Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Review (XONE)

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 finally makes its way to Xbox One after getting a 3-month head start on PS4 and I can happily say it has been worth the wait. This current gen release isn’t wildly different if you’ve already played it on Xbox 360, but it does include all of the DLC already built in and now runs at a ridiculously gorgeous 1080p/60FPS. Seriously, it looks amazing now. Most importantly, it still plays just as well as ever and is a ton of fun for fighting game vets as well as novices. See all of the details here in our full Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Xbox One review.


Game Details

  • Publisher: Capcom          
  • Developer: Capcom
  • ESRB Rating: “T” for Teen
  • Genre: Fighting
  • Pros: Amazing fighting gameplay; all DLC included; looks stunning at 1080p/60; great multiplayer
  • Cons: Roster not as good as MVC2
  • MSRP: $25


The Xbox One / PS4 release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 includes all 48 standard characters from the original 360/PS3 release plus the two DLC characters, Jill Valentine and Shuma-Gorath to bring the total to 50 characters. All of the other DLC released last-gen – costumes, stages, etc. – is included in this new release as part of the package. This is truly the Ultimate release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. For the $25 asking price this is a pretty tremendous value on Xbox One.

Gameplay in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 consists of 3-on-3 team battles where you keep fighting until all three members of one team are eliminated. All of the Capcom characters – your Street Fighter faves, Frank from Dead Rising, Dante from Devil May Cry, Darkstalkers and Resident Evil characters and more - have their distinct attacks and weapons from their respective series and all of the Marvel characters – Spider-Man, Iron Man, Rocket Raccoon, Wolverine, etc. - are dripping with enough comic book fanservice to make even the most jaded fanboy weep. When the two sides clash the battles are crazy and over the top and some of the most fun you’ll have with a fighting game because it is all surprisingly accessible. I think I probably prefer the roster in Marvel vs. Capcom 2, but that’s purely subjective.


The various move and attacks characters can make are based on the same basic motions and button inputs common in Capcom fighting games. Each character has their own distinct moves and finding a character (or several) that suit your gameplay style isn’t too difficult. What sets the Marvel vs. Capcom series apart, however, are the insane super moves, assists, and team up moves you can unleash as well as tagging your partners into the fight. By building up your super meter you can launch devastating screen-filling attacks with one, two, or all three of your characters at once. These moves are, honestly, totally nuts and a big part of the appeal of the series. They’re big and flashy and extremely satisfying to use. There is a strategic element to UMVC3 too, however, as knowing when to tag in and out, when to time your supers, or when to activate the X-Factor (a limited desperation move that powers you up temporarily) give the game a ton of depth. That is what makes it so great, though, is that it is easy and accessible and flashy so anyone and everyone can play it and have fun, but there’s a lot of depth to keep hardcore fighting fans hooked as well. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is truly one of the best fighting games of all time.

The most important aspect of this Xbox One re-release, along with all of the DLC being included, is that Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 now runs at 1080p resolution and a rock solid 60FPS. I’m not really much of a graphics whore, for lack of a better term, so all of the resolution and framerate number warz between PS4 and Xbox fanboys haven’t made much difference to me, but I have to admit that the bump in resolution and framerate really makes a surprisingly huge impact here. The game looks freaking amazing now. The characters are incredibly detailed and extremely well animated, the special effects really pop, and everything is so sharp and clean and clear that it is kind of mind blowing.


Whether you’ve already played the past gen versions for hundreds of hours or are a total newbie, this new release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is absolutely well worth a look. With the same great gameplay but now with all of the DLC packed in and the visuals given a noticeable boost, this is truly the ultimate release of one of the best fighting games ever and the $25 asking price is perfect. Fighting game fans owe it to themselves to buy Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 on Xbox One or PS4.
Disclosure: A review code was provided by the publisher.