Marvel vs Street Fighter (Arcade)

So, Capcom has released the Marvel vs Capcom collection. I haven’t bought it yet. I will try to do some warm up first by playing: Capcom’s Marvel vs Street Fighter (1997).

What a thunderous title screen. Literally. I like the graphic effect but [Epilepsy Warning] though. I believe this game is the 2nd instalment of Marvel vs Capcom series, after X-Men vs Street Fighter. I heard the game has balance issue. Street Fighters are underpowered compared to Marvel heroes. Maybe it’s part of Capcom’s plan to make the game more appealing to western audience. “You know that Ryu guy that can throw soul projectile from his hands? Spiderman can beat him”. If you ask me which side I’m on? Without hesitation, I will answer “Capcom” but not necessarily Street Fighter. I prefer Capcom in general. I’m not so big into American comic although I have several (translated) issues of Punisher, Ghostbuster, and GI Joe. Anyway, let’s go to the game right now.  

The roster is 3 X 6 = 18 characters. In Japanese version that is. In international version, Capcom leave out Norimaro which is located in center most bottom part of the roster. In international version, his slot is replaced with Marvel vs Street Fighter logo. Poor git. My main purpose of this article is to acknowledge Norimaro into some extent of recognition. You most likely think Norimaro is neither Street Fighter nor (definitely) Marvel character and you are correct although he’s located in Marvel’s side. So, who’s this Norimaro? From Marvel vs Capcom wiki, Norimaro is an original guest character created by Capcom in cooperation with Japanese comedian Noritake Kinashi. His design there is based on the comedian, during the 90s, also portrayed a schoolboy in his recurring role on TV series Tonneruzu no Minasan no Okage deshita, where his appearance even included a similar school-totebag. So, yeah. He’s another joke character besides Dan and he’s already there. Perhaps my main complaint about this game is how weak the roster in Street Fighter’s side. There’s too many shoto character including the idiotic Dan! Guile and Dee Jay should be in the roster as additional charge character. I know that Charlie is in X-Men versus Street Fighter game but my point still stands. By the way, I pick Captain America for Norimaro’s partner because he looks trustworthy.      

Norimaro is charming sod. I mean look at him. He wants to high five with Zangief. You don’t want to high five with the Russian Red Cyclone unless you have muscular body like Zangief himself. Otherwise, you want to cripple your own hand.

This what you commonly see regarding Captain America: he throws the shield at his enemy’s face. We can go home now. Wait! I’m just kidding.

The control is like usual in Marvel vs Capcom series: 3 button to punch with various strength. 3 button to kick with various strength. Pull up on joystick to jump. Pull down on joystick to crouch. Moving left or right on joystick to move the fighter around. Then you can perform special move with certain input command and also depends on the character you pick. For instance, to throw Captain’s shield. You move joystick down to forward (which commonly known as hadou-ken motion or quarter circle forward) and press punch button. If you use light punch button, Cap throws the shield while crouching. If you use medium punch button, Cap throws the shield forward middle. If you use heavy punch button, Cap throws the shield slightly angled like in this moment.

There’s usual grab method by holding forward and press heavy punch button while very close to your opponent. In Captain America’s case, he does some kind of Morote-Seoi-Nage but with one hand because he has to hold the shield in other hand. It’s pretty impressive to perform Morote-Seoi-Nage with one hand because it’s heavy thing to do.

You can tag your current player with the one in reserve seat by pressing both heavy punch and kick button together. So, I switched Cap with Norimaro and he’s pretty easy to use. He can throw various thing from his tote-bag such as lollypop that about to hit Zangief while he’s running at Norimaro. Of course, The Russian Red Cyclone get hit by the candy and fail to grab the Japanese Comedian because he’s way too far.    

Surely, there’ s super move that you can execute in this game. Moreover, there’s tag version of it! Unlike in Marvel vs Capcom 2 where you do that just pressing both partner button which is very simple. In this game, you have to do quarter circle forward and press both heavy punch and kick button. The result is quite devastating. Zangief is bombarded by various petty items while Captain America charging at him with his Vibranium shield. Engineer_cheers03.wav  

Then Cap beating Zangief. That’s how Cold War ends. Also. To quote that line in Avengers: Endgame movie. That is America’s ass on Captain America himself.

As I have mentioned before, Captain America can throw his shield while crouching. This move is useful to immediately counter enemy’s projectile that come up from medium height.

