Pineapple Surprise!!
First thing's first, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 uses the same team mechanics as its predecessor, with players picking three characters at a time to battle. Not much has changed in this department.
You have a wide variety of characters to select from, with equal parts Marvel and Capcom. Though notably, this game actually has less characters than Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Now that's not to say less is bad, in fact, I greatly applaud some of the new additions like Viewtiful Joe, Amaterasu and Super Skrull (why have the Fantastic Four when you can basically have all of them in one character?), and we have a lot of welcomed returns (notably, I wasn't expecting Tron Bonne to make a comeback, so I'm very happy she did). But with that said, some of the new additions, such as She-Hulk and M.O.D.O.K, I am less ecstatic about.
I mean, what is She-Hulk but a fan-service version of the Hulk (who, might I add, is already in the game), and M.O.D.O.K, well, sorry, I just don't like him. I know, you might say those are unfair criticisms, so let me be more specific. It might not be these characters (and some others) specifically I have the problem with, but who was bumped out/ruled over in favor for them.
Personally speaking, I would much prefer to see someone like Dr. Octopus make it in the game than M.O.D.O.K, and given his more mainstream status, I would figure he would make more sense anyway. Though the most notable absence of all is that of Mega Man.
That's right, Mega Man is not in Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
Some would say that's simply a fanboyish complaint, and while maybe there is some of that in there, I don't think I'm out of line saying the absence of Mega Man, who is basically Capcom's flagship character (along with Ryu) seems a bit out of whack. Sure, some would say Zero and Tron Bonne make up the Mega Man presence, but I say they make up the Mega Man X and Mega Man Legends presence (respectively), but where's classic Mega Man?! Could his absence have something to do with Keiji Inafune leaving Capcom? Talk about biting your nose to spite your face. And some would say Mega Man might be a downloadable content character later on, but really, he's Mega Man, he should be here from the get-go.
But as a whole, the roster is more good than bad, She-Hulk and all.
And it's made all the better by the balance in gameplay. Most characters' moves operate the same as each other. Projectiles are done with the usual "Hadouken motion," and such. The game will take some getting used to at first, but it does seem more accessible than some of Capcom's other fighting games.
For the most part, I feel the roster is as balanced as its gameplay, though there are notable exceptions. I hate to call any character cheap, and so I won't do so, but let's just say a certain giant robot (hint: it's Sentinel) seems to make things a bit easier for a lot of people. Along with a vast reach and stronger physical attacks, Sentinel can also perform a lighting-quick projectile with a single button. No 'Hadouken motion' required, Sentinel can be a button-mashing, far-fighter's dream.
Also something to take note is that, in the case of a timeout, the game will determine the winner of the match by who had the most health left by the time the clock stopped ticking. The problem with this is that some characters have more health than others. This means you could potentially have two characters left with a bit of damage done, and your opponent could have, say, one Hulk or Sentinel at full health, and they'll win the match. Forget the hard work that went into knocking out their other two teammates, the fact that the character automatically has more health can get them the win.
These complaints have to be mentioned, but they don't ruin the experience either. And for the most part the game does have good balance, even the great Sentinel isn't unbeatable.
The game includes a classic style Arcade Mode, as well as local multiplayer and that of the online variety (which include ranked and not ranked matches, which are differentiated by acquired points, don't think a loss in a non-ranked match won't appear on your personal records). There are also some other side modes, such as missions, which are more or less a means of rewarding you for mastering different characters' moves.
The different modes all work nicely and have a good sense of polish (well, the aforementioned missions might have you going back to online matches within a few minutes), I only wish there were a few more options to choose from. I don't know about you, but I think a two-player, co-op version of Arcade Mode would have been nice. And I'm sure some variety could have been given to the multiplayer.
But again, I feel like these complaints are more about missed potential of what could have been there more than finding faults with what is there. That's something I usually try to avoid, but can't help but bring up in a game that has been longed for for over ten years.
But when we focus on what is here there is a lot to be happy about. The few balancing issues and that whole health thing aside, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is the best kind of frenetic action. Like all the best Capcom fighters, ridiculously spot-on timing is a must. It's in the precision of button presses and combos (not to mention swapping team members) that makes Marvel vs. Capcom 3 a game that definitely rewards skill (even Sentinel can pull off some interesting combos when people aren't just repeatedly shooting that darned laser over and over).
It's in this required skill, yet non-alienating nature and quick accessibility that make Marvel vs. Capcom 3 standout. That, and its colorful cast of characters. Its roster may be smaller this time around, but it just might be more varied. Deadpool for example, is to Marvel vs. Capcom what Wario was for Smash Bros. in the originality and spontaneity he brings to the table. My personal favorite team of characters consists of Viewtiful Joe, Amaterasu and Tron (yeah, all Capcom guys. Sorry, I like Marvel, but they don't have Viewtiful Joe).
In many ways Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a roaring success, but it isn't without its road bumps. It's some of the best fighting gameplay to come around in the current console generation, its accessible to people outside of the fighting genre-obsessed, its character selection is colorful and varied, and what is here is mostly polished. If it weren't for the previously stated minor balancing issues and the untapped potential in gameplay modes, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 would be a serious (and early) contender for the best game of 2011. As it stands, well, it's definitely in the running.