The Unfulfilled Promise: Why Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Crashed and Burned
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (MvCI) flopped for a multitude of reasons, a perfect storm of missteps that alienated both casual fans and the fiercely dedicated fighting game community (FGC). The core issues boiled down to poor initial visuals, a drastically reduced and controversial roster (particularly the absence of staple X-Men characters), a heavily criticized story mode, and a general feeling of being rushed and unfinished. These combined to create a lackluster experience that failed to live up to the legacy of its predecessors, especially the beloved Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The game’s mechanics, while potentially sound, were overshadowed by these glaring problems, preventing it from finding a sustainable player base. Ultimately, Infinite failed to capture the magic that made the series a cornerstone of the fighting game genre.
The Perfect Storm of Disappointment
Visual Missteps: A Look That Offended
The immediate and arguably most visceral reaction to MvCI stemmed from its visuals. The game’s art style was widely derided as unattractive and cheap-looking. Character models appeared plasticky and lacked the sharp detail and vibrant colors that fans had come to expect. The “dead-eyed” faces of some characters became a meme, symbolizing the perceived lack of care and attention to detail. This was a significant departure from the stylish, anime-inspired aesthetic of previous Marvel vs. Capcom games, and it immediately turned off many potential buyers.
Roster Woes: Where Did All the X-Men Go?
Perhaps even more damaging than the visual presentation was the controversial character roster. The decision to heavily feature characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) at the expense of classic X-Men characters was met with widespread outrage. Beloved staples like Wolverine, Storm, Magneto, and Psylocke were conspicuously absent, replaced by characters like Captain Marvel and Gamora who, while popular in the MCU, held less significance for long-time Marvel vs. Capcom players. This roster imbalance felt like a blatant attempt to cash in on the MCU’s popularity while disregarding the history and legacy of the Marvel vs. Capcom series. As Top Hat notes, the lack of X-Men was a demoralizing factor for many fans.
A Story Mode Nobody Asked For
Fighting games are not always known for their compelling narratives, but MvCI’s story mode was particularly egregious. The plot, involving a merger of the Marvel and Capcom universes due to the actions of Ultron Sigma, was poorly written, awkwardly paced, and filled with nonsensical scenarios. The cutscenes were stiff and lacked the dynamic direction needed to engage players. Many considered the story mode a chore to play through, further adding to the game’s overall negative perception.
Mechanical Missed Opportunities
While the core mechanics of MvCI were not inherently bad, they were overshadowed by the game’s other issues. The tag team system, the Infinity Stones, and the simplified controls were intended to make the game more accessible to newcomers. However, these changes also alienated some veteran players who felt that the game had been dumbed down. Furthermore, the potential depth of the mechanics was never fully realized due to the lack of interest in the game. While it’s claimed that Infinite is easier for newcomers and more lenient in controls and team building, that did not save it from its other issues.
A Rushed and Unfinished Product
Ultimately, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite felt like a rushed and unfinished product. The lack of polish, the questionable design choices, and the overall negative reception suggested that the game was not given the time and resources it needed to succeed. Capcom’s decision to prioritize the MCU over the established fanbase proved to be a costly mistake. It was also released during a time when competition in the fighting game genre was fierce. Games like Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 were already well-established, and MvCI simply couldn’t compete.
A Legacy Tarnished?
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite‘s failure serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of understanding and respecting a game’s legacy. By prioritizing short-term gains over long-term fan satisfaction, Capcom managed to damage the reputation of one of its most beloved franchises. While the potential for a Marvel vs. Capcom 4 (or whatever the next installment may be called) exists, it will need to address the mistakes of Infinite head-on to win back the trust of the fighting game community.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to the downfall of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite:
1. Why was Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite‘s art style so heavily criticized?
The art style was criticized for its lack of detail, plasticky character models, and “dead-eyed” faces, which deviated significantly from the series’ established aesthetic. It simply didn’t look good compared to the competition, or prior entries in the series.
2. Why were the X-Men characters excluded from Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite?
The exclusion of X-Men characters was likely due to licensing issues and a focus on promoting MCU characters. Marvel was rumored to be downplaying the X-Men in their games and other media due to their film rights being owned by 20th Century Fox (now owned by Disney).
3. Was the story mode in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite any good?
No, the story mode was widely criticized for its poor writing, awkward pacing, and nonsensical plot. It was considered one of the game’s major weaknesses.
4. Did Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite have any redeeming qualities?
Some players appreciated the core mechanics and the simplified controls, which made the game more accessible to newcomers. However, these were overshadowed by the game’s other issues.
5. How did Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite perform commercially?
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite performed poorly commercially, failing to meet Capcom’s sales expectations. This contributed to its eventual abandonment.
6. Is there any hope for a Marvel vs. Capcom 4?
There have been rumors of a Marvel vs. Capcom 4 in development, but nothing has been officially confirmed. If it happens, it will need to address the mistakes of Infinite to succeed.
7. How did the fighting game community (FGC) react to Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite?
The FGC largely rejected Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite due to its flaws. This lack of support contributed to its failure. You can still find people in player matches pretty regularly and the FGC still does some tournies.
8. Was Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite intended to be more accessible to casual players?
Yes, the simplified controls and mechanics were intended to make the game more accessible to casual players. However, this alienated some veteran players.
9. What were the Infinity Stones in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite?
The Infinity Stones were a gameplay mechanic that allowed players to activate special abilities during matches. The Space Stone is one of the best stones in the game, but it wasn’t enough to redeem the rest of the game.
10. Why is Marvel vs. Capcom 2 so highly regarded?
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is highly regarded for its large character roster, fast-paced gameplay, and overall fun factor. Sequel. Following the release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, Capcom was unable to retain the Marvel Comics license due to legal issues over copyright, placing the series on indefinite hiatus.
11. What other factors contributed to Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite‘s failure?
Other factors included strong competition from other fighting games and a general sense that the game was rushed and unfinished.
12. How did the absence of Mega Man in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 impact the series?
While Mega Man wasn’t in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the absence of X-Men in Infinite was a far greater blow. This is due to Marvel’s internal decisions, as well as the popularity of X-Men in past Marvel vs. Capcom games.
13. How does Capcom decide which characters to include in their fighting games?
Character selection is typically based on a combination of fan popularity, marketing considerations, and gameplay balance.
14. What is Capcom’s best-selling game of all time?
Capcom’s best-selling game of all time is Monster Hunter World and its expansion, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.
15. Is it possible for Capcom to revive the Marvel vs. Capcom series?
Yes, it is possible. However, they would need to address the mistakes of Infinite head-on and create a game that respects the series’ legacy while also innovating in meaningful ways.