Had Capcom implemented a better online function, this marvelous fighting game would have been near perfect.
Since then, several Capcom and Marvel characters have gone through various stages of change, and certain characters have either gained or lost degrees of popularity. Up until it's release, it was exciting to see new characters added to the roster. Upon release, however, it wasn't uncommon for fans of the series to be rather infuriated with the cast of characters in the final product.
MvC2 boasted an impressive number of characters, 56 in fact, while MvC3 has 36. Perhaps more infuriating than that to many fans is the glaring omission of certain characters. Mega Man, one of Capcom's most popular characters, is absent from this game. Venom, Cyclops, Gambit; all characters fans frequently discuss missing from the Marvel side. It shouldn't come as a surprise, given the downloadable content that's so prominent in games these days, that the roster is said to grow as the game does.
Still, with 20 less characters, the roster still feels full and varied. There are characters on both sides that are fresh and fun to use, and it feels like full on fan service at times. Take Deadpool, for instance, who is very true to his origins in his constant breaking of the fourth wall, addressing the player of his mistakes (or laziness for sitting on a couch while he fights). Dante, from Capcom's popular Devil May Cry series, is right at home here and is a blast to use. Of course, Okami fans enjoy seeing Amaterasu back on their TV screens. The cast is colorful, and Capcom took a surprising route with this game by adding in some surprising additions. Taskmaster, for example, is a rather bizarre addition.
Mixing and matching characters can be just as fun as fighting with them. Little attention to detail, such as characters recognizing their opponents, is a nice touch. Dante, for example, might fight Trish (another character from Devil May Cry) and upon winning say "Is that all you got Trish". As for actually using the characters, it's a fast, frantic blast.
The game isn't particularly hard to play. Most characters share the same button patterns to execute special moves and combos, but it ends up working in the game's favor. You might press "circle triangle square x" to perform a quick combo with everyone, but it feels different when using Dante to Hulk, or Wesker to Thor. Characters have their own styles, speed and strength, health, projectile power, etc, which all leads to strategies when trying to overcome more difficult opponents.
This isn't to say the game is deep, however. While characters get their own strengths and weaknesses, the gameplay here isn't quite as deep as other fighting games, such as Street Fighter IV. Although balance and strategy is stronger here than it was in MvC2. In that game, you could simply spam Sentinels ranged attacks and overcome every opponent. You can still attempt that here, but with a little timing and skill, you can overtake him. In fact, the only character that ends up feeling broken is Phoenix. If you manage to keep her around until your hyper bar reaches max, allow her to die and she'll become Dark Phoenix. While her health starts to drain rapidly, you unlock powerful ranged attacks that are rather hard to defend. Even then, if someone is using Phoenix, defeat her quickly by using snap backs and forcing her to fight. There is strategy in this game, but it feels like it was made for the flashy over the top fun.
As a bonus, if you're not interested in fighting games because you're not good at pulling off combos, the game also offers new players a "simple" mode. Basically, this allows you to pull off the most bizarre and spectacular looking stunts with a single button. This accessibility is something that deserves recognition, helping players get used to their favorite characters and become better at the game.
As a fighting game, its only natural to want to play it multiplayer. While the single player is plenty of fun, the staying power here is beating the crap out of other people with your well formed team you're so used to. Unfortunately, this is where MvC3's only huge problem comes into play.
The online play isn't the worst thing in the world, but you can't help but feel it could have been done better. Lobbies are slow, there are few modes to select from, and waiting for a ranked match can be rather irritating. It's unfortunate, really, because after Super Street Fighter IV there were high hopes for the way this mulitplayer would be handled (in other words, handled like SSFIV). The game is filled with the average people you'd encounter in a fighting game, those that rage quit right when they lose so you don't get credit for the win. Although there is something strangely satisfying in knowing you made someone that angry. If the online mode was a bit polished, it could have been something truly amazing.
The game, while incredibly fun, also offers few modes. Mostly arcade, online versus, and missions which is basically training mode with objectives. You can't help but feel there are a few modes Capcom could have added. Playing through arcade, while fun, fighting Galactus gets old quickly.
What doesn't get old quickly, however, is pulling off a quick combo with Dante, throwing an opponent into the air, calling in Morrigan to juggle the opponent continuously in the air, then switching to Wesker for the finish, brutal looking kick to the chest sending your enemy hitting the ground hard. The core game here is great, and really addictive. If Capcom offered just a few more modes to enjoy and a better multiplayer interface, MvC3 would have easily topped it's predecessor despite the (currently) smaller roster and missing characters.
Still, this isn't something hard core fighting fans want to miss. Maybe not as deep, but definitely as fun.