Game Reviews

Marvel vs. Capcom 2

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iOS
| Marvel vs. Capcom 2
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Marvel vs. Capcom 2
|
iOS
| Marvel vs. Capcom 2

When Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was first confirmed for iOS, it sounded like an exciting concept: everybody's favourite Dreamcast beat-'em-up in your pocket. What could go wrong? Unfortunately, the answer is 'quite a lot'.

This 3-on-3 tag team fighting game includes all of the features of the console original, including a 56-strong roster that contains fan favourites from both the Marvel and Capcom universes, along with a few that nobody gives a damn about.

A cumbersome battle

The controls in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 are the same as the ones in Capcom's earlier iOS brawler Street Fighter IV. There are six touchscreen buttons for punching, kicking, special moves, and assists.

Tapping the health bar activates your character's super move, though each character has multiple special moves, so it's incredibly fidgety to perform the desired attack. In essence, this is a game made for the iCade.

Most frustratingly of all, mind, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 runs rather sluggishly on an iPad 2, especially during moments that should otherwise be exciting and fast paced. For a game that places the emphasis on the constant swapping of characters and aerial combat, this version seems pretty determined to discourage you from doing so.

iPhone vs. iPad

The graphics look rough at best, and have seemingly been upscaled straight from the Dreamcast version, albeit with new 3D backgrounds. The game looks best on iPhone, though because it's a Universal app, it is tailored for both devices.

Unlike in the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 releases in 2009, unlocks are required for additional characters in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on iOS, further suggesting that this is a straight Dreamcast port rather than a reworked edition of the game.

Irritatingly, this means you can't jump straight into multiplayer and select your favourite characters without first spending time earning coins to unlock them. Multiplayer itself is only available locally via Bluetooth, with online play being yet another feature Capcom has failed to bring to the game.

Ultimately, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is a fantastic game lazily ported to iOS. There are several issues, but it's not unplayable - there are just better places to get your brawl on.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2

In an age where we're seeing a great deal of innovation and quirkiness in iOS releases, it's disappointing to see an old classic so lazily ported across to Apple's mobile platform
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