Marvel Vs Capcom 2
Awesome then, awesome now! 

Played on Xbox 360
Played by Coxster 

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Most of us have probably played this game at one time or another; it appeared on the Dreamcast, PS2 and original Xbox.   It was awesome then and it’s awesome now.   Some games never get old. 

Nostalgia aside the core mechanics still remain some of the most fun (and crazy) you’ll find in any 2D fighter.   MVC 2 is like Street Fighter 2 in terms of gameplay, but with its fit inducing graphics and expansive roster (56 characters in all) not to mention it’s addictive gameplay and excellent controls, MVC 2 exceeds many of its peers.   Everything is pretty much available from the get go, so you’re not going ot have to play round after round to unlock a whole heap of useless crap, which might be a minus for some people, but for busy gamers like myself it’s a blessing.  

Admit it, awesome lives here

You have single player campaigns and excellent multiplayer options available. Single player has a few modes such as Arcade and Score Attack (the difference being that Arcade gives you unlimited credits, Score Attack gives you one) and of course the Training area where you can practice your techniques and combos, and trust me, you’re going to need it. 

Probably the biggest change to the game is the Xbox Live support in regards to Multiplayer.   You can still battle it out with a buddy in the same room on the one screen, but when you find yourself without a friend on hand to play against there seems to be plenty of people online ready to challenge you.   Now remember that this is a game that has many fans and many experts will no doubt take advantage of a prior knowledge of the moves and combos that remain untouched by continually owning newcomers, but if 2D fighters are your thing, MVC 2 still remains one of the most rewarding fighters even to this day. 

Online lobbies are also on the cards and you can have them populated with up to six people.   You can spectate and of course there is also Ranked and unranked modes to choose from.   The downside to the online component is that if you don’t have a fast connection you can kiss your chances goodbye.   It’s probably best to trawl some forums and organise some clan matches rather than take your luck against the Americans because the connection will usually make the rounds swing to their favour.   Certainly was the case in my experience.    When I was playing against friends from Australia, it was a barrel of laughs and really took me back to those days when we would play this game for hours and hours on end.  

Excuse me, is awesome home?

One thing that I really loved about Marvel Vs Capcom 2 is that just about everything has remained untouched.   From the combos to the graphics, a lot of it remains faithful to the original editions.   There have been some changes in regards to screen size and resolutions, but the graphics and soundtrack are all exactly the same as I remember them.   There are some graphics filtering available but if you’re a purist like me you’ll probably just stick to the original treatment. There is a widescreen support as well as 4:3 options available as well.   The framerate is solid and only stutters when you let off a special attack, which oddly enough gives it a bit of slow motion coolness. 

Because the core game hasn’t been touched, there is still a few balance issues and exploits to find (which a lot of old school players will already be aware of) but MVC 2 shouldn’t be taken seriously enough to detract from the fun this old school classic offers.  

It has been one of the best years ever for Xbox Live Arcade and for me Marvel Vs Capcom 2 is the cherry on top.   I can’t recommend this one enough.