All posts tagged marvel vs capcom 3

Looking Back: My Favorite Game of 2011

Now Revised!

LVLs., in its earlier Wildcat Online days, ran a traditional awards show (i.e. post) for a couple of years where I awarded games I liked a recolored sprite of NES Link cleverly dubbed “The Golden Links”.  I’ve thrown that idea aside for several years, but this year I actually had a chance to purchase more than a couple games that are current enough for me to postulate my feelings toward them and actually have it be relevant, so I’m bringing the concept back.  However, the “Golden Link” is going to stay a part of the past.  Instead, I’m revising my Looking Back articles to be much more than they have been. Beyond the life ruminations, the shortlist and anecdotes about my favorite game, I’m also going to award some other aspects of games, like Best New Hero/Villain, Best Voice Acting, Best Box Art, and a few others.  It’ll make it more personal and appropriate for the Game of the Year festivities that frequent the ‘net this time of year, and more fun for me to ponder (and I will get back to revising all the older pieces with this material in time).  Note that this is incredibly spoiler-tastic, so I’d advise not reading if you don’t want anything about Skyrim, Dead Space 2, Monster Tale, Portal 2, Batman: Arkham City, Deus Ex: Human Revolution or Zelda: Skyward Sword ruined. Click on if you don’t care! (more…)

by WildcatJF on December 25, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Features, Games, Looking Back
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Posted by WildcatJF on December 25, 2011

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/looking-back-my-favorite-game-of-2011/

Stripping Away Silence – The Promised ULTIMATE Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Rant

You know, I’m a pretty easy-going guy.  Hell, I suppose for that a game I love, putting out money for it three times is okay.  I did for you once, Capcom, for Resident Evil 4.  Gamecube version, played the hell out of it.  PS2 version, felt it was merely so-so and sold it.  Bought it to play the Ada part…which, luckily for me, the Wii version has, and I happily still own it and consider it definitive.  With the HD port on the horizon, I’ve managed to convince myself to not make a fourth plunge, because I’ve already paid for it enough times and the Wii controls feel perfect to me…and HD graphics do not sell me games.  Disclaimer -  I did buy Beyond Good & Evil HD, but that was more to support it and its eventual sequel seeing the light over having a HD version of a game I already own.  RE4 did just fine in sales the first three times – BG&E did not at all (well, I don’t have the HD sales numbers in front of me, but I’m sure they didn’t reach RE4 levels of success).

However, Capcom, I do have to say that your behavior this week has been terrible.  For starters, you kill off Mega Man Legends 3 before the fans even have a chance to pay for a damned demo, which was a pretty lousy thing to do, but I do realize you’re a business and perhaps the 3DS is lagging more than expected, so it does make sense to cancel a project that may not succeed.  Unfortunately, you turned MML3 into a fan-supported affair, which made them much more personally invested into its creation, and did not give them a chance to see for themselves what they were a part of in game form.  I know gamers who bought 3DS’s to play the demo, not just buy the finished game.  I think a lot of gamers cynical of your transition into more western-style games and the DLC/DRM focus with your products considered MML3 a last bastion of hope…a fleeting reminder of the Capcom they once knew.  And with a simple late-shift post about a cancellation, dreams were shattered and bridges were burned.  By letting gamers CARE about a game prior to allowing it to either silently die or be greenlit into a full-on game, you probably bit yourself in the ass.

But the best part is about to come.  Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 came out in February 2011.  Following its release the on-disc DLC (save a few moves for both Jill and Shuma), a sole costume pack and a middling Shadow and Event DLC stream that petered out signaled something was brewing.  E3 came and went without a peep about the game, which seemed strange.  And then, today, at Comic-Con, you unveil a whole new game in the series, with a ton of new content that apparently can not be DLC.  You do this in July 2011.  FIVE MONTHS after you released the original game.  Not even Resident Evil 4′s PS2 rev came out of the gates that fast.  So now all of the people who bought the first game feel stupid, wondering why they even did such a thing, when you’ve been programming its successor (and the game you should have originally released!) since you shoved the original out the door?  What a slap in the face.  And what really sucks is that I have some excitement about it.  I want to have Strider in the game.  I admit to smiling on seeing him return.  Firebrand is awesome looking, too, and using the Gargoyle’s Quest/Demon’s Crest name?  Nice retro tip, there.  But there’s the principle of just getting screwed over that is overpowering the coolness of the additions to the cast.

