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Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Review (X360)

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Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Review (X360) Capcom
A mere nine months after the release of the original Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Capcom presents a bigger, badder, more feature-filled version called Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Many fans don't appreciate Capcom's habit of continually releasing new retail versions of the same fighting game, but UMvC3 isn't just a small update. It features 12 new characters, a bunch of new stages, new moves and balance changes for existing characters, and an actual honest to goodness spectator mode for online multiplayer. We loved vanilla MvC3, but Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is easily a better game.
Game Details

  • Publisher: Capcom
  • Developer: Capcom
  • ESRB Rating: “T" for Teen
  • Genre: Fighting
  • Pros: New characters; smart balance changes; great gameplay; nice visuals; spectator mode
  • Cons: Release only 9 months after MVC3

Capcom is kind of notorious for producing re-releases and "Super" versions of its games, much to the dismay of early adopters of the original release of the title in question who feel a bit left out in the cold. It has to be said, though, that Capcom didn't plan on releasing a new MvC3 version so soon after release. Most of the additions found in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 were originally planned to be released as DLC for the core game, but the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan changed all of that. The schedule had to be drastically changed and it was decided a new retail release was a better plan.

As much as it does sting that a new MvC3 is already out in the same calendar year as the vanilla version, Ultimate MvC3 isn't a quick and dirty cash in. It has a lot of new stuff - 12 new characters to bring the total to 50, new stages, balancing changes, X-Factor changes, and a new HUD plus a bunch of stuff under the hood all in addition to everything from the great original game we already gave a 9/10 to earlier this year. And you get all of this for $40. That seems pretty fair to us.

Gameplay

Capcom
I won't go through all of the gameplay details, since it plays the same as the original, so check out my review of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 here for all of those details.

The Ultimate version of the game is re-balanced with characters getting different moves, damage slightly altered a bit for existing moves, and character HP and other factors have been adjusted to make the character roster more balanced. The X-Factor has also been changed so that it is the same for all characters instead of granting different damage modifiers to different characters. The result is a game that will definitely still have tiers and still have some characters and teams a little better than others (assuming you actually know how to use them) but everything will be a little closer and better balanced than the original release. Which is a good thing.

Modes

In addition to the standard arcade mode, training, and mission modes (updated with stuff for the new characters, obviously), there is also a new mode that lets you play as end boss Galactus in arcade mode. Another new mode called Heroes and Heralds will be available as free DLC after launch that will let you collect and use special ability cards (projectile invincibility, invisibility, speed boost, extra armor, etc.) that will drastically change the way the game plays. It will add a completely new way to play, and it is free, and definitely helps justify buying UMvC3 even if you already own MvC3.

Another nice change in UMvC3 is that it actually has a spectator mode for online play this time around. Instead of just sitting around the lobby and watching health bars slowly deplete, you actually get to watch the players fight. A big improvement over the original.

Bottom Line

Capcom
In the end, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a bigger, better, more fully featured, more polished game overall than the original. It is definitely unfortunate that it is a new retail release just 9 months after the original game came out, but there is enough new stuff here and improvements to everything that we aren't that bothered by it. This is easily the best version of MvC3, which makes it one of the best fighting games on Xbox 360. We highly recommend Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 for a purchase.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

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