Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 hit PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011, as a standalone update to Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Capcom, working with Eighting, packed in 12 new fighters and all previously released DLC characters. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami had scrapped plans for downloadable content for the original game, so the team bundled those characters into this enhanced edition at a lower price point.

Players select teams of three from a roster spanning Capcom franchises and Marvel Comics. The core three-on-three tag combat returns, with tweaks to aerial movement and the X-Factor comeback mechanic. Twelve new fighters joined the lineup: Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Nova, Rocket Raccoon, She-Hulk, Firebrand, Nemesis T-Type, Phoenix Wright, Vergil, and Strider Hiryu. Only Strider had appeared in previous Marvel vs. Capcom games. Phoenix Wright brought a unique evidence-collection playstyle, switching between investigation and accusation modes. Nemesis traded flashy moves for rocket launcher attacks and heavy defense. Rocket Raccoon used bear traps, laser rifles, and log pendulums.

Hideyuki Fukasawa composed the soundtrack. The game ran on Capcom's MT Framework engine, originally built for Devil May Cry 4. A PlayStation Vita version launched as a handheld launch title in December 2011 in Japan and February 2012 in North America and Europe. Digital re-releases for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows arrived in 2016 and 2017, with a limited physical edition including an exclusive 10-page comic by Marvel artists Sean Chen and Gerardo Sandoval. More than 2 million units shipped within a month. Combined with the original release, the series has sold over 5.2 million copies as of 2024. [edit]

The three-on-three tag system lets players swap characters mid-match, call for assists, and unleash hyper combos. Aerial combat received adjustments from Fate of Two Worlds, with new air combo routes and altered gravity. X-Factor, a temporary power-up, was rebalanced to reduce its dominance in high-level play. Spectator mode was added, allowing players to watch matches. Online matchmaking saw improvements, though some critics still found it lacking compared to contemporaries.

Each character brings distinct tools. Phoenix Wright collects evidence and switches modes, turning from a weak investigator into a powerful prosecutor. Strider Hiryu wall-jumps and uses a giant sword. Hawkeye controls space with arrow types. The roster covers a wide range of playstyles, from rushdown to zoning. The game lacks traditional arcade mode endings for each character, instead offering a single cinematic conclusion. [edit]

Two universes collide as dimensional rifts bring Marvel and Capcom characters together. Heroes and villains from both sides must fight to determine the fate of their worlds. The narrative framework is minimal, serving primarily as a backdrop for the battles. A limited physical release in 2017 included a 10-page comic book that expands on the dimensional convergence, with art by Sean Chen and Gerardo Sandoval. The story follows characters from both rosters as they confront each other and a common threat. [edit]