I did admit to buying RE4 three times above, so why is this bothering me so much?  Well, as I said, I loved RE4, and the PS2 rev I got cheaply to try to play the Separate Ways addition (didn’t get that far, as the graphical drop/glitch increase made the game unplayable for me), and the Wii one I received as a Christmas gift (so I didn’t really buy it :p ).  But I LOVE RE4.  It’s my third favorite game.  It’s the game Grace and I bonded with during our dating phase of our relationship.  And it’s a damn good game.  Marvel Vs. Capcom has been a favorite franchise of mine, but it’s no RE4.  None of them are even in my favorite game list.  I just like competing against the CPU and friends, and keeping my fighting skills from rusting.  I have a lot of good memories with the series.  That being said, this “sequel” is so quick in making its debut I feel that it should have been the original release.  It’s clear that Capcom intended this to happen by the sheer speed they announced it.  Five months gave Capcom time to develop more characters and stages, and to, I suppose, test the waters to see if they could pull off such a stunt.  And they feel that they can.  While nowhere near as fast, they have rehashed Street Fighter IV three times in the last four years.  It’s unsurprising…but disappointing that they’ve pulled off one hell of a trolling on their fanbase in the last three days with this and the aborting of Mega Man Legends 3.

I, for one, will not be riding the ULTIMATE train…at least, not the way Capcom wants me too.  I like MvC3 quite a bit, but I refuse to shell out another $40 to them to get the game I believe I should have received the first time.  If it only takes another ten months to add 12 characters, 8 stages, new modes and improve the online experience, they should have skipped the February release and just aimed for November.  To that end, I will likely pick up the game down the road used or trade someone for it.  I just can’t justify spending money on this game twice to a publisher this determined to piss on their fanbase.  This is not worth $112.50 to me (I got the DLC at a reduced rate thanks to a gift card).  I’m debating if the initial $62.50 is now.  That’s not quite the reaction you wanted, I’m sure, Capcom, but that’s what you’ve gotten.

by WildcatJF on July 20, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Editorial, Games
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Posted by WildcatJF on July 20, 2011

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/stripping-away-silence-the-promised-ultimate-marvel-vs-capcom-3-rant/

TEi Reviews: Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Two days late…but here it is! My review of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.

(I take solace in the fact that the delay is not my fault. With family wasting three hours of my time and just the right amount of technical issues kept me from a prompt release. But here it is nonetheless, and I hope you enjoy.)

by TEi on February 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Games, Opinions
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Posted by TEi on February 24, 2011

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/tei-reviews-marvel-vs-capcom-3/

Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Wallpapers

Three of them, too!

Click to download full size!

Click to download full size!

Click to download full size!

by WildcatJF on February 17, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by WildcatJF on February 17, 2011

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/marvel-vs-capcom-3-wallpapers/

Akuma Wallpaper

Click to see a larger view!

by WildcatJF on February 17, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by WildcatJF on February 17, 2011

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/akuma-wallpaper/

Wildcat’s Favorite Franchises – Capcom Vs. Fighters

Sometimes there’s a game that just seizes upon you, and you become so taken with it that you need more to satisfy some inner longing built from its excellence.  In these cases, there’s been plenty of ample sequels or prequels to fulfill that itch for me.  These are the franchises I have been following the closest over my gaming existence, the ones that I hold the highest standards to and anticipate the greatest.  They are not in any real order, because that would be agonizing to determine what I love more.  It’s hard enough with individual games – uniting them all would be a nightmare.  However, I will go into what game left the impact and which of the series I adore the most, as well as discuss each game I have (or have not, and explain why) played and its furthering impact upon my feelings.  There’s nine that I consider the finest – let’s examine my second.

Capcom Vs. Games (Capcom)

Game That Left the Impact – Marvel Vs. Capcom  (Arcade/Dreamcast)

The Game I Adore – Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom (Wii)

This one is a little broader than my other choices.  Capcom merging up with another company for a fighter mash-up seems to be a formula of success, and it works especially well on me, as I have adored the majority of these crossovers.  With Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 out this week, I felt it was a good time to share why I am infatuated with these more than any other fighting franchise (outside of Street Fighter, which I will cover later).

