It took Capcom over a decade to release the follow up to Marvel vs. Capcom 2, one of the most beloved 2D fighters ever created. Fans clamored for a proper sequel, and earlier this year we got one in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The game was a great fighter that pushed the series forward in many ways, but drew criticism for a lack of modes and a smaller fighter roster than its predecessors. Now, not even a year later, Capcom has released the inevitable redux, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 makes all the customary moves for a Capcom update, bringing in new fighters, new stages, and a few additional features while retaining the crazy sense of style that gives the series distinction in the fighting game genre. The new changes will be great for hardcore fans of the franchise, but as a retail package it's awfully short on new modes and added features.
One of the main gripes that fans of the franchise had with Marvel vs. Capcom 3 was the condensed roster. The Marvel vs. Capcom games have always had a pretty full grouping of fighters from both sides, but Marvel vs. Capcom 3 dropped the full count of playable characters to thirty-six total fighters. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 adds in twelve more, six from Marvel and six from Capcom. Throw in the two downloadable characters, Jill Valentine and Shuma-Gorath and the full UMvC3 roster hits a not-too-shabby fifty total fighters.
The new characters are pretty varied in terms of fighting styles as well as usefulness. Aside from one returning character from Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Strider Hiryu, the rest of the added characters are brand new to the series. The line-up ranges from solid new characters like Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, and Frank West (I'm curious why it took so long for them to be featured on the roster), and the customarily weird additions, like Rocket Raccoon and Phoenix Wright. Phoenix Wright's inclusion feels like pure fan service and he isn't particularly adept at fighting (his moves mostly consist of chucking papers around and falling on the ground), but the remaining newcomers are actually pretty good.
Graphically, UMvC3 has the same stylish look as MvC3, which is great. What the character's lack in detail they make up for in personality, and the brightly colored and intense special effects give the game a unique sense of style and near seizure-inducing visual pop and flair. The crazy characters and insane special combos and moves make Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 a visual treat that stands alone against other fighters out there.
The Verdict
If you skipped out on Marvel vs. Capcom 3 earlier this year or simply heard about the Ultimate version and opted to wait it out, you&#Array;ll find a lot to love in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The added characters round out the roster very nicely, bolstering the full lineup to potentially fifty. However, if you&#Array;re looking for something more than added characters and stages, UMvC3 doesn&#Array;t add much in the way of new features and modes, making the forty dollar price tag and retail-only package a little hard to swallow.