Here’s the charging star move. Activated with quarter circle forward and press kick button. It’s useful move to hit enemy while blocking projectile.

Norimaro has this funny looking anti-air move with forward, down, forward, and pressing punch button. This input is commonly known as dragon punch motion. He jumps really high while shouting “Shoryu Ken!”. I don’t think that’s real Shouryu Ken works.

Norimaro can also spinning his arms while moving forward. It’s not as cool looking as Captain America’s Charging Star but it looks amusing especially Norimaro’s desperate expression while doing so.

The match is won by Norimaro. Unfortunately, Cap didn’t make it as you can see his shield laid over there. I like Norimaro’s pose as if he some kind of museum guide explaining Cap’s shield.” Here lies Captain America’s shield, my faithful partner in fight but not as strong as me”

I’m curious what Norimaro’s winning quote. According to Google Translate he says “Captain America. You need to time your “new power” properly!” What a salty guy. But he might be on something. I’m not so good at fighting as Captain America so he got that right. Thanks for the advice, I guess.

Another display of America’s ass, I see. Anyway, Captain America has more serious anti-air move than Norimaro’s: The Star and Stripes. In this moment, Cap doesn’t have his shield because he threw it and forgets to pick it up. Even without the shield, Cap can still able to execute his special move except the shield throw, naturally. There’s some disadvantage though. Like the Charging Star can no longer block enemy’s projectile making the move even riskier to do. I’m not sure the penalty on Star and Stripes without the shield.  Damage and range reduction, perhaps?

Then I got hit by Spiderman’s famous super move: Maximum Spider. I still have much to learn.

I like Norimaro’s heavy punch that just straight pushing forward in rejecting manner. Maybe he has acute Arachnophobia that’s why he rejects Spiderman powerfully.

But he also pushes Chun-Li. Everyone like Chun-Li, right? You just being extraordinarily unusual, Norimaro.

I manage to hit Chun-Li with Norimaro’s ludicrous super move called “Ultra Variety Private Memories” where he dashes forward angrily and when hit his opponent, he changes into various pose including being bitten by a dog in his backside and taking bath in bathtub. It’s like Skullo’s Memories but way embarrassing and entertaining at the same time.

Speaking of joke character, here comes Dan. On top of being joker, Dan also arrogance in the versus screen. At least Norimaro is friendly enough to offer high five. Although high fiving a space monster such as Shuma Gorath also not good idea.  

I know I said Dan is a joke character but he’s breaking Cap’s teeth over there. I try to switch Cap to reserve seat but the game refuse to acknowledge my button input to tag. I become more appreciate the easiness of tag buttons in Marvel vs Capcom 2, replacing medium attack buttons.  

It’s hilarious to see a nerd student repeatedly headbutt an alien. Demoman_goodjob02.wav

Then Norimaro defeated with super grab called Chaos Dimension. Talking about an eye for an eye. Funny I say an eye because Shuma-Gorath only has an eye, not counting eye ball projectiles of his.

This is lots better. I manage to tag correctly this time. I like to have revenge on Shuma-Gorath but somehow Dan decides he wants Ken as his partner this time. At least Cap can take his revenge on Dan with his shield uppercut super: Hyper Stars & Stripes. Cm_soldier_matchwon_06.mp3

On next match, we fight against the green angry giant: The Incredible Hulk! I remember lot of years ago, I’m playing this along with neighborhood kid in one of neighbor’s home. The big brother of the owner is unstoppable with Hulk with repeated Gamma Charge. Back then I was lame by picking Ryu thinking spamming hadou ken can defeat him and I was wrong definitely. Back then I don’t have knowledge of Armor property on Hulk’s Gamma Charge which mean his special move there is uninterruptible though he still take damage.

Norimaro also has anti-air super move. It’s called: Ultimate Grand Champion Jump. It sure takes lot of guts to headbutt Hulk right in his groin. This kid is probably worthy as honorary member of Avengers.  

Hulk’s partner is Sakura Kasugano. I don’t know why we have another pair of an Avenger and a school student. Although Sakura can fire soul projectile from her hand (diagonally though), she’s nothing compared to Norimaro’s skill of throwing random trinkets.  

This is funny. I have to fight with Ken Master again. I don’t complaint. I just find it very weird to refight same opponent in a Marvel versus Capcom game. Usually, other games don’t do that. I also like to point out that chef scarily hides behind the lady as the fight unfold in the middle of his cooking show. He may touch her appropriately.