What I’ve Tried

Marvel Crossovers

X-Men Vs. Street Fighter – A good beginning to the insanity of the Marvel/Tatsunoko branches of the Capcom Vs. tree, X-Men Vs. Street Fighter brought together some of the most popular mutants of the ’90′s (including the awesome Gambit, who I already miss from MvC3) with the latest Alpha spritework of Street Fighter’s elite (plus the introduction of Cammy’s Shadoloo look), and while it feels a bit rudimentary compared to later chapters, it’s a very solid game that deserves its praise.

Marvel Vs. Capcom – The first game I played remains special to me.  Opening up both company’s full catalogs of characters was a brilliant stroke, enabling Mega Man, Strider and Morrigan to tangle with Capt. America, Venom and the Hulk (granted, Hulk and Cap were in Marvel Vs. Street Fighter…but I digress.  Venom really was the only new Marvel face in this game beyond Onslaught).  It amped up the craziness to awe-inspiring levels with its crossover madness, giving both fighters the chance to call in their teammate and control them both in a sprite orgy later chapters have shied away from.  Despite the three-on-three matchups and a focus on visual overload of the sequels, I don’t know if they’ve quite recaptured the brazenness of the original.  That’s not a bad thing, of course…

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 – I owe a lot to MvC2.  It got me hyped up like few other games have, and also sparked the interest in writing about games.  The game itself was also significant, as it was the one that refined my Capcom fighter knowhow into something more than a scrub rookie (well, I may still be scrubby, but at least I’m a competent scrub!).  It led to some of the finest matchups I’ve engaged in fighter-wise, and despite its massive roster that had obvious tiers, I’ve always lived it up with low to mid-tier characters and have refused to assist.  Despite that, I did fairly well!  I’ll always cherish my time with MvC2, although it’s not my favorite title in the pack.

Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 – Returning to the Marvel series after a ten year break was probably a wise decision on Capcom’s part – it feels fresh, and with a lot of character mix-ups, that may be a major reason.  However, before I could really get into it, they announced ULTIMATE Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, which sapped any interest I would have had in continuing to learn this one, so I sold it off.  Eh.  When I get ULTIMATE (used down the road), I’ll tell you what I think of it.

SNK Crossovers

Capcom Vs. SNK - The combination of two of fighting’s greatest companies was an incredible thing back in the early 2000′s, and the first game tried to mix things up by instituting a forced tier system to its combatants, which was an unfortunately bad idea in the end. Being a much more restrained game than MvC, this felt much more like a standard Street Fighter game, but with some of SNK’s greats along for the ride…which was perfectly fine, I assure you!  Capcom did justice with their new SNK spritework, making them the star of the show (thanks to Capcom lazily reusing a lot of their Street Fighter Alpha sprites for their side, excluding Ryu, Ken, Akuma and Bison XD ).  However, the tier restrictions made the game more cumbersome than necessary, and the sequel fixed nearly every issue this game had, so I sold this off.  I will admit that I liked the backgrounds and music much more here, as they were an actual celebration of the two company’s past compared to the sequel’s.  Random cameos do not equate to actual locations from these universes.

Capcom Vs. SNK 2 – Capcom corrected all of the design errors of the original here – the tiers could be assigned to any character, or could be ignored completely.  The roster opened up for some non-Street Fighter and King of Fighters entries, and also bulged to a impressive 40+ selections of some of the best both companies had to offer (although fans could think of plenty of missed opportunities), and the gameplay systems expanded from two systems to six, giving some variety to the proceedings.  I would say that this is among my absolute favorite fighters, no question.

Tatsunoko Crossovers

Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom – Not sure what exactly happened; perhaps the nine year impasse between Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 and Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom did wonders, as TvC is the most balanced fighter in the tag-based series (outside of Zero, who is really easy to dominate with here), and despite the roster being less than half the size of MvC2, it manages to feel fresher thanks to the kooky Tatsunoko cast and their very unique gameplay aspects.  Capcom mixed up their roster as well, foregoing the majority of their pre-established fighters from MvC’s cast (Ryu, Chun-Li and Morrigan are it) and throwing in some of their more eclectic heroes (Kaijin no Soki, Saki, Mega Man Volnutt, Alex, and Batsu, for starters). As of right now, I consider this one of Capcom’s finest efforts in this line of fighting history.

