Marvel Vs Capcom 3 Top Fighting Tips

If Street Fighter is a game of chess, with carefully chosen strategies played out in a precise and careful manner, then Marvel Vs Capcom 3 is like backgammon. Backgammon starring massive robots with eyes made of rockets that can shoot lasers into your brain, bombarding you with lightning-fast attacks while dressed in skin-tight clothing that would put a glamour model to shame. Roughly speaking.

The Marvel Vs Capcom games, like all of the versus games over the years, have always been more about crazy over-the-top action, super-stylish and comedic characters and screen-filling moves. It’s what sets them apart from other fighting games and gives them such broad appeal. It’s also one of the few occasions a Marvel fan can pit different super heroes against each other, and it’s certainly the only chance you have to pit Capcom characters against Marvel characters (even though everyone knows Capcom characters are the best). Just seeing it in action is probably enough for you to know whether or not you want to play it but, for some, it looks overwhelming and you haven’t really played a fighting game for years.

Here are my top 10 tips for newcomers to the Marvel Vs Capcom series:

1. Take the time to mess around with all the different characters. Some of the characters that have never been in a fighting game before have some really interesting moves, and even characters that you think you know inside out – like Ryu – have something new to play around with. Experiment so that you know you have the right team.
2. Don’t be afraid to use Simple Mode. It may make inputs easier, but winning a game of Marvel Vs Capcom 3 isn’t about who can do the most complicated moves, it’s about strategy and tactics.
3. It’s ok to block sometimes. Honestly. If you never block, you’ll never beat somebody who does block. Not losing health is as important as dealing damage. And since you’re blocking…
4. Use Advancing Guard! It’s easy to forget it’s there as an option when you start out. Just press the attack buttons when you’re already blocking and you’ll push your opponent away. Advancing Guard is a great way to make some space when your opponent is attacking relentlessly.
5. Don’t mash! It’s easier said than done, but if you don’t stop mashing, you’ll never learn how to play fighting games. It’s like that eureka moment when you suddenly realise that you have to brake early in Gran Turismo to get round a corner; that temporary sacrifice of instant gratification opens up an entire genre of gaming to you. And there’s never been a better time to get into fighting games. Instead, learn the basic Light Mid Heavy chain. Almost all the characters can use it to link into pretty much anything. It’s easy to do, and is a good replacement for the mashing that you’ve just given up.
6. Learn the timing for launching. The trick is to jump IMMEDIATELY after hitting the S button. And don’t forget to combo in the air.
7. Don’t be intimidated by Mission Mode. They’re meant to span the entire range of skills a good MvC3 player will have after extended play. If you only make it to the third or fourth mission, don’t be disheartened. You’ll be surprised how soon you’ll be coming back to smash previously insurmountable walls.
8. Don’t rage quit! It will increase a hidden rating you have that increases your chances of meeting other people that rage quit. Which, I guess, is fine if you don’t mind playing with dishonourable people.
9. Have fun! It’s easy to get involved in discussions on which character is the best, and to feel that your character choice is one of the weaker ones. Remember, ‘tiering’, as it’s called, is determined by tournament players, and you might not even be able to take advantage of the things they’re doing with a certain character to make them top tier. Make your choices based on characters that you like, both from how they play and how they look. In the end you’ll enjoy your game more and who knows, maybe one day you’ll become the player people associate with that character. Many players make a name for themselves by playing with ‘weaker’ characters.
10. And finally, always make sure your team synchronise their outfits. Red Hulk with red She Hulk and Viewtiful Joe makes a great team. So does Captain America, Chun Li and blue Iron Man. If you’re not colour co-ordinated, you’re nothing.

Marvel Vs Capcom 3 is available on PS3 tomorrow so grab it and follow these tips to make an early impact on the online arena. Tell us: which three-fighter team-up will you be using?