 'underpowered' ones now feel on par with their counterparts. The biggest gripe I had with MvC3 was the imbalance which Capcom have listened to and improved upon. It's not perfectly balanced but it's much better than previously. We can't ask for miracles after all there are 48 characters, imbalance is bound to exist in there somewhere. The subtle improvements are things like a double jump for Captain America where as more apparent updates come in forms like Magneto's new ability to move an opponent all over the screen. You can spend hours discovering these updates which become more apparent to those that invested time into the original.
I never had a problem with X-factor, an ability that makes a character exponentially powerful for a short period of time. Word around the traps is that players found it an unfair trait. If you've ever seen Phoenix use a level 5 rise from the ashes plus an X-factor you might see why. Ultimate MvC3 has lessened the damage done by X-factor and have cut down the length of the ability subtly. As a trade off you can now pull X-factor off mid air. Like I said I never had a problem with the ability, I'd whack it out as an act of desperation and sometimes it paid off. I didn't find these updates to the ability to be much different but I'm guessing the hardcore are a little more pleased.

Thankfully Capcom have removed the horrid health bar spectator mode and replaced it with a real spectator experience. In MvC3, spectator mode had you viewing a menu screen with two health bars that depleted in real time, yes it was as boring as it sounds. Ultimate MvC3 now allows you to watch the full battle in real time. This is great and it brings that feeling of standing in an arcade watching over the shoulder of players before figuring out how you were going to counter the winner's combos, for when it's your turn to step up. The game has yet to include a replay mode, something Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition sports, but I think its just a matter of time or online updates.
If you have a save file from the original you automatically unlock Galactus mode, which is simply playing as the giant Galactus. Fun but a short lived one as stomping on your enemy gets tedious fast. It also pays to note that the game has limited modes. Arcade, Versus, Online and a basic training mode are all that it sports. Event mode is no longer though Capcom are releasing a free update which is a card trading system which gives slight attributes and stats advantages. You won't find hardcore fighting complexities with Ultimate MvC3, instead you will just find flashy and fast paced action. That ain't a bad thing.

Pros

Live action spectator mode. A more refined balance with characters.

Cons

Pretty light on new modes, for an update that you pay retail for you would expect a bit more here.