When Capcom announced in December 2013 that their license with #Marvel had expired and they had no plans of renewing it, owing reportedly to differences in vision, many of us gamers were left heartbroken. This decision resulted in numerous #MvC titles being pulled out of shelves, stores, worldwide, including the #PlayStation Network; Capcom ultimately had to stop producing some of our favorite crossover games, including Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3, because they no longer had the license or approval from Marvel to keep doing so. I wrote an article about it a few weeks ago, stating a few reasons as to why renewing would be a good idea, and why not renewing would be bad for everyone, hoping to god that maybe someday Capcom and Marvel will change their minds.
Yesterday however, during the PlayStation Experience in San Francisco, CA, Capcom made its biggest reveal since 2013 their newest crossover fighting game, Marvel VS Capcom: Infinite.
TEASING MARVEL VS CAPCOM: INFINITE
Marvel VS Capcom: Infinite is the newest and eighth addition to the famed Marvel and Capcom crossover franchise, and it is a brainchild of both the MvC series and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If youre a fan of just the #MCU, then this is great news for you, but if youre a fan of the entire Marvel universe, not just the small speck that comprises the films, this will come off as a bit of a handicap. MvC Infinite, according to some yet-to-be fully confirmed reports, will only feature MCU-exclusive (or Marvel movie-exclusive) characters like Evans Cap, Rudds Ant-Man, and Hollands Spidey, alongside the usual Capcom playables. This means no X-Men, no Brotherhood of Mutants, no possibilities at all for the Fantastic Four. This is possibly awful news as the #XMen (for instance) have always been around and an integral part of the game franchise; it would be strange not to be able to play #Wolverine or #Magneto in an MvC game.
In the teaser trailer, Capcom pits Ryu and Megaman versus Iron Man and Captain Marvel; they fire projectiles at each other until the former reaches up to grab and power up with the Infinity Stones - hence the title, Marvel VS Capcom: Infinite. It was already previously reported that the game will draw heavily on the MCUs upcoming Infinity War movies.
The short trailer can be viewed below:
[[yt:aAOgJ9y0Ots]]
GAME FEATURES
Capcom announced that the game will be a 2v2 (if the tag teams in the trailer were any indication), which will potentially be a low point considering how its most recent predecessor was a 3v3 title.
Given the significance of the Infinity Stones in the trailer, it also might not be too far off to assume that the stones themselves will play a massive role in the gameplay, something us older gamers might remember fondly from Marvel Super Heroes, one of Capcoms earlier titles, which also made full use of the Infinity Stones in the form of powerups.
Other reported features of MvC Infinite include:
Reborn Rivalries: Universes collide once again in this all-new crossover clash for the ages, where players select their favorite Marvel and Capcom characters and engage in accessible and free-form 2v2 team battles, which allow for new gameplay dynamics never-before-seen in the franchise.
Infinite Power: Choose one of the six powerful Infinity Stones from the Marvel Universe to influence the outcome of battle. Each Infinity Stone will customize characters with unique abilities and powerful game-changing effects that can quickly turn the tide of battle.
Iconic Heroes: Select from a diverse roster of fan favorite characters pulled from the Marvel and Capcom Universes, including Captain Marvel and Iron Man from the Marvel side, and Ryu and Mega Man X from Capcom. Many more playable characters will be revealed in the future.
Cinematic Story: Heroes and villains battle for supremacy in a timeless struggle set in the Marvel and Capcom universes. The original storyline answers the questions regarding the new clash and lets players step into the shoes of classic characters from both sides as they wage war against powerful forces in an attempt to defeat a new villain.
Accessible Single Player Content: In addition to the cinematic story experience, players can hone their skills in a variety of accessible single player modes, including Training, Mission, and Arcade modes.
Vast Multiplayer Features: Robust online modes and content including ranked and casual matches, global leaderboards, and online lobbies with spectator mode deepen the overall experience.
Graphics: Unreal Engine 4 technology pushes the cinematic visuals and next-gen realism into a new era.
Update (as of 3:58 PM, Manila time): The gameplay trailer for Marvel VS Capcom: Infinite was just uploaded on YouTube by Marvel Entertainment! You can view it easy, below:
[[yt:S1hTW2VFpJ4]]
First impression: it looks very similar to Marvel VS Capcom 3, but with a touch of SF5. I like it. Id like to see more characters to be able to make a more precise assessment, but for now, I think it looks nice. The graphics dont look too bad either, and movement seems pretty smooth. More, please.
UNEXPECTED RETURN OF A MUCH-LOVED CLASSIC
In line with MvC Infinites recent reveal, Capcom also announced - wait for it - that they will be re-releasing Marvel VS Capcom 3 for all platforms including newer ones like the PS4 and the Xbox One! Isnt that amazing? I cant think of a better gift for Christmas than this. If you want to see the video announcement for yourself, its right below:
[[yt:_KctMDsHVF8]]
As of yesterday (Dec. 3), MvC3 is already available for download and play for the PS4. It will be available for play on the Xbox One and PC in March 2017.
FINALLY SETTLING THEIR DIFFERENCES
By this, I guess we can assume the two companies have finally, once again, agreed to work together, albeit with some restrictions (e.g. no non-MCU playables). Im glad they were finally able to work out their differences for the sake of their fans. So cry no more, fellas! Our prayers have finally been answered. In the words of Marvel Entertainments Mike Jones:
For the last two decades, Marvel vs. Capcom has been one of the most celebrated franchises among fans. To deliver on that legacy, weve worked closely with Capcom to create a game that honors the heritage of the series and combines Marvels unique brand of storytelling with Capcoms world-class gameplay. Were raising the bar with Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and are excited for players to get their hands on it next year.
Michael Evans, Capcom USAs director of production, adds:
It was deeply inspiring for our development team to join forces again with Marvel and we cant wait for our fans to experience the benefits of that collaboration first hand. With Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, our goal is to provide memorable experiences and infinite gameplay possibilities for players of all skill levels.
We can hardly wait, you guys.
Marvel VS Capcom: Infinite is set for release in late 2017, for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.