Eleven years after its predecessor a lot of hype and demand has been building for the release of MVC3. Having finally arrived in store shelves, does Capcom fulfil these expectations?  And can it match or even surpass its cousin in Super Street Fighter 4?

Meeting expectation is a difficult and challenging task however Capcom does find common ground between the hardcore and casual gamer. For the most part the game succeeds in what it tries to achieve but to many its not the complete package that they may have hoped for.

Presentation wise the game is visually stunning with gorgeous bold colours for all characters and stages. A particular favourite character of mine was The Hulk, where the colour and texture of the green really stood out for me.

This time Capcom ditched the sprite based animated style that are traditionally used, for a polygon-based presentation, making for a high cel-shaded look. This does dumb down the detail and because of it the characters seem plainer. Still considering the fast paced style of the game and the lovely effects flying across the screen it makes it hard to notice the simpler look.

Much of the roster is available from the start, which would be welcomed by the hardcore community. A total of 36 characters are included with the retail version of the game with two additional characters having been announced as DLC. Even with a healthy line-up of characters it’s disappointing to know that MVC2 had 56 playable characters out the box and that was over a decade ago. This begs the question was it a money motive for Capcom releasing characters as paid DLC?

MVC3 includes some nice touches where you’re able to save your dream team thus avoiding selecting them individually all the time. Again the game records some insane amounts of statistics about each character and your play style. This feature would be great for those interested in analysing their fighting style and see where improvements may need to be made to become a better fighter.

Like SSF4 the game has phenomenal core mechanics that is thoroughly enjoyable. Nothing is more rewarding then vaporising your opponent and having a little trash talk banter after the match.

The game does do an incredible job of capturing the best of its predecessor, using old and new characters to explore, providing a great degree of diversity and balance. Every character has their own unique moves, style and personality and this in itself is a remarkable achievement.

One point to mention is the singling out of Sentinel. Many community members have already branded him to be broken where his laser beams are considered to be a ‘cheap’ and overpowering move. This has lead people to believe that some gamers will employ these tactics and abuse them-making an uninspiring match.

There is a new concept to 3 on 3 battle, where the controller interface has been tweaked to; Light, Medium, Heavy and Special attacks, instead of the two by two punch and kick arrangements from previous MVC installments. What’s more owners of Tatsunoko vs Capcom on the Wii will feel right at home as MVC3 incorporates the same layout.

The tweak is subtle but important making the Special button more streamlined and universal. This application allows for a greater fluid motion when sending your opponent in the air for combos.

Another big feature is the Simple mode that Capcom have added. This option removes the complexity of move execution, which would be useful for novice fighters. To some this can be a controversial concept however rest assured it does little to imbalance the gameplay, as a skilled player should be more than capable defeating an amateur.

Other features include calling in a partner for a mid air combo attack and a ‘X-Factor’ power-up that is triggered by pressing down all four attack buttons. This feature will allow the player to have a short boost in power, speed and healing thus strategic thinking should always be taken into consideration.

The down side to MVC3 is there isn’t much to it. Apart from a training mode, challenge missions and some unexciting features to unlock, that’s about it. Compared to SSF4 there are no spectator, survival and time challenge modes and that’s where the game is lacking.

MVC3 is an incredible fighting game that fans of the series and novices alike will truly appreciate. The fighting mechanics are deep and there’s a lot to experiment with. It stayed true to its form at the same time introduced new concepts and features however this came at a price stripping away what a lasting modern fighting game comprises of.

Written By:- David Salman

Sponsored by:- Music Matters – The premier audio and visual specialist