Let me tell you something about waiting. I've been playing fighting games since the arcade days, and when Marvel vs. Capcom Origins dropped back in September 2012, I remember thinking this was just the beginning of what would become regular releases of these classic titles. Well, here we are nearly 12 years later—almost to the day—and we finally have the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection. That's 4,380 days of checking forums, hoping for announcements, and dealing with that one franchise release that honestly felt like a slap in the face to longtime fans. The wait was brutal, but this new collection? It's like opening a time capsule that's been perfectly preserved while somehow getting upgrades for modern screens and online play.

When I first heard about this collection, I'll admit I was skeptical. We've seen plenty of re-releases that promise the world but deliver mediocre emulation and lazy features. But this one? They've actually done it right. We're talking seven classic games here—Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and several others that haven't been legally available for over a decade. The team clearly understood what makes these games special, from the ridiculous combo systems to the chaotic three-on-three battles that defined an era of fighting games. I've spent about 15 hours with the collection already, and the nostalgia hit is real, but so is the quality of the presentation.

Now, here's where I need to be honest—not every game in this collection has aged equally well. Some of the earlier titles feel downright primitive compared to what we're used to today. The original Marvel Super Heroes, while historically important, lacks the polish and depth of later entries. The input lag in certain modes can be noticeable if you're used to modern netcode, and I did experience two crashes during online matches in my first week of playing. But these are minor complaints when you consider what we're getting. The fact that Marvel vs. Capcom 2 alone is available again—a game that was practically lost to time due to licensing hell—makes this collection worth the price of admission.

What really impressed me was how they've handled the online functionality. Having played fighting games online since the early 2000s, I've suffered through my share of terrible netcode. This collection uses rollback netcode that actually works—I've played matches with opponents from different continents with barely any noticeable lag. They've included proper ranked matches, casual lobbies, and even a rewind feature for when you inevitably make a stupid mistake. It's these modern touches that show the developers understood this couldn't just be a simple port job. They needed to make these classics feel at home in 2024 while keeping what made them special intact.

The preservation aspect here is what gets me most emotional though. As someone who's watched countless arcades close and physical copies of these games become increasingly rare and expensive, having them all in one place feels like a minor miracle. The collection includes museum sections with original artwork, character bios, and even the ability to listen to the complete soundtracks. They've even kept the original attract modes and demo screens exactly as they were. This isn't just throwing ROMs onto a disc—it's careful, thoughtful preservation that respects these games' legacies.

From a competitive perspective, this collection is going to breathe new life into scenes that have been kept alive by dedicated communities running on decades-old hardware. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 tournaments can now run on modern systems without relying on questionable emulation or original Dreamcast units that are becoming increasingly fragile. The training modes, while basic compared to something like Street Fighter 6, give new players the tools they need to learn these complex games. I've already seen several content creators starting new tutorial series, and the online population seems healthy enough that you can find matches at most hours.

If I have one real criticism beyond the occasional technical hiccup, it's that the collection feels almost too faithful at times. Some quality-of-life features from later fighting games would have been welcome—maybe a more robust training mode or the ability to save and share replays. The menu system, while stylish, can be cumbersome to navigate compared to modern standards. And I do wish they'd included some of the more obscure titles like the X-Men: Children of the Atom arcade version, but given the licensing nightmares involved with Marvel properties, I understand why certain games didn't make the cut.

Looking at the bigger picture, this collection represents something important for game preservation. In an industry where digital storefronts can disappear overnight and licensing issues can make games completely inaccessible, having these classics properly re-released sets a precedent I hope other companies follow. The team could have done the bare minimum, but instead we got a package that shows genuine care and understanding of why people still love these games after all these years. The $39.99 price point feels fair considering you're getting seven complete games with full online functionality, especially when individual fighting games often retail for $60 or more these days.

As I write this, I'm remembering the countless hours I spent in arcades feeding quarters into these machines, the friendships formed over late-night sessions, and the sheer joy of discovering new team combinations and impossible-seeming combos. This collection isn't just a business product—it's a love letter to everyone who kept these games alive during those 12 long years of waiting. The floodgates have indeed opened, and if this is the standard for future classic re-releases, then the preservation of gaming history is in good hands. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go practice my Sentinel/Storm/Magneto team—some habits never die, they just get better with age.