While most gamers expect portable editions of home console hits to be compacted and streamlined, the developers of Marvel Vs Capcom have made few concessions when shoehorning the frenetic fighter onto the PS Vita.
Virtually identical to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 replicates all the three-on-three fighting action fans have come to expect from the series, along with the stellar roster of combatants that plunders classic videogames and comicbooks to create some of the most thrilling match-ups in the history of digital brawling.
Core action aside, Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 is beautifully suited to the PS Vita as the system's wide screen is big enough to accommodate the frantic action, meaning that the fisticuffs never feel cramped and allowing you to appreciate the explosive brutality of every skirmish. The physical placement of the PS Vita's buttons also suits the action and doesn't feel uncomfortable after extended play, and the option to modify and simplify the control set-up is also a fine addition that makes the game friendlier and more engaging.
In an attempt to make best use of the new PS Vita hardware, the developers have introduced an ambitious new touch mode where you can swipe and tap the screen to move and attack. But while this tactile interface is fun to mess around with, it lacks the subtlety and precision of using the traditional controls, and ultimately feels like a lazy mode tacked on to exploit the natty touch screen, but which adds nothing worthwhile to the experience.