Absolute masterpiece of fighting games, assembling the greatest roster ever assembled. Characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, X-Men and Marvel in 3v3 team combinations create infinite strategic depth. Still played in international competition, it is the universal benchmark of versus fighting.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
A Capcom fighting crossover released in 2002 (Japan, US, Europe, Korea), a console port of the legendary 2000 Naomi arcade. Fifty-six characters from the Marvel and Capcom universes (Ryu, Wolverine, Megaman, Spider-Man…), three-on-three tag combat and an assist system. An untouchable pillar of the fighting genre.
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 - New Age of Heroes review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The lineup of Marvel vs Capcom 2 astonishes above all by its eclecticism, alongside the expected stars, Spider-Man, Ryu, Wolverine, slip obscure characters dredged from the depths of Capcom's catalog and a few brand-new creations, a pirate, a cactus, a Servbot. The vast select screen, bristling with dozens of thumbnails, feels less like a curated cast than an overflowing toybox of unexpected faces.
Far from the expected heroic fanfares, the game surprises with a laid-back lounge jazz-fusion, a world away from the on-screen chaos. The hushed pads and the "take you for a ride" refrain became as cult as they are baffling. This musical daring, unique in the genre, still makes fans smile and hum along.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Over fifty fighters, teams of three and assists that turn the screen into a permanent firework: this crossover pushes excess to the point of vertigo. The gleeful chaos of the fights doesn't preclude immense depth, savoured for years. Legendary, accessible and inexhaustible, arguably the absolute peak of tag versus.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Lining up three heroes from an insane roster and then unleashing a deluge of assists and hyper combos turns every clash into fireworks where you want to test a thousand teams. Mastering the air chains endlessly revives the practice. The balancing goes off in every direction, but this jubilant chaos and this visual madness keep a pull that fans never let go of.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Bringing together fifty-six fighters from two universes, this three-on-three versus opens a near-infinite range of team combinations. Mastering the assists, polishing your air combos and unlocking the roster fills countless hours. That mad generosity, paired with a frantic pace, earns the title a stubborn reputation as a cult fighting game.
A legendary Capcom fighting crossover gathering a sprawling roster of fifty-six characters from its universes and Marvel's, praised for its joyous three-on-three chaos. Still fairly widespread in the West, its interest lies in this status as a crossover-versus peak rather than scarcity. A prime piece for fans of technical, cathartic fighting of the PS2 era.
Is Marvel vs. Capcom 2 - New Age of Heroes still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2002 on PS2, Capcom's port of the famous arcade versus fighter gathers a staggering roster of fifty six characters from the Marvel and Capcom universes. The three on three team battles, the assist system and the delirious pace of aerial combos make it one of the most spectacular and cathartic fighting games of its generation. The offbeat jazz soundtrack and the colourful sprites add an inimitable flavour. The accepted imbalance between characters and the absence of online play on this version weigh. Essential for devotees of nervous fighting games and for fans of crossover spectacle and chaotic team play.