“I want picture of spiderman fighting Captain America. The bug man is clearly menace to our nation. Where’s Peter Parker in this crucial time?” says John Jonah Jameson. Well, Mr. Jameson. If I tell you the truth about Peter’s whereabouts, you will be surprised.

Last fight doesn’t go well and this one is not any better. I wish the tag function work better. Norimaro throws a flute at Ken’s Hadou Ken, is pretty funny moment. But my main focus is to that overexcited lad in white shirt and jeans. For many many years, I thought he is Eddie Brock but now I just realized that he is supposed to be Cody from Final Fight! You can also see his girlfriend Jessica behind him. I was so freaking dense!

Then Norimaro got obliterated by the founder father of Shoto: Ryu himself. I like Norimaro’s defeated pose where he’s bend over and his eye become cross. But that’s natural for joke character to have such a silly pose.

You probably think the reason why I keep losing is because I pick Norimaro into the team. However, I’m doing pretty fine playing as Norimaro. On the other hand, I have harder time when I play as Captain America. I watch in some video on Youtube that Captain America is tier B at Marvel versus Capcom 2, at best. If you main Cap, you can correct me. As for my own experience as Cap, I kind of difficult to apply his special move. I can’t use him like a Shoto character, spamming projectile move because his shield throw is slow and can only throw projectile one at the time. Also, I can’t too reliable at the charging star because once he finishes charging, he will be in relatively long braking animation leaving him defenseless for quite long time. At least, it can block projectile in this moment. As for Star and Stripes, clearly I can’t spam it because like general jumping anti-air move, you will be vulnerable after the uppercut jump animation and before landing on the ground.

I practicing Captain America after this session and I think I get little better as him. I have to vary my way to approach my opponent. Strongest variant of charging star has the longest distance but also the longest braking animation. Using medium variant of the charging star move seems the best way because the braking animation is faster. Strong version is way too risky. If my opponent is Shoto character, I can corner them with charging star. If my opponent is not Shoto character, I can pelt them with shield throw in a distance.

I can’t hate Captain America. Especially, his super move here “Final Justice” is so awesome. He charges at the opponent, gives some combo upon connect, and finish the combo with big slam. The input is quarter circle forward and two punch buttons, which can be easily mistaken as super projectile move by me but Cap has none of that. All of his super move is melee.

At that time, I still suck badly as Captain America. But I can defeat Spidey as Norimaro. Look at that git gleefully takes selfie along with defeated Spiderman and Captain America’s shield. Look out, Spidey! Norimaro can take out your job at Daily Bugle just with this photo alone.

Finally, we encounter Apocalypse. The first mutant and one of big villain in Marvel franchise. He takes form of giant that fill almost entire screen. He’s freaking damn iconic because of that. The giant size is not the only thing that he has. He also has big damaging power which comes from his hand that can send shockwave or turn into giant drill. If that doesn’t impress you, he can also fire giant beam from his eyes and can dispatch satellite to fire plasma ball at you. However, one thing that he overlooks is his inability to turn around. Once Captain America jumps behind his right hand, he barely does anything although his small satellite still can harm Cap. “Survival of the Fittest” his ass! He can’t even survive this fight because he can’t turn around. Big idiot!  

See? Even Norimaro can defeat you easily. Lucky, I don’t fight you as Sentinel (because Sentinel is not in roster). At least you feel less embarrassed being defeated by anti-mutant robot than defeated by a funny Japanese student boy. I mean, he can’t even take proper victory selfie for God’s sake! Only your feet are in the picture.

Apocalypse is big and infamous but the real danger is in the final boss: Mech Gouki/Akuma. Imagine the dreadful and infamous Akuma now has cybernetic parts including rocket punch! Medic_sf13_magic_reac02

Although he’s in normal size compared to Apocalypse, he’s really hard to defeat because -you know- he’s Akuma but faster and stronger. Sometime size does not matter.

One of his super moves is: Scramble Gou Punch as in me getting scrambled like scrambled egg by this super move. :(

Mech Akuma like to dash and does crouching kick. On the other hand, I keep forgetting to do low kick even though I usually like to do that in other Fighting game. Maybe because I think Cap and Norimaro don’t have good low sweep attack.

