playstation homepage   Playstation > Whats New > PlayStation Reviews > Staff Review
PlayStation Game and Hardware Reviews

A.P.I Review: Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter
Developer: Capcom OPTIONS: S.SHOT
SCREENSHOTS:
No.1   No.2   No.3
Distributor: Virgin 1-2 Player
Game Type: Beta-em-up Memory Card
Review Date: May 1999 Dual Shock

Setting the Scene

Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter is a one-or-two player fighting game which pits Capcom's favorite Street Fighters and the world famous Marvel Comics characters against the forces of the evil mutant Apocalypse.

Dive into the action to perform outrageous moves and link together amazing Chain Combos and delight in their devastating results. And, for the first time on a home console system, play tag-team battles in the brand new "Cross-Over Mode". Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter combines two explosive universes to create an entirely new legend of heroic proportions.

Sound & Vision

The introduction of Marvel Super Heroes over a year ago served to silence those critics who had previously claimed that the PSX was only good for 3D beat-em-ups. Further proof of this fact (if needed) is again delivered by Capcom in their latest Super Hero beat-em-up which once again utilizes whopping great 2D sprites with stunning effect.

Many of your favorite Marvel and Street Fighter characters are available to perform their skills in front of a selection of stunning flat backdrops. Although there is less movement going on in the background than past Capcom fighting titles there is still much to be admired with the scenery. To the back of the screen is a portrayal of the hazy horizon. A more detailed layer has then been placed over this offering a 3D visual effect but unfortunately the game characters cannot weave between these objects. Several of the extras who mull around in the background wave their arms around in excitement while occasionally a stray animal passes by almost unnoticed.

Each of the characters have been meticulously animated. Also every WHACK! BIFF! SOCK! and KAAA-POW! is rewarded with forceful animation depicting the action using vibrant colors and stunning effects. The power and speed of each attack is exaggerated to the umpteenth degree, in fact it's a comic book battle coming to life in front of your very eyes.

All of the bone crunching sound effects from the arcade classics has been accurately converted onto the PSX version, while each character throws in a few words every now and then.

The background music has that arcady feel to it which is hardly ground breaking but perfectly acceptable.

Playability

In Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, players may control many different characters from Capcom's famous Street Fighter series including Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Akuma, Zangief, M. Bison, Dhalsim, Sakura and Dan. From the immensely popular Marvel Super Heroes comes Cyclops, Captain America, the Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Omega Red, Shuma-Gorath and Blackheart. Each character possesses special powers and fighting techniques unique to each hero.

When playing a normal game the player actually gets to select their TWO favorite characters, instead of the usual one. The secondary character is called into action when executing the Variable Assist, a devastating 2 on 1 combo, adding a new dimension to the gameplay.

Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter has many modes of play. The Training mode allows a single player to practice both moves and combos by simply selecting both fighter and opponent. An inner training menu is available for adjustments.

Battle mode comes directly from the arcades in which 1 or 2 players rotate their way through a selection of challengers.

Versus mode is a two player competition where handicaps are implemented. By setting the handicap to AUTO the computer's artificial intelligence automatically adjusts each player's handicap after playing one round.

Hero Battle involves selecting a Marvel Super Heroes or Street Fighter team to wage battle against the other. Should you win a match then you will fight the next opponent. Lose, and another character from your team is chosen. The team with characters left standing is deemed the winner.

Finally is the Crossover mode in which players are allowed to play tag-team matches for the first time on home systems using any two characters. In this mode the opposing team (player two or the CPU) selects the identical characters of player one and then they battle it out in arcade realistic tag-team match.

Attacks are performed with three kick buttons and three punch buttons while every fighter has their own unique selection of special moves which are unveiled by pressing the correct combination of buttons. Backing off from your attacker puts the fighter in defensive mode.

Opinion
MARTIN
GRAPHICS: 17/20 If you are a fan of the arcade smash then you probably already own this title.

Newcomers will find this game irresistible as it's so easy to pick up and play while proving impossible to put down.

It has ample characters to select from, bright colorful graphics and a multiple of hidden moves.
SOUND: 7/10
PLAYABILITY: 45/50
VALUE: 17/20
OVERALL 86%

 

    GAMES        Get your PSX games HERE!