PixlBit

With the controversy of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 now in the past, it’s much easier to appreciate the Vita launch of this fantastic fighter for what it is. With a huge cast of reasonably balanced characters, smooth online play, and even some optional touch screen controls, this may actually be the “ultimate” portable fighting game.

This is thanks in part to the unbelievably accessible mechanics and over-the-top action the Capcom Versus series is known for. By assembling teams of three, players have an unprecedented number of team combinations to choose from, allowing them to find the perfect characters to fit their play style. With entries like Phoenix Wright, Amaterasu, MODOK, and Rocket Raccoon, the roster is extremely diverse, offering wildly varying styles of play.

If you’re looking for some further discussion on the specifics of the mechanics and how it all plays out, be sure to check out our review of the home console version. If you’d like some further perspective, feel free to read our review of the original iteration of the title, Fate of Two Worlds.

The PlayStation Vita edition is a perfect port of the home console edition, even including cross platform compatibility wherein Jill Valentine and Shuma-Gorath are playable if you already purchased them on the PlayStation 3. Furthermore, it includes touch screen controls and an ultimate controller mode that lets you use your Vita as a controller for the PlayStation 3 version of the game if you own the title on both systems.

For the hardcore fighter, the most notable shortcoming, so to speak, of the Vita version is the obvious lack of fight stick support. Thankfully, the Vita’s D-Pad is phenomenal for fighters, making it very easy to perform the requisite quarter turns to execute hyper attacks and big combos.

For beginners, the touch screen mode is an interesting alternative to the normal and simple controls found in the main portion of the game. Though a touch screen mode, the buttons will still function allowing you to play the game as you normally would, just using the touch screen to activate hyper combos and X Factor mode without needing to enter a button combination. If players are still struggling even with this accessibility, they can opt to simply tap their enemies for auto-attacks and combos.

Playing in this manner truly defeats the purpose of the game, but it can be empowering for a beginner to feel some control over the experience when things get rough. Thankfully, Capcom knew well enough to tailor the online mode to allow players to filter out opponents opting to use the touch screen controls.

Online matches proved exceptionally smooth, which was initially surprising. All of the same options of the home console edition are found here, allowing you to enjoy the game just as you would with a controller in hand.

Visually and functionally, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 passes the test. If the lack of a fight stick isn’t a deal breaker, the Vita version may even be your preference thanks to its portability, which lends nicely to quick, pick up and play matches. If you’re looking for an accessible fighter on-the-go, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is undeniably your best choice on the Vita.