Why Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is worth it

Perry Ambrozy 14 Oct, 2011 at 6:15pm ET Article published in Gaming

The latest addition to Marvel vs Capcom 3, dubbed Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, is coming to stores next month, and there has been a lot of controversy about the game.

Let’s start with all of the bashing that this game has been taking lately.

Deal with it

I’ve been listening to all of the latest soundtrack that Capcom has been releasing on YouTube, and the comments some people are leaving on these videos are hideous. Many of the comments are opinions about how this game is too expensive for what it’s worth, and that all of it should have just been released as DLC. Many are saying that this is reminiscent of the Super Street Fighter IV incident.

Other comments are saying the opposite—that it was a great idea for a fresh start on the game, featuring 12 new playable characters, 8 new stages, a spectator mode, (which the fans have been asking for for a long time now) and better fighting mechanics. The game has a really nice discount retail price of $40, so it’s an even better buy than the original.

Taking entertainment value into consideration, is it such a big deal? It’s not an add-on. It’s an entire fresh start, and if people would stop to think about it, there would probably be fewer complaints about how this game isn’t worth it. Yes, we all waited a decade for MvC 3. But when it came out, we were all excited. It’s only been eight months, and we are already getting a new addition to the series. So deal with it.

Character Selection

Rest In Peace

On a side note, there have been other complaints regarding really lame character selection, such as Firebrand and Phoenix Wright, and how Mega Man should be in place of them. According to Ryota Niitsuma, the maker of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom and Street Fighter IV, Mega Man was supposed to be in the original version—but they replaced him with Zero because of his lack of variety in attacks.

Mega Man has been really unappreciated by Capcom though, so I don’t blame the fans for being sad, as I am a fan myself. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Mega Man made it as DLC later on after the game has been released. The chances are very unlikely, so don’t hold your breath.

Anyways, I understand the people who are complaining about it, but I just wish fans would handle this a little better. After all, we are already getting a new MvC game. Like I said, the price is good, and this game has so many new things compared to the last.

And lastly, I shall explain the changes this game is getting.

12 new characters, featuring

Marvel:

Hawkeye
Ghost Rider
Nova
Rocket Raccoon
Doctor Strange
Iron Fist

Capcom

Vergil
Firebrand
Phoenix Wright
Nemesis
Frank West
Strider Hiryu

8 new stages, mainly night-time versions of the daytime stages, such as Asgard. The game’s fighting mechanics have been enhanced also. Many other changes can be found here.

Expect me to be buying this game. I truly believe that Capcom is trying its hardest to please the fans, and that they would never just “abandon us”. I hope this is helpful to others fans that are upset with Capcom’s latest decisions.

Comments

14 Oct 2011 ~ 7:49pm WhiteGoblin Last time I was in Vegas I spent a solid six hours in a tux rocking MvC2 taking on anybody who wanted to drop a few quarters. The next day I found myself a casino or two over pretty much doing the same exact thing.

The death of the arcade on every corner was the loss of classic PvP to me. If it wasn't for emulators & online servers I don't know what I'd do. I look forward to this release & you better believe I'll be picking it up. No matter the changes I still applaud companies like Capcom & SNK. (not to mention a little late night humping of MVS cabinets when I come across them, tux or not!)
14 Oct 2011 ~ 8:03pm Cliff_Forster Good read. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 has had me in my local Gamestop, staring at a PS3 more than a few times.

Capcom fighting games have been repackaged and resold over and over again ever since Street Fighter II. There is the original, a super version, a super version plus EX or whatever, then there is the super version vs another universe, soon to be another publishers franchise entirely, it's what they do with this series. They continually tweak it If someone does not like it, don't buy it. Simple as that. They did this for SF IV on PC (that I purchased), I did not get mad about it, I just did not re invest in Super, I did not feel like it offered me enough value vs. what I had already enjoyed. I don't fault Capcom for it, it's a new package, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

This reminds me of the argument against Valve releasing Left 4 Dead 2 as a full retail title. It was a silly argument then, and still is. Don't like it, don't buy the title, simple as that.
14 Oct 2011 ~ 8:17pm Ben People are pissed that they spent full price on a game that got an entire upgrade down the road. Why isn't this game released as DLC for people WHO OWN Marvel v.s Capcom 3 and at the same time a physical copy is released on store shelves? because... CAPCOM WANTS MORE MONEH!!! Face it brother this has nothing to do with pleasing fans, it never did; when a company pulls of a stunt like this it isn't fan service its shenanigans. I claim shenanigans!
14 Oct 2011 ~ 8:20pm Thrax He claimed shenanigans. Thread's over.
14 Oct 2011 ~ 8:39pm PirateNinja For someone like me who knew nothing about this to begin with, this was a great read .. and it makes me want to play the game.

Obligatory:
14 Oct 2011 ~ 10:06pm FreshyP I don't think it has to do with fan service either, in fact, the only thing Capcom did for the fans in this game was give them new characters to use, and new levels. I am still not sure that Capcom's intention is to grab money though, they obviously care a little bit.
14 Oct 2011 ~ 10:24pm primesuspect I can't really find fault with FreshyP's or Cliff's argument. Capcom does care about their fans (ever read their blog? Follow them on Twitter?), and if you don't like it... don't buy it?
15 Oct 2011 ~ 11:52am Starman Getting to play as Firebrand makes this worthwhile, even if nothing else is different.
15 Oct 2011 ~ 2:18pm Bandrik Wait, Firebrand... as in, Firebrand from Gargoyle's Quest? HELL YEAH!!
15 Oct 2011 ~ 6:33pm FreshyP Yep, THE Firebrand.
15 Oct 2011 ~ 9:05pm Bad-Mr-Frosty I think people's main gripe with it IS that it isn't an add-on, add-on's are for the most part optional. But this is a fully improved version of the game. People bought the original version for 60$ and then a new version comes out within a few months. Balancing, new characters and stages. It leaves a lot of people feeling like they were cheated out of their money.

Sure it's your option to pay 40$ for the game and get the new characters and stages. But then people are more than likely getting this new version, who are you going to play online with? The online is improved too, with spectator mode. Anyone who actually plays the game online will more than likely get the new version, forcing your hand.

Do people play the original SF4? or maybe the first and second iterations of SF3? They don't because they're inferior to the final versions.

It's not really a fresh start is it? They're building upon a semi built game. It's not like they re-did all the moves, changed oh so many things. They took what they already had, changed some small things, added some stuff, and are selling it to everyone again.

Really, I would have a lot less problems with this game coming out if all the characters and stages were added as DLC. That way UMvC3 would actually be a good deal, for people that wanted everything that came with it. But the reason they don't do it like that is obvious, because they make more money doing it this way.

If they had released this game instead of MvC3 and at 60$, I would have had no problem buying it. But compared to how little content was in the first game and how soon they released it after the first one, it's clear that everyone paid Capcom to play the MvC3 beta, and then paid again for the actual game. But hey that's capcom! Let's just deal with it. Every time.
18 Oct 2011 ~ 12:05pm GHoosdum I read this article because it was featured in the Delightful Experience Newsrag, and I have to say that I definitely agree with Brian. Perry, many people graduate from high school and can't put words to the page this well. Kudos!