The articlegameplay, story, development, reception
Gameplay
Marvel vs. Capcom Origins is a compilation game that includes two 1990s Capcom titles, Marvel Super Heroes (1995) and Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1998), whose gameplay remain identical to their arcade releases. Origins retains each game's original single-player game modes and introduces online multiplayer.
The online infrastructure utilizes GGPO, a networking library designed to minimize input lag. In addition to ranked and player matches, the online mode adds eight-player lobbies, spectator mode, and replay saving. The matchmaking system allows players to adjust certain settings to narrow down search results, such as establishing ping thresholds and regional preferences.
Development
Marvel vs. Capcom Origins was announced by Capcom on July 5, 2012. The game was developed by Iron Galaxy Studios, who had previously worked with Capcom on Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition. A playable demo of the game was present during the Evolution Championship Series from July 6–8, 2012, and San Diego Comic-Con from July 12–15, 2012.
According to Producer Derek Neal, Iron Galaxy Studios used the original arcade ROMs from Marvel Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes to create the game. The balance of the characters was deliberately left unchanged in order to remain faithful to the arcade versions. Origins was built upon a similar framework to Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition, which had also included online play using GGPO, upgraded graphics, visual filters, and dynamic challenges.
Reception
Marvel vs. Capcom Origins received mixed to positive reviews from critics upon release, with aggregate review website Metacritic assigning a score of 72 out of 100 for the PlayStation 3 version, and 78 out of 100 for the Xbox 360 version. The game received praise for its preservation of the original arcade releases' integrity, additions of online multiplayer and challenges, and variety of unlockable content. On the other hand, it received criticism for its small and unsatisfying selection of games, as well as outdated gameplay mechanics. Ray Carsillo of Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded Origins a 9 out of 10, stating the game "does a fine job of staying true to the originals, while the addition of dynamic challenges provide a new layer of addictiveness that helps to overshadow how much these games have aged in the past two decades".
2 out of 10, concluding that "neither title is perfect due to some blatantly unbalanced characters, but as a walk down memory lane, this package is hard to beat". S. PlayStation Magazine gave the game a score of 7 out of 10, saying the "minimal-frills two-pack is definitely entertaining while it lasts". 5 out of 10, praising the visual presentation and accurate reproduction of the coin-operated originals, while criticizing clunky mechanics.