What Haven’t I Played?

Marvel Vs. Street Fighter – Not for lack of trying, but for lack of seeing a cabinet of it.  Although, it’s sort of an awkward transition between X-Men Vs. Street Fighter and Marvel Vs. Capcom, with some of its creative spark stripped out and a roster that barely mixed things up (only Sakura and Dan were new, and that’s a stretch).  I don’t think I’m missing much.

ULTIMATE Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 – I’m not double dipping and paying Capcom twice for the game I should have gotten the first time.  If it’s cheap and used, I’ll get it then.

SNK Vs. Capcom Chaos – SNK developed their own crossover title, but its release for the Xbox alone has made it impossible for me to try.  It’s been reviewed harshly, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot.

Capcom Fighting Evolution – Capcom tried to do their own mash-up with their own franchises, which failed miserably as a game thanks to its laziness and poor implementation.  I don’t think I feel compelled enough to pick this up, personally.

What Makes It One of the Best?

Insanity – Not so much for Capcom Vs. SNK, which is much more constrained, but Marvel and Tatsunoko crossovers set out to stun you with an array of chaos.  With huge combos, jaw-dropping supers and a playfield filled to the brim with effects, beams and bodies, it’s a spectacle that has rarely been topped.  And that’s part of the fun.

Rich Rosters Full of History – All three Vs. series have had great lineups to try out.  While the first Capcom Vs. SNK played it relatively safe, its sequel brought in several surprises (Eagle from SF1?  Maki from Final Fight 2?  Todo from Art of Fighting?  Hibiki from Last Blade II?), and balanced out the stellar cast nicely.  The Marvel series has had revolving lineups all the way to its latest chapter, utilizing spritework from prior games over creating new faces (up to MvC3, which, as a polygonal game, had to redo everyone :p ).  Despite the recycling, though, each game has been full of  legends and obscurities on both sides, making each game a pleasure to explore.  MvC2 tops all with 56 characters (which admittedly are not all true individual characters – two Wolverines, the nigh-identical Iron Man and War Machine, and the shoto bunch of Ryu/Ken/Dan/Akuma/Sakura [sort of, she does do some things differently]), but despite that, it’s still a lot of fun tangling with them all (shame the tiers have made that aspect a bit null, though).  Tatsunoko may have a smaller lineup than the others, it manages to feel incredibly deep and complex, and the tricks that the Tatsunoko side bring into the gameplay are pleasantly different from Marvel’s heroes and villains.  In short, I love the diversity!

Teamwork – Capcom Vs. fighters rely on team building, and piecing together fighters to form said teams is a gigantic part of the strategy.  You need comrades that work together well, and even the tag-less Capcom Vs. SNK series requires some thought to having a group that can overcome others in case one man or woman gets K.O.’ed.  I’m STILL debating my Tatsunoko team. XD

Playing with Friends – This aspect has diminished over the years as I rarely see my old fighter allies these days, but one reason Marvel Vs. Capcom 1/2 and Capcom Vs. SNK 2 mean so much to me is the memories of engaging my buddies to test out my skills and learn new ones.  Maybe I’ll get fortunate and find them online for MvC3. :)

Fighting at its Finest – I won’t say that the gameplay is flawless or perfect in any of these, but after getting used to either the combo craziness of the Marvel/Tatsunoko lines or the technical grace of the SNK titles, something clicks and the experience becomes fascinating.  I love these games and get so excited about sequels to them, and it’s because of both the fondness of the past and the great fun they provide me.  It’s a major reason I consider Capcom as a premiere developer and as one of my favorites of all time, and they are games I look forward to coming back to as much as looking ahead.

by WildcatJF on February 17, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Editorial, Games
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Posted by WildcatJF on February 17, 2011

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/wildcats-favorite-franchises-capcom-vs-fighters/

Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Wallpaper

Click to download the full 1024 x 768 version!

by WildcatJF on October 7, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by WildcatJF on October 7, 2010

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/marvel-vs-capcom-3-wallpaper/

Who I’d Want to See in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 – Marvel’s Side

Now here’s where I get to have lots of fun. ^_^  What characters would I love to see enter the crossover of Marvel Vs. Capcom 3?  We know 8 on each side, and if the roster is 30+, I think it’s safe to assume that 34 is a solid number to wager.  So, I’ve picked 9 characters from each side (this is Marvel’s half, here’s my Capcom desires) – 5 returning from Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and 4 new fighters I think would fit in nicely.  I’ve also tried to keep the tallies low for groupings – for example, I know we’ve got Ryu and Chun-Li in the game, so I only picked one other Street Fighter representative to be in the game.  With the X-Men, I picked four…but that’s mainly due to my familarity with the comic series over many other Marvel properties than anything else.  Beyond Street Fighter and X-Men, I made an attempt to keep my groupings down to two (I failed with the Avengers, alas…but I did keep it down to three!), and tried to not do too many of them.  Let’s get started, then!

MARVEL

Confirmed Characters – Wolverine, Iron Man, The Hulk
Silhouetted Characters – Capt. America, Dr. Doom, Mephisto(?), Deadpool, Super-Skrull

Who I Hope is Returning:

GAMBIT (X-Men vs. Street Fighter)

Gambit is my old standby, ever since I first got my hands on these games.  So naturally, I’m rooting for everyone’s favorite Cajun mutant to rejoin the fighting action.

PSYLOCKE (X-Men: Children of the Atom)

Psylocke is one of Capcom’s favorites, it seems – her appearance in Marvel Super Heroes over Cyclops and Storm suggest that, anyway.  Her fighting style is full of psychic grace, and while I suck using her, she’s still fun to play as.

SPIDER MAN (Marvel Super Heroes)

Spidey has to be in this game.  That’s about all I have to say.

SHUMA GORATH (Marvel Super Heroes)

Another surprising Capcom favorite, Shuma Gorath has made plenty of previous appearances, and seeing this guy in 3D would be awesome.  He’s unique and effective, both solid reasons to bring him back.

VENOM (Marvel vs. Capcom)

Venom is the definitive Spider Man villain in my eyes, and picturing him with the 3D comic style is a treat to my brain’s daydreams.  A little more of a diversified moveset and Venom will be ready to return!

New Fighters I’d Like to See Join the Cast:

NIGHTCRAWLER (X-Men)

Nightcrawler’s always been my favorite X-Man, and, if Capcom took a page from Konami’s book, he could use his teleportation powers as attacks.  He fences, as well, so he could have two standard movesets.  His acrobatics would also make him speedy, and his lengthy arms and legs could make him a fantastic poke-style combatant.

THOR (Avengers/Thor)

Thor would have to be toned down some (he is a Norse God, after all), but he’s been teased once before in MvC, and a proper debut would be great for him.  His hammer and lightning powers would translate well for some projectile chaos, and his strength would intimidate his foes.

SCARLET WITCH (Avengers)

Looking through Wanda’s Marvel description, I think she could make for an interesting fighter.  Her powers range from spontaneous combustion (explosions!), deflecting flying objects (projectile counters!) and creating clone armies (summoning!).

ELEKTRA (Daredevil)

Elektra’s fighting style could fit in well with MvC3.  She’s also insanely popular, which helps.  Her martial-arts training and her use of sais as her standards could translate very nicely to a MvC3 moveset, and she’s one of Marvel’s leading females, too.  She’s got a fairly solid chance of appearing, methinks.

by WildcatJF on April 23, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by WildcatJF on April 23, 2010

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/who-i%e2%80%99d-want-to-see-in-marvel-vs-capcom-3-%e2%80%93-marvels-side/

Please Don’t Bring Them Back! – My Most Desired Jettisons from Marvel Vs. Capcom 3

Since Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is being built on a new engine, Capcom is unable to resurrect all 56 fighters it used before in MvC2 to create its roster.  We’ve seen a few familiar faces reimagined with the MT Frameworks engine, but it’s going to be highly unlikely that Capcom will be looking at the MvC2 roster beyond updating a few popular choices.  There are characters I’d like to suggest now that I hope stay left in the past, and that’s what I’m focusing on here – eight fighters, four from each side, that I hope have lost their entry forms and stayed at home while MvC3 is being developed.

