Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is a great update to the original game, and is well worth the (reduced) price tag.
As mentioned before, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is giving us lots of new goodies, namely twelve new characters (six from each company). On the Capcom side, there's returning fan-fave Strider Hiryu, photographer and zombie hunter Frank West, the demonic Firebrand, the grotesque and bazooka-wielding monster Nemesis, Devil May Cry baddie Virgil, and goofy yet dedicated lawyer Phoenix Wright. On the Marvel front, there's brash archer Hawkeye, galaxy-travelling superhero Nova, martial-arts master Iron Fist, the Hellfire projecting and awesome-looking Ghost Rider, wise and super-cool magician Dr. Strange, and, finally, Rocket Raccoon, a violent, furry little animal who carries a huge machine gun and speaks with a Cockney accent. Overall, it's a very diverse cast of characters, and shows that Capcom isn't afraid to use second or third-tier fighters while also knowing how to please the fans. I for one was pretty unfamiliar with the previously mentioned Rocket Raccoon, but after spending some time with him, I can honestly say he's a damn entertaining character.
But what's even better is that Capcom is able to make these characters' playstyles different from everyone else's. Iron Fist is not only quick, but can boost his strength, durability, or Hyper Combo meter, making him arguably the best close-quarters fighter in the whole game. Likewise, Hawkeye can use around ten different types of arrows that can freeze, trap, or drain health from the opponent, making him a formidable ranged fighter. Even Virgil, who could have easily been a mere copy of his half-brother Dante, is unique enough, making use of quick, stylish sword attacks while sharing a move or two with his Devil May Cry co-star.
Beyond the characters, there are lots of other cool things. All of the stages have been redesigned, which almost always equates to greatness. Some stages only receive minor changes-- Demon Village Redux is just Demon Village but black and white. However, most of the arenas are so different, they're almost completely new. Shadowland is a new version of Hand Hideout, but it takes place in New York rather than a, er, Hand hideout and features (in an extremely cool move by Capcom) Daredevil sitting on a throne surrounded by ninjas, attired in his black outfit and watching the fight in a manner similar to Shao Kahn. City That Never Sleeps and Danger Room are other stand-outs because of how well they look and how different they are from their predecessors.
There are also new costumes, as each character now has six to choose from rather than four. While these don't affect gameplay, fans will love seeing Ghost Rider in his Fantastic Four attire or Virgil wearing Dante-inspired clothes and vice versa. The menus and health bars have also been changed, although these are really just small edits and don't warrant much attention. However, there are new gameplay changes that tournament-level players are sure to heavily look into. While every character has been given a few tweaks, most of it is just small stuff: Captain America can double jump, Akuma has a little less health, etc. However, there are a few worth mentioning. X-Factor has now been improved to be much more balanced, although some fighters can still severely beat others if they have skill. Also, a few new moves have been given to a few characters, like Wolverine's new and heavily-spammable "Swiss Cheese" attack. Still, dedicated players are sure to dissect each new thing and find new advantages or disadvantages in everyone. But that's what the pros are for, right?
So if Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 adds a ton of fun features onto an already good formula, then why isn't it receiving a perfect 10? Well, the downside to the game is that the one place it doesn't improve in is the game modes. Although you can now play as Galactus by unlocking every character ending, the imblanace of power (in your favor) makes things grow boring pretty quickly. Take that away, and we're left with the same essential yet bare-bones game modes we got in the vanilla version. If you don't like playing online and you grow tired of Arcade mode quickly, there is literally almost nothing to do in this game.
However, if you put aside the lack of new game modes, you will find a hugely exciting and downright fun video game. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 takes an already good game and adds on a ton of new characters, costumes, stages, and gameplay tweaks. The graphics and sound also remain sharp as ever. If you enjoyed Marvel vs Capcom 3 or have been unfortunate enough to never have played it, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is now THE only option. Although Capcom may end up releasing more versions of this game in the future, when it comes down to it, you can't do much better than a fantastic fighting game at a reduced price. Although Capcom has "taken us for a ride" a few times before, this is no doubt the most enjoyable one yet.