Part 48

Dive into the gameplay of Marvel vs. Capcom 2! Learn about the 3v3 tag system, assist characters, snapbacks, and how the button layout differs from previous titles.

Gameplay

Alright, so you've gotten a feel for the characters and the general flow of the game. Now let's talk about what makes Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes tick on a deeper level. The core gameplay is familiar if you've played the older Vs. games, but there are some key changes that really shake things up.

The biggest shift is the jump to 3-on-3 tag battles. You're not just picking one or two characters anymore; you're building a whole team! Each character on your team has their own Super Combo, but here's the kicker: your whole team shares a single Super Meter. This means you've got to be smart about when you decide to unleash those powerful moves. Using one level of the Super Meter is the minimum cost for a Super Combo.

Control-wise, it's still rooted in the classic Street Fighter style, but with a wider screen to match the action. Now, instead of three punch and three kick buttons for different strengths, they've streamlined it down to two attack buttons (light and medium) and two dedicated Assist buttons. Think of it like this: Light Attack, Medium Attack, Assist 1, Assist 2. Most often, a light attack can chain into a medium attack for some quick combos.

Assist Characters

This is where the 3v3 system really shines. You can call in an off-screen character to perform a specific special move by pressing one of the Assist buttons. Before the match, you get to choose one of three different assist types for each character. These determine what kind of move your assist will do – some are more offensive, others might be for utility. Just remember, you can call an assist at any time, but your assist character is vulnerable while they're out there. If they get hit, they take double damage! The good news is, they can recover that lost health as long as they're not the active fighter.

Snapbacks

Ever wanted to force your opponent's current character out of the fight? That's where the "snapback" comes in. It costs one Super Meter level to execute. You'll do a quick normal attack that, if it connects and isn't blocked, will force the opponent's active character out and bring in their next teammate. Be careful though: if you manage to hit both the active character *and* an assist character with a snapback, you can knock out that assist character without the opponent even having a chance to block it!

Character Unlocks

In the original arcade version, you'd earn experience points to unlock hidden characters. However, the console versions changed this up. Instead of grinding for experience, you'll use a "Secret Factor" menu. Here, you can spend points earned through regular gameplay to buy hidden characters, cool backgrounds, and artwork. For the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, good news – all characters are unlocked right from the start!

Online and Features (Xbox 360/PS3)

If you're playing on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, you're in for a treat. These versions are based on the Dreamcast code and offer online multiplayer. They also support widescreen and have an optional graphics filter if you prefer smoother or crisper visuals. Plus, you can even use custom soundtracks if the game's unique jazz-like music isn't your jam. Capcom even released a hip-hop mixtape around the game's launch, so keep an eye out for that!

Remember, mastering these mechanics, especially the assist system and snapbacks, will be key to dominating in Marvel vs. Capcom 2!