CAPCOM

AMINGO (Marvel Vs. Capcom 2)

This…cacti…Mexican…avocado thing…was invented to represent Capcom in the prequel.  Why?  …Who knows?  Taking up a valuable roster spot that could have went to…well, an actual Capcom character who has fans, Amingo was generally disliked and unused in MvC2, and I expect Capcom’s wiped the character from their design banks.  Well, I can hope so, at least.  And since we’re on the topic of original fighters being made for a game – there’s too many candidates on both sides deserving of a roster spot to do that in MvC3, in my opinion.

ANARAKIS (Darkstalkers)

This is more of a personal preference than any other reason – I HATE ANARAKIS SO MUCH.  He’s the most obnoxious character in MvC2, and if he raises up from the grave for MvC3, I’ll be annoyed as hell.  With two Darkstalkers reps already in the game (and both with enormous fan bases), I think we can retire Anarakis from the sequel.  Please?

DAN HIBIKI (Street Fighter Alpha)

I don’t hate Dan.  He’s worth a chuckle.  When I look at the potential of Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, though, I find it hard to want him in over other characters.  Why have a piss-poor Shoto clone when I could possibly have Amaterasu, or Franziska von Karma, or a myriad of others who I like more?  Ones that people WOULD PLAY AS?

ROLL (Mega Man Classic)

Roll’s more of a “we’ve seen enough of her in fighters lately” character to me.  Her Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom appearance was perfect, as she gelled with that world without a hitch.  The direction Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is going in, I can’t envision her there.  Not over some of my hopefuls.  She’s had her fun in TvC – let others have a chance in MvC3.

MARVEL

COLOSSUS (X-Men: Children of the Atom)

As a character, I don’t mind him whatsoever.  In the MvC universe, though, he’s a big pain in the ass.  His Super Armor/Grab/Tackle moveset becomes extremely old just battling the CPU a few times.  With a (hopefully) more diverse roster in the works, I think Colossus can sit out for some better, more entertaining fighters.

SENTINEL (X-Men: Children of the Atom)

Sentinel’s got the same concerns in my book as Colossus does – there’s far more interesting heroes and villains for Marvel’s side than one of the many robotic grunts the X-Men battle.  It’s not a bad design or a bad enemy concept, but this game’s roster is wide open, and choosing Sentinel would be a big cop-out.

WAR MACHINE (Marvel Vs. Capcom)

For reasons still unclear to me, Iron Man was benched in MvC for War Machine, a recolored Iron Man…who did the same things, plus a bonus super.  Woo.  He’s nothing more than a clone, and with the roster size, clones are not necessary or wanted.

TWO BLOODY WOLVERINES IN ONE GAME (Marvel Vs. Capcom 2)

The ultimate showcase in laziness, Capcom let MvC2 ship with two forms of Wolverine on its roster.   There is no need to let that happen again.  Ever.

by WildcatJF on April 22, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by WildcatJF on April 22, 2010

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/please-dont-bring-them-back-my-most-desired-jettisons-from-marvel-vs-capcom-3/

Digging into the Shadows of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Marvel’s Five

Between the trailer and Shinkiro’s artwork, there’s a heap of characters Capcom’s left shaded for fans to try to decipher.  Well, it’s my turn to take a crack at some of these. ^_^

Click to see a larger view.

MARVEL (Red Dots):

Before I start, I have to admit I’m not super into Marvel as I am into Capcom, so my predictions will likely not go deeper than what’s been speculated by others.  I just plan to supply evidence into these claims, and provide alternatives if I see any.

1: The general consensus is pointing towards Super Skrull, also known as Kl’rt.  He’s got the combined powers of the Fantastic Four, which would be a solid reason for including him – he can be an amalgamation of several styles all at once!  Let’s take a look at what he looks like:

The slight indentations in our shadow’s fist is remarkably like the Thing’s rocky skin, which Super-Skrull duplicates.   The shoulder points are identical, and the pointed ears seal the deal.

