"You sort of remind me of The Hulk. Only much stupider."
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 ends it's 3 month exclusivity on the PS4 and finally kicks and punches its way onto the Xbox One. But is this release that much different from its Xbox 360 counterpart?
The first thing to mention is the DLC and for once it's not a sticking point. The Xbox One version of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 includes all of the DLC from the original Xbox 360 release as standard. That means you're getting all of the original 48 characters plus Jill Valentine and Shuma-Gorath who were only available as paid DLC. Fancy spending some extra cash on costumes? Well you don't have to because all ten costume packs are included here as well and let's not forget to mention the extra stages that were released as DLC which are also included in this ultimate edition. This is a great move by Capcom and it really shows that they are pushing Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 as the complete version of the game and hopefully it will entice those who bought it originally to reinvest in this version safe in the knowledge that they won't have to spend any extra money like they may have done on the previous version.
Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3’s fights take place in 3 v 3 pitched battles. You simply fight until every member of the opposing team has been eliminated. Every Capcom character you can think of is available for you to add to your roster. The list is immense from Capcom you have Akuma, Amaterasu, Arthur, C. Viper, Chris, Chun Li, Dante, Felicia, Firebrand,Frank West, Haggar, Hsien Ko, Jill Valentine, Morrigan,Nemesis, Phoenix Wright, Ryu, Spencer,Strider, Trish, Tron Bonne, Vergil, Viewtiful Joe, Wesker and Zero. On the Marvel side you have Captain America. Deadpool. Doctor Doom. Doctor Strange. Dormammu, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Fist, Iron Man, Magneto, M.O.D.O.K., Nova, Phoenix, Rocket Raccoon, Sentinel, She-Hulk, Shuma-Gorath, Spider-Man, Storm, Super-Skrull, Taskmaster, Thor, Wolverine and X-23.
With this many characters you might think that each character attacks and various weapons would become samey but nothing could be further from the truth. Each character has his/her/it’s own set of very distinctive attacks and weapon sets and if your a fan of Capcom, Marvel or both then your in for some amazing fan service. Imagine pitting the likes of Rocket Raccoon, Iron Man and Spiderman against Viewtiful Joe, C. Viper and Phoenix Wright. Wipe away those fanboy tears because your not dreaming my friend this is reality. As you might expect from a game with a list of characters that's as crazy as Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 the fights are totally mesmerising and completely over the top but most importantly great fun because in a shocking move it's very, very accessible. I'm not sure how intentional this was but you don't have to be combo fiend to win. Granted button bashing won't get you very far but winning is never a chore and constantly getting your arse handed to you isn't as inevitable as it is in a Street Fighter game at least that's my experience.
Each character has their own set of moves which is distinct to them. These moves will determine which characters you decide to stick with throughout the game. Moving and attacking are mapped to the usual button inputs 2D fighting games have used for decades so even a novice like me can just jump straight in and have at it. That's not to say that there isn't any strategy here because it's there in spades and it's the split second decision making you make during bouts that really sets this game apart. When do you tag in and out is a massive part of every match and it can really swing the balance of a fight. Using your Supers or even in times of desperation using your X Favor to power you up for a short while all add to the craziness that's going on around you. I hate to repeat myself but all of this means nothing if it's all hidden behind a game that only true fighting game aficionados can enjoy and thankfully it's not. Everything is so over the top and accessible even my misses could play it and still have a good time even while I kick her arse. Alls fair in love and war.
If you like your TV screen to explore with insanely over the top moves then your gonna be right at home here. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom features the most fun over the top moves I have ever witnessed in a fighting game. Super Moves, Assists and tagging your partners into fights unleashes all kinds of mayhem. Building up your super meter let you launch attacks that are simply mind blowing and even more so when all three of your characters are involved. It's insanity but in a good way. All of this runs at a rock solid 1080p and 60FPS and it looks gorgeous. Even with a screen full of characters pulling off a crunching attack it all runs silky smooth and it's a wonder to behold. Every character is brimming with detail and each character is animated superbly. The action on screen pops out at you and to be frank it's one of the most spectacular games I have seen on the Xbox One.
I'm not the greatest fan of Beat-Em-Ups and if I'm honest my love of the genre begins and ends with Soul Calibur. I've never played the Xbox 360 version of Marvel vs Capcom 3 and now I've played the Ultimate version I know I've been missing out. There are hours and hours of gameplay to be here and I urge you to take a chance even if you're not a fan of Beat-Em-Ups. At only £19.99 including all the previous paid for DLC it's a steal.
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Website: ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3
Twitter: @marvelvscapcom / @Capcom_Unity
Review code supplied by XCN.