Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS Vita)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Action \ Fighting
Platform: PS Vita, PS3, X360
MRP: Rs 2500 (Game4u.com; Flipkart.com)


The Street Fighter series may be the de facto standard when it comes to technical fighting games, but the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise goes for the tried-and-tested method of roping in the fans from the Marvel comics as well as the Capcom universe. In its console release, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 (UMVC 3) improved the gameplay shortcomings of the plain-vanilla Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds game and added more playable characters. All those goodies trickle down to the PS Vita version, which I believe is just the right platform for this game, thanks to its DualShock 3-rivaling controls and the convenience of stop-gap gaming.
 

That's not really an ideal team, you know.
 

PS3 Port With Touchscreen Support
The roster includes Albert Wesker, Chun Li, Dante, Morrigan, and Ryu from Capcom and Spider-Man, Iron Man, Magneto, Hulk, and Wolverine from the Marvel universe. The Ultimate version gets 12 additional characters such as Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, Frank West, and Vergil. The game retains Capcom's trademark cell-shaded art style, which looks downright stunning on the PS Vita's OLED screen. The graphics exude the familiar psychedelic burst of bright colours and flashing lights, and maintain the polish of the console version. Thanks to the handheld's impressive processing muscle, the entire console version has been ported to the small screen, along with a few Vita-specific goodies of its own.

The physical controls are spot on, due to the versatility of the portable console. The icing on the cake is the inclusion of the multi-touch screen as a viable control alternative. It's simple and intuitive - swipe in the direction you want to move and just whale away on the touchscreen to perform complicated moves. Fortunately, there is an option to filter out touchscreen-enabled players in the multiplayer modes. The best part of this inclusion is that now it's possible for the most reflex-impaired casual gamers to pick up and have fun with this game. I handed it over to a few snotty kids in my neighbourhood and they had no trouble enjoying the game without having to worry about the D-pad and mug up complicated moves and combos.
 

Aerial combat is more elaborate this time around.

An Inclusive Experience
Although button mashing is rewarding, seasoned veterans need not be disappointed because the finer aspects of combat do matter in UMVC 3. Getting the timing right, memorising combos, and choosing moves carefully indeed will set you apart from someone who just spams the controls. Getting a hang of these advanced moves is easy with the Mission mode, which is your average dojo mode, commonly found in fighting games. I really liked the way this game caters to audiences across the board. A newbie can enjoy this game without being walled in by complicated game mechanics, whereas fighting veterans will find their skills suitably rewarded.

Gameplay is carried over from MVC 3 - you still have three characters in a match, that you can call switch between as well as call forth for combined moves with the index triggers. The X-Factor power up, which imbues augmented damage, speed, and health regeneration for a short time, has been dialled down this time around for better balance. The aerial combos are also much more elaborate and abundant in the portable version. Apart from the Arcade, Versus, and Training modes, this instalment also gets the Heroes and Heralds mode. The idea is to collect ability cards that beef up your characters with bonuses and abilities. However, with over 100 such cards, keeping a track of the powers and bonuses becomes confusing.
 

This isn't what you'd call a fair battle.

Improved Online Component
The online component includes the same PvP affair seen in MVC 3, although now the wait between rounds is more bearable due to the presence of a proper spectator screen. The replay mode is now much more comprehensive. With options such as frame-by-frame analysis, input move display, and the ability to save them to memory, it's easier for beginners to learn from experts all over the world.

In a nutshell, if you liked the console version of this game, the PS Vita port carries over the entire experience along with touch-optimised controls and some minor additions to online play. The ergonomics and stop-gap convenience of the portable console makes the whole experience even more appealing. This is a worthy addition to your PS Vita library if you happen to be a fan of fighting games.
 

Now that's what I call going McGuyver!

Gameplay And Design: 4/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Mojo: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4/5

TAGS: Gaming, PlayStation, Nachiket