CONCLUSION: I’d be willing to bet this is indeed Super-Skrull.

2: Marvel’s favorite devil, Mephisto, is the leading candidate for this silhouette.  Let’s see if this is a good guess:

A different viewpoint:

Here’s the MvC3 poster:

The huge cape collar fits, and Mephisto’s hair can be crazy enough to look like this.  The gloves have similar depressions, too.  Let’s glance at the Marvel trailer shot, for a little extra evidence:

The figure furthest back is closest to the art here.  He’s got the pointed cape collar, but the hair is different!  It doesn’t help that the character’s hand is blocking that crucial area, too.  Well, that complicates things.  Or does it?

This is another form of Mephisto.  He can change his face from time to time, and his hair alters depending on that.  Perhaps Capcom’s using that aspect in their game as well?

CONCLUSION: This is tough, but I’m inclined to believe in Mephisto popping up in MvC3.

UPDATE – Another popular candidate as of late is Dormammu.

Has the crazy flames Shinkiro’s art features on the head, and also has the crazy shoulder pads that could work out.  This seems to be his most consistent design, as well.  Problem?  Look at the trailer piece again:

Our target is the far right.  See Dormammu’s boots?  They have a spiky sun-like shape around them, which this shadow lacks.  Also, Dormammu doesn’t have a cape (although some of his variant costumes do).  Unless Capcom’s mixing various designs, I’m not buying it.  And, most telling, there’s no flames emitting from the shadow’s head here.   Lastly, Capcom, in a post regarding one of the outlets making this claim, plainly stated that nobody’s been 100% right with their guesses yet. Since I’m 100% positive on 8 of these characters, and fairly certain about Frank West, this has to be the odd one out.  We’ll see who nails it soon enough, I guess.

UPDATE #2 – I’d like to present a case for a different character.  One who has always been a popular figure in Marvel’s history.

How about Doctor Strange?  His cape’s insane collar matches up with the trailer’s shadow:

The arm has a puffy look to it, which Strange has.  He has a cape.  But a quick glance back at the poster art may be in order:

Strange’s collar also works here, and as for those flames around the head?  Well, thanks to this being a shadow, who said that those flames are coming from its head in the first place?  We can’t tell if this shadow’s arm is in front of his face or not!  So it’s conceivable that whoever this is, they’re casting some sort of fire from their unseen hand.  I can’t guarantee it’s Doctor Strange, but at least I can present a case for him…

3: A hooded figure taunts us here.  That’s about all of the evidence we are given – both the trailer and the poster offer little beyond the hood and cape to help us out. XD  Some think that this is Dr. Doom, and thus, we will see if they’re on the right track:

The MvC3 poster, zoomed in:

The second image of Doom and the poster seem to match up pretty nicely.  There’s even that little nub of the back of Doom’s hood visible in both images.  However, that’s about the extent we can make estimations.  This is the hardest one of all the ten figures Capcom’s teased us with.  There is a second strand of evidence that works in Doom’s favor, though.  Capcom’s five figures have two returning characters (Chun-Li and Felicia) and three new faces (Dante, Trish, and Frank/Nathan).  That makes it a safe guess that Marvel has the same rules binding its five characters.  Capt. America is obvious, and the other three are new.  Who else from Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 had a hood and cape remarkably like Doom’s?  If you said “no one”, you’d be right!

CONCLUSION: Dr. Doom will gleefully be returning to spam projectiles once more.

4: This is the easiest one to untangle on the Marvel newbie side of things…

Any doubters?  Deadpool has become one of Marvel’s most popular characters, and this shadow SCREAMS Deadpool.  Hell, I’m not even a comic reader and I thought it was Deadpool.

CONCLUSION: I wonder how Deadpool’s going to break the fourth wall in MvC3…

5: Lastly, another easy pick.

The wing on his head is a dead giveaway!

CONCLUSION: America’s most patriotic super hero is returning for more MvC action!

by WildcatJF on April 22, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in Art, Features, Games
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by WildcatJF on April 22, 2010

http://lvls.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/digging-into-the-shadows-of-marvel-vs-capcom-3-marvels-five/

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