Marvel vs. Capcom 2 has made a long-awaited comeback – here's why that's such a big deal

GamesFightingMarvel vs Capcom 2Marvel vs. Capcom 2 has made a long-awaited comeback – here’s why that’s such a big dealWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesFightingMarvel vs Capcom 2Marvel vs. Capcom 2 has made a long-awaited comeback – here’s why that’s such a big dealWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Capcom) The power dynamic in the relationship between Marvel and Capcom has changed massively, in a way that negatively affected the release of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and soured things between the two companies. Also, you’d imagine the cost to get these Marvel characters licensed would be exponentially higher now – almost certainly too high to justify the cost of putting together a re-release of a quarter of a century old (ouch!) fighting game. However, it seems we live in the one in 14,000,605 universes where the good guys win, because Marvel and Capcom have managed to get all of the Marvel-licensed Capcom games bundled together. They’ve all been re-released in Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, a super-comprehensive package – yes, even classic scrolling beat ‘em up The Punisher is in there – ready for a whole new generation to discover what makes them so special. These fighting games are more than just another fantastic part of video game history being archived. They’re part of a rich tapestry that makes up the fighting game community’s history – to prove it, just take a look at the impact of Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Reversal (Image credit: Capcom) Crossover celebration (Image credit: Marvel Comics) From the Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center in New York to the biggest stage at Evo, hosted on the Las Vegas Strip, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 has held a long-standing reputation of being the most hype-inducing fighting game to play and watch. To the uninitiated, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is chaos – nothing but flashing lights and sounds – but to those in the know, to those who have dipped their toes into its dangerous waters, it’s a series of endless attempts at players trying to mix one another up or turn a single stray hit into a highly damaging combo. It’s always high risk, high reward in a game that requires the player to have not only some seriously skilled execution but a deep knowledge of many, many situations. It’s a game that is equally as testing of your mental fortitude as it is your reactions, and is just as exciting to spectate as it is to play. Which means it has a long and storied competitive history. From Battle At The Bay 4 in 2000, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was the first non-Street Fighter game to be held at the event that would go on to become Evo. The following year, the final Battle At The Bay before it became Evolution Fighting Championship, a young Justin Wong – then just 15 – took first place, his first of many first-place finishes in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Of the nine years the game was run at Evo, Wong won six of those years, cementing his place as one of the best-ever players of the game. With Evo now running a classic game tournament, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is looking like a pretty solid bet for a return at next year’s event. (Image credit: Capcom) Marvel vs. Capcom 2 also existed in this strange period of early internet content creation. Once the Xbox 360/PS3 version dropped in 2009, the technology was there to stream tournaments and provide commentary, as well as allow players to create combo videos and character guides. But for every professional stream with overlays, commentators and player cams, just as much of the game’s history looks like it’s been filmed on a potato – and yet, these moments are often just as iconic. Yipes’ legendary commentary was such a huge part of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 that Capcom itselfsort-of acknowledgedit in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, showing that even the developer is aware of how big a role the community has played in the series. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more One can only hope that this collection provides another lease of life for Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The game never really died – there’s hundreds of people playing it on Fightcade as I write this article and there was a fairly healthy group of player playing the 360 version beforeMicrosoftkilled of Xbox Live support for that console this year - but a new, official, rollback netcode and training mode-equipped package from Capcom is the sort of thing that could tempt new players to give it a go and maybe stick around. So whether it’s watching Maximillian, the biggest FGC content creator bar none, talking with a genuine passion about his love for this game, browsing thearchive of the SRK forumsor just learninghow to do a mother f-ing infinite with Iron Manfrom a 13-year-old 480p video, this isn’t just about the return of an important piece of video game history. It’s about real, human history. Welcome back, Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Hopefully, this time you get to stick around forever. Besides Marvel vs. Capcom, check out more of thebest fighting gamesyou can play right now. 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of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”