Thanks to the theatrical adaptations of many classic superheroes, Marvel is once again enjoying some ridiculously high levels of popularity. Naturally, most of this hubbub can be attributed to everyone’s favorite web-slinger, whose re-emergence can be witnessed everywhere from the cereal aisle to the boys’ pajamas department. Similarly, the legendary Street Fighter franchise has been awoken with the highly anticipated release of Street Fighter IV. With these two powerhouses once again soaring, how can game developers capitalize on such success while spending as little money as possible? The answer is simple, and it appears in the form of Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes.

In all fairness, this title was released on Xbox Live Arcade due to consumer demand. Right from the moment the game loads, it’s obvious this title wasn’t built from the ground up for the 360. Pixilated characters, with just a few frames of animation per second, clutter the screen like some nerdy-nightmare oozing of spandex-clad superheroes and exaggerated anime portraits. For the uninitiated, the unrelenting speed and flashy style of Marvel vs. Capcom can be a touch overwhelming. That being said, the gameplay is not difficult to grasp, especially for players with experience in Capcom’s 2-D brawlers.

While Street Fighter games have typically utilized three variables of punching and kicking (each having unique properties with respect to speed and power), Marvel vs. Capcom simplifies things by utilizing only two attack strengths, for a total of only four attack buttons. The other buttons certainly see their use, however. Pressing “back” can initiate the ever-popular character taunt, while the index fingers are kept free for character swapping. It is this frantic switching of characters that adds tremendous excitement to the battles. While you’re trying to defend against some bizarre undead warrior, a scantily-clad woman might dart across the screen, appearing from nowhere to kick you in the face, and disappear just as quickly. Beginning players will likely meet such scenarios with some mixture of “Wow!” and “What the heck was that?” Still, this should not be terribly intimidating – it is very easy to select and utilize your roster of fighters.

And what a roster it is! Capcom’s classic characters extend far beyond the realm of such Street Fighter legends as Ryu and Zangief. Players can try their hand with Jill of Resident Evil fame, or the classic Megaman. Marvel characters are also plentiful. Everyone will instantly recognize Wolverine with his admantium claws, but some members of the cast were completely beyond even my recognition. I could go on for days about the diversity of the cast, but the contrast of intensely ferocious fellows with cutesy-voiced cartoon combatants tends to be more humorous than off-putting. Try tossing a towering, terrifying monster into the ring against the fighter who resembles Little Red Riding Hood – the result of the battle may surprise you. Fortunately, most of the characters feel nicely balanced. It’s easy to start playing with any fighter, and the relatively brief special move list is always visible in the pause menu. Seasoned brawlers will be pleased to know that even the most advanced moves are fairly effortless to execute in the heat of battle.

This is a good thing, because if you want to become a truly powerful player, you’ll need to execute these moves in quick succession. Juggling is an important part of the combo system in Mavel vs. Capcom, some of which can be strung together for a whopping 100-hit beating on your foe. Elaborate displays of light and sound (as elaborate as the simple graphics engine allows, anyway) herald the start of an awe-inspiring special attack that is as dazzling as it is devastating. While an upgrade of the graphics engine would have certainly made the game easier on the eyes, this would have no doubt raised the cost of the final product. For the most part, you’re only playing this game because it’s crazy good fun, anyway.

Audio is an area where Marvel vs. Capcom does seem to be rather unpleasant, however. The muffled cries of combatants and repetitious barking of the disembodied announcer can make the experience grating after long play sessions. Probably the biggest fault I can find in the audio lies with the developers’ choice of menu theme music. If you thought Street Fighter IV’s continuous lyrical droning in the menus was obnoxious, wait until you hear the “I’m gonna take you for a ride” refrain in MvC for the 80th time in a single play session. I suspect many players will be taking heavy advantage of the 360’s custom soundtrack feature.

All things considered, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is an outstanding summer treat that won’t break the bank. It’s fast, full of sound and fury, and has plenty of depth to keep players exploring until long into the night. The gameplay modes offer everything from novice training to ranked online player battles, so you can always find a mode to suite your mood. The fighting genre might not be as cluttered in 2009, but this classic still manages to shine today. 

Gameplay: 9.0
Simple yet deep, elegant and playful in its presentation, the game is fun in its most primeval form.

Graphics: 7.0 
Lots of color and style, though sadly a bit rough-looking in its age.

Sound: 6.5
Sounds are fine for the most part, but the voiceovers and music really need an overhaul.

Difficulty: Medium
It takes time to master, but the depth is absolutely where the meat of the game lies.

Concept: 8.0 
It sounds almost like the fantasy of a drunken gamer, but it’s executed so well, why complain?

Multiplayer: 9.0
All the modes you’d expect, and little to no lag to speak of. This will certainly be where most players spend their time.

Overall: 9.0
Although primitive-looking at the surface, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 really delivers everything a fighting fan could want. Buy it and enjoy it, no questions asked.