Another Norimaro’s grab is he hang his tote bag around opponent’s neck, pull the bag, then release it. I’m amazed with how elastic the tote bag’s handle and how powerful the bag itself to inflict hurt to Cyber Akuma.

The interesting part of Apocalypse/Cyber Akuma stage is the tubes that contain captured character such as Ghost Rider and Guile there. I like Ghost Rider’s head still aflame even though he’s captured in high technology tube.

Finally, the indomitable Cyber Akuma is defeated by a Japanese student who throw everything in his bag. It’s huge ironic if one of the items he thrown is the wooden statue of Akuma himself.

Cyber Akuma defeated and Captain America miraculously revive to get his shield back. Don’t want some nerd take away the Vibranium shield. There’s more dialogue happen between Norimaro and Captain America here:

Captain America: Great Spirit, Norimaro

Norimaro: I’m Honored to fight Alongside you

Norimaro: Okay Captain America, I’ve get a great idea!

Norimaro: I’m going to make you my pet, Aren’t you happy?

Norimaro. You’re freaking weird bastard! Why you have that crazy idea? The most sensible nerd will ask for Captain America’s autograph at most. You’re revolting!

You will only get the ending for character who land the finishing blow on Cyber Akuma. I manage to do so with Norimaro. It’s not that hard, I think. Anyway, his ending is:

“After defeating Apocalypse and Cyber Akuma (with help of Captain America obviously), Norimaro gets carried away and decides to take over the world. He built a great empire that unified the earth, oppressed the people and tortured them. Therefore, Norimaro was called the “Heresy King” after his death. It was later included in history textbooks and causes torment for students taking entrance exam…”

Welp. Who would think a joke character become infamous tyrant after defeating Apocalypse and Cyber Akuma? That’s very unexpected. But it’s humorous ending though. Anyway, let’s end this.

I like that Capcom’s mascot in this game is Ryu. It’s also hinted in Aliens versus Predator.

Capcom’s Marvel vs Street Fighter (1997) is pretty solid and fine fighting game as expected from Capcom. However, there’s several things that I complaint about it. First, the tag buttons seem lacking of response. I wish they’re more responsive. Fairly often, when I press both heavy punch and kick button, my fighter just punch around wildly instead of tag with their partner as intended. Second, the Street Fighter’s roster feels monotonous and weak. There’s too many shoto character there! The game will be much better if Vega, Dee Jay, Fei Long and T. Hawk are in the roster. At least replace Dan with Sagat for God’s sake! Norimaro as neutral character in the roster, feels very wild but he’s better fighter than Dan even though he’s also joke character. Aside of the finicky response of tag command, the gameplay is pretty good. The super is executed by pressing 2 buttons of either punch or kick and motion of special command. Usually: quarter circle forward, quarter circle backward, or forward + quarter circle forward which is commonly known as dragon punch motion. But for Zangief his super command requires 360^o motion input. There’s the usual normal attack combo where you can chain weak to strong normal attack so there’s good reason to keep your finger over the weak punch or kick. Speaking of the normal attack combo, I find Captain America has slightly less good chain because his medium punch is shield uppercut that launch enemy in mid-air. Usually, the launcher attack is either strong punch or kick. I mean yes, I can follow it up with air combo very early but my brain can’t keep up the pace. The tag system makes the game play faster. The round system is no longer best of three likes in usual fighting game. Although the PSX version doesn’t implement the tag system (probably because the game is rushed) and it uses the usual best of three round system. The tag system also allows the fighter to regenerates red portion of health which can add a layer of strategy. The bosses are Apocalypse and Mech Gouki/Cyber Akuma. You only to defeat them in one round (but not in PSX version). Apocalypse looks intimidating, I have to admit that especially when first time fight him decade ago but actually he’s pretty easy to deal with. The real challenge comes from Cyber Akuma which is stronger and faster than the original Akuma who’s already infamously strong. The presentation is pretty nice and explosive. The music is pretty good. The graphic effect is top notch.

It goes without saying that Marvel vs Street Fighter (1997) is pretty good game in the series. I recommend you to play the arcade version or the steam version. PSX version has slower pace to the usual best of 3 round system and you can’t pick more than one characters so it’s inadvisable to play the PSX version. I don’t think the collection on steam has Norimaro on the roster which is unfortunate because he’s capable fighter even though he’s just silly school student.

I have bad news for you. I get really busy with official work so my writing will be delayed big time but i'm still doing it. Don't worry.