Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite Preview with Justin Wong
By Alex Beaven
August 22, 2017
As Marvel vs. Capcom fans say farewell to Ultimate MVC3, players and spectators have a new Marvel fighting game to look forward to in September. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite will be the next competitive title in the series and will surely be in the spotlight for several fighting game tournaments.
Marvel vs. Capcom veteran and multi-time champion Justin Wong shared his opinion on several aspects of MVCI such as revitalization of the Marvel scene, the character roster, and fresh gameplay mechanics.
Rising to the Challenge
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite will be the first new entry to the MVC franchise since Marvel vs. Capcom 3s release in early 2011 (with the Ultimate version releasing later on that year). With this latest title, Justin Wong is expecting a bright future for tournament play. I think the Marvel scene will come back out of retirement from MVC2/MVC3 to try this
game out since its a new game and a new concept.
Justin also hopes to see plenty of new players getting involved with MVCI, stating: its always different in every Marvel game. With the fighting game community always growing, many new faces are sure to appear at events.
Because the game is so new, Justin expects Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite to provide plenty of challenges for both new and returning players. While newcomers may need to learn how to properly execute combos, Justin stated: I believe defending in this game will be tough even for seasoned players.
A New Age of Heroes
A new Marvel vs. Capcom game means fresh faces showing up on both sides of the roster. Justin himself is especially looking forward to trying Captain Marvel, Gamora, and Jedah, all never-before-seen in the MVC series.
Among the many characters that will show up as DLC content in the future is Sigma, currently a pre-order bonus for MVCI. With Sigma finally joining the MVC roster, Justin said: I really want to try Sigma because Ive been waiting for him since forever!
Tag Team Tactics
With the revamped roster comes changes to the team system that has been a staple in the Marvel vs. Capcom series since its inception. The first Marvel vs. Capcom allowed for two characters to be chosen for either side to fight in 2v2 battles, which was later increased to 3v3 for MVC2 and MVC3.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite will return the crossover franchise to its 2v2 team roots, though it will some adjustments to how teams are constructed.
In MVC2 and MVC3, each character had three different assist moves to choose from that could be called upon while another character fights in battle. MVCI is taking the team format in a slightly different direction which removes assist moves, replacing them with the Active Switch system. This new mechanic allows for one character to begin a combo and then tag out for the teams second character to finish the job. Active Switches will likely cause players to search for the optimal combo setups between characters in order to formulate dangerous and effective game plans.
Despite these changes, Justin Wong does not believe the smaller teams or the removal of assists will make MVCI too simple for competitive play. I think the players will understand how to transition into 2v2. What I expect will give players a hard time is that they don't have assists to back them up, or they have to constantly tag to keep the flow of the game in their favor.
Infinite Opportunities
Along with gameplay changes focused around the roster, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite will also feature a unique Infinity Stone system. The stones have been featured in Marvel comics for decades and were last used by Capcom in the arcade title Marvel Super Heroes.
Each Infinity Stone will provide a separate function such as a long-distance dash or a quick launch to bounce an opponent off a wall, and give players access to a special Infinity Storm power once enough meter is gained.
The Infinity Stone system replaces X-Factors, Marvel vs. Capcom 3s powerful yet divisive comeback mechanic. Justin expects the Infinity Stones to open MVCI up for more creativity and freedom in how players approach situations. I always hated X-Factors because there were many fraudulent wins that came out of it, including some of my wins, but I am happy that there is a diverse system such as the Infinity Stones which will make things more interesting.
Justin Wong is expecting MVCI to rejuvenate the Marvel vs. Capcom series, though it is up to players to explore the game and reveal the true potential of these new gameplay concepts.
Since Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinites official announcement, the fighting game community has kept a close eye on any information being revealed about the title. Once MVCI finally launches in September, keep an eye out for Justin Wong to explore the new game and be at the forefront of competition.
