8.5

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

THQ's latest fighter has slammed its way onto the PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 which reunites gamers to two popular franchises, one of Marvel Comics (e.g. Spider-Man & She-Hulk) and that of Capcom (Ryu and Albert Wesker). At its deliciously gaming core, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is an over the top fighter that is reminiscent of the classic Capcom game, Street Fighter as you beat the absolute living daylights out of your opponents with some brilliant combos and parries. 

Ironically, it only seems like yesterday (Feb 2011) that THQ released Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds which we gave a respectable 9.3 out of 10 and here we are again? Not that we're complaining because fighters are always good in our books, especially entertaining ones. But the question must be asked why? We'll get to that a little further but first, let's talk about the previous title.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds also faired well with the general gaming community, especially the online tournaments as players pitted their skills against others, each using their favourite tools, whether that's a character from the Marvel or Capcom universe. However the main question is, how does Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 fair in the grand scheme of things? We get new characters, new environments, improved gameplay and snazzier graphics.

Graphically, the title looks like a carbon copy of the previous game with slightly nicer graphics.  However the developers have addressed several of the nuisances that gamers found during their time clocked up playing the previous title, not to mention a few bugs that gave a few players the upper hand. So in other words, the bugs and unfair nature of some characters have been fixed and this latest version contains new characters and generally better gameplay.

There are also some new introductions and endings for the characters and the menu system is definitely more slick. Characters are better animated and look like their respected universes' counterparts, especially the cool Marvel players. But apart from the slick graphics, it's all about the controls right? You betcha!

Given that, the control system of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3  feels considerably more sturdy and pulling off those combos does feel more fluid. However the gameplay is where the excitement is found such as the revamped team aerial combos. Depending on what character you swap between can change the tide of battles, especially with the different powers that it now rewards the players. This is definitely a great tactical addition to the title.

Another bonus is that even the existing characters in the title have new moves and more importantly, the game feels more balanced because there were some top heavy characters in the previous game. For example, X-Factor which is basically the comeback system from the former game has been toned down in order to prevent the almost dead from making a ridiculous comeback. This is definitely a fairer option for all involved. It's also great that you can activate this in midair now as well as opposed to landing dead on the ground from an attack.

But what about the new characters? There are 12 new playable characters to select, 6 from both of the two different universes. The six new characters from Marvel include Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Nova plus Rocket Raccoon and the remaining six from Capcom are Firebrand, Frank West, Nemesis T-Type, Phoenix Wright, Strider Hiryu and Vergil. Ghost Rider is definitely my favourite with his powerful whip that kicks butt from almost anywhere in the screen. Of course Phoenix Wright and his transformation into a monster is pretty damn cool as well.

Also,  each of these characters plays considerably different to what's currently available, ensuring some new gaming dynamics when you commence fighting, especially the team fights. And for newcomers, the mission mode will teach them the basics in this tutorial type challenge and by pausing the game, it will display a detailed move list. There's even a chance to play as Galactus for those Marvel fanboys and girls. Other game modes include Arcade, Versus and Training.

Aside from your single-player mode or local play, the game's online play has been improved, especially when it comes to selecting matches and knowing your real-world opponents. It's even better that characters have been made more equal but most will rely on their favourites until they have unlocked the skills of the 12 new characters. The developers have even added a spectator mode so while you're waiting to fight, you can now engage in some light entertainment while you wait. All in all, it comes together well as a game.

Final Level

If you own the previous game in the series, I would find it difficult to recommend this title, unless your a crazed fanboy of the Capcom fighting games and then it's a totally different story. However if you never played the previous game or missed the first two and you love fighters, than Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is definitely a game that you should investigate as not only does it pay homage to the classic "2D fighters" but the gameplay is quite flawless on the PS3. Sure, some people will get away with button mashing, however there is a real sense of skill and coordination involved in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and best of all, once you have finished the title, you can try your hand at some online player. Check it out!