Marvel Super Heroes 2: Civil War

Marvel Super Heroes 2: Civil War (マーヴル・スーパーヒーローズ, Māvuru Sūpā Hīrōzu) is a fighting video game developed by Capcom based on characters from the Marvel Comics line, following X-Men: Children of the Atom, and the Marvel vs. Capcom series. It followed the installment of SEGA VS Capcom series (Worlds Collide and Worlds Unite).

The game is based on "The Civil War" storyline of the Marvel Universe, a 2006–07 crossover storyline consisting of a seven-issue limited series of the same name written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, and various other tie-in books published by Marvel at the time.

The plot of the series follows a framework story line in which the U.S. government passes a Superhero Registration Act, ostensibly designed to have super powered individuals act under official regulation, somewhat akin to law enforcement. However, superheroes opposed to the act, led by Captain America, find themselves in conflict with those supporting the act, led by Iron Man, with Spider-Man caught in the middle; the X-Men take a neutral stance. The superheroes in support of the law, such as Iron Man, Mister Fantastic and Ms. Marvel, become increasingly authoritarian. The conflict between freedom and security is an underlying theme in the storyline, with real-life events and discussions, such as the U.S. government's increased surveillance of its citizens, serving as a backdrop for the events in Civil War.

Marvel Super Heroes 2 was released in June 2023 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Samsung Zeo and Microsoft Windows.

Gameplay[]

Marvel Super Heroes 2 carries on the 2D fighting gameplay of the Street Fighter Series, in which two fighters use a variety of attacks and special abilities to knock out their opponent. The game features the EX gauge, which builds as the player lands attacks and can be used to either power up special moves or perform super combos known as Critical Arts. Also, it features the "V-Gauge", implemented in Street Fighter V, which builds as the player receives attacks and adds four new techniques: V-Skills, V-Reversals, V-Triggers, and V-Shifts. V-Skills are special attacks unique to each fighter; for example, Captain America can parry an attack while Iron Man can reflect projectiles, some of which build V-Gauge when successfully performed. V-Reversals allow players to use a section of the V-Gauge to perform a counter move whilst being attacked. Similarly, V-Shifts use one section of the V-Gauge to dodge and potentially counter an incoming attack. Finally, V-Triggers use the entire V-Gauge to allow the player to perform a unique ability, such as a temporary damage boost for Iron Man's energy blasts or added hits to Spider-Man's attacks. The game also features an interactive arena, showcasing special animations when a player is defeated at the edge of the arena.

The game offers various offline and online single-player and multiplayer game modes. The offline features include Story Mode, with a cinematic story campaign; Arcade Mode, a classic arcade game experience where players fight against several AI-controlled opponents before confronting the final boss characters; Mission Mode, where players can complete tutorial missions and character-specific challenges; Training Mode, where players can practice their fighting abilities and adjust various training field parameters; Versus Player 2, where two players can battle against each other locally; Versus CPU, where players can battle solo against an AI-controlled opponent; and Collection Mode, where extras unlocked through gameplay are stored, including story cutscenes, character and stage information, concept artwork, and audio tracks. Online multiplayer includes ranked and casual matches, global leaderboards and replays.

Playable Characters[]

Marvel Super Heroes 2: Civil War features a base roster of 41 playable characters, consisting of both heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe.

Anti-Registration Characters[]

Captain America
Luke Cage
Daredevil
Iron Fist
Hercules
Punisher
Wolverine
Spectrum
Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)
Cloak
3D-Man
Justice
Wiccan
Cable
Falcon
Arachne
Ghost Rider
Black Panther
Patriot
Stingray

Pro-Registration Characters[]

Iron Man
Mr. Fantastic
Invisible Woman
Human Torch
Spider-Man
Yellow Jacket
She-Hulk
Tigra
Wonderman
Sentry
Bishop
Songbird
Penance
Venom (McGargan)
Taskmaster
Doc Samson
Spider-Woman
Moon Stone
Bullseye
Black Widow
Radioactive Man

Plot[]

The New Warriors (Night Thrasher, Namorita, Speedball, and Microbe) battle a group of villains (Cobalt Man, Speedfreek, Coldheart, and Nitro) in Stamford, Connecticut, while filming a reality television show. Nitro explodes, killing more than 600 people (including school children and all of the New Warriors except Speedball). The rest of the superheroes appear in Stamford to search for