What can a decade-old 2D beat em up offer players weaned on modern fighting games such as the sublime Street Fighter IV, or those gagging to get their hands on the upcoming Tekken 6? Quite a lot, surprisingly
With over 50 colourful fighters based on the characters created by Marvel and Capcom including Street Fighters biggest stars, alongside superheroes such as the Hulk, Doctor Doom and Spider-Man and simple controls that only expects players to use four buttons to unleash hell, Marvel Vs Capcom 2 is utterly compelling and instantly satisfying, allowing players to pit their favourite comicbook heroes against videogamings finest in a series of titanic skirmishes, and look like an accomplished player after only a few hours hammering on the gamepad. The dynamic tag team structure, where you can call an off-screen partner to pick up the battle when youre running out of steam, also adds extra energy and strategy to the fisticuffs, while the slick new online multiplayer fights are clearly the titles greatest draw, allowing players across the globe to challenge each other and show off the skills theyve been honing since the games 2000 debut.
On the downside, Marvel Vs Capcoms outdated graphics, awful music and lightning-paced action that makes Nintendos Super Smash Bros. look like an episode of Midsomer Murders are an acquired taste, and will appeal most to hoarier players whose formative years were spent in local arcades or punching buttons on a Dreamcast controller.