Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Review Summary

Fun, accessible core gameplay: The core gameplay is widely praised for being fun, accessible, and well-executed. Many reviewers highlight the game's solid mechanics, responsiveness, and overall enjoyment, even after initial criticisms or despite some flaws. Some reviewers even consider it a return to form for the series.

'Beyond' mod greatly improves game: The 'Infinite & Beyond' mod, spearheaded by Maximilian Dood and others, significantly improves the game's visuals, audio, and overall presentation. Reviewers emphasize that the mod revitalizes the game, addresses major issues, and makes it closer to what it should have been at release, enhancing the experience and adding new content.

Deep, accessible combo system: The game features a combo system that is both accessible for beginners and offers depth for advanced players. Reviewers appreciate the fluid and dynamic nature of the combos, as well as the simplified inputs and character-switching mechanics that allow for creative and satisfying gameplay.

Enjoyable, humorous story mode: The game includes a story mode that some reviewers find enjoyable, creative, and even humorous. While opinions vary, the story mode is generally seen as a worthwhile addition, especially for those who enjoy character interactions and a lighthearted narrative.

Infinity Stones add strategic depth: The Infinity Stone mechanic adds a layer of strategic depth to the gameplay, allowing players to adapt their play styles and create unique combos. Reviewers find the system enjoyable and appreciate the variety it brings to team dynamics and character selection.

Poor graphics and presentation: The game's visuals, art style, and overall presentation are widely criticized as unappealing, generic, and a significant downgrade from previous entries. Reviewers cite poor graphics, inconsistent art style, bland UI, and uninspired character models as major issues. The story mode is also criticized for poor writing and presentation.

Lacking X-Men, small character roster: The absence of X-Men characters due to licensing issues and a smaller roster compared to previous titles are major disappointments. Many feel the character selection is limited, with too much focus on MCU characters and a lack of iconic legacy characters. This significantly detracts from the overall experience and series' legacy.

Lacking single-player content: The game lacks substantial single-player content beyond basic modes like Arcade and Training. The story mode is short and repetitive, while the Arcade mode lacks meaningful rewards or character endings. This limits the game's appeal for players who prefer offline experiences.

Online mode is dead: The online mode is essentially dead due to a lack of active players. This makes it difficult to find matches and experience the game's online features, severely limiting the game's long-term appeal and replayability. The low player count also impacts game balance.

Overpriced and incomplete game: The game is considered overpriced for the content it offers, especially considering the amount of DLC required to complete the roster. Some reviewers feel cheated for buying the game at full price, and recommend waiting for a sale or avoiding it altogether. Some reviewers feel the game was abandoned by Capcom.

2v2 tag-team battle system: The game utilizes a 2v2 tag-team battle system, a departure from the 3v3 format of some previous titles, but a return to the roots of the series. This design choice affects combo potential, character selection, and overall pacing of matches, emphasizing synergy between two characters.

Dynamic active tag system: The game features an active tag system that allows players to switch characters mid-combo, extending attacks and creating strategic opportunities. This system promotes dynamic gameplay and character synergy, allowing for creative pressure and combo setups.

Strategic Infinity Stone mechanic: Infinity Stones replace the X-Factor mechanic, offering unique abilities and strategic advantages during battles. Each stone grants different 'Infinity Surge' and 'Infinity Storm' powers, influencing team composition and match dynamics.

Accessible, but lacks depth: The game aims for an easy to pick up, difficult to master design. While some appreciate the accessibility, others feel it sacrifices technical depth.

Difficult to track characters: The game's speed and character size can make it difficult to track characters and execute precise inputs, leading to button mashing. This issue is exacerbated by characters like Rocket Raccoon, whose small size and fast movements can be hard to follow.

Poor optimization and performance: The game suffers from optimization issues, leading to long loading times, slowdowns, and stuttering, especially on PC. Some character models look bad, and frame rate drops occur during K.O. animations. The PC version is particularly less optimized compared to other platforms.

Excellent online netcode: The game's online netcode is well-received, providing a smooth and responsive experience for players. This is crucial for fighting games, where precise timing and minimal lag are essential for competitive play. Good netcode enhances the overall enjoyment and fairness of online matches.

Runs well on Steam Deck/older PCs: The game runs well on Steam Deck and older PCs. This indicates good compatibility and accessibility for players with different hardware configurations.

Excessive file size (60GB): The game's file size is approximately 60GB, which some reviewers consider excessive given the game's graphics and cutscene quality. This large file size can be a concern for players with limited storage space.

Display settings issues on PC: The game has issues with display settings on PC, such as launching in windowed mode despite fullscreen settings and starting in an absurd resolution. This requires players to constantly readjust their settings, which can be frustrating.

Purchase only on deep sale: Many reviewers suggest purchasing the game only at a significant discount due to its flaws and limited content. Some suggest waiting for sales with DLC or character packs. Given the game's issues, purchasing at full price is generally not recommended.

Recommended for specific audiences: Despite its flaws, some reviewers recommend the game to fighting game enthusiasts, Marvel/Capcom fans, or those new to the series. They suggest it's enjoyable for casual play, local multiplayer, or combo practice, especially if you appreciate the core gameplay.

Small online player base: Some reviewers note that the online player base is small, making it difficult to find matches with random players. The game is better suited for playing with friends or focusing on offline modes.

Technical issues present: Some reviewers mention technical issues such as audio problems or region-specific issues that detract from the experience. These issues may warrant waiting for fixes before purchasing.

"Beyond" mod greatly improves game: The "Infinite & Beyond" mod is frequently mentioned as a way to significantly improve the game, addressing visual and gameplay concerns. Reviewers often recommend purchasing the game specifically to use this free and easily installed mod, especially when combined with a sale.

Initial reception was overly negative: The game initially received negative reception due to bad press, presentation, and character licensing issues, leading to a poor first impression. However, some reviewers feel the initial hatred was overblown, especially regarding the graphics, and acknowledge unrealized potential.

Popular free mod available: A free mod, particularly Max's MvCIB mod, is available and popular, with some reviewers installing it immediately and exclusively playing with it. This mod changes the graphics to a more comic art style and reviewers hope it will inspire both fans and developers in the fighting game community.

Underwhelming character roster: The roster is considered underwhelming due to the absence of key X-Men and some Capcom characters. Licensing issues and Disney's involvement during development are cited as contributing factors to these omissions.

Playable characters added: Characters like X, Sigma, and Jedah are finally playable in this installment of the Marvel vs. Capcom series. This is a positive point for fans who have been waiting to play as these characters.

Active community on Discord: The game maintains an active community within the Gauntlet Discord server. This provides a platform for players to connect, share strategies, and find opponents for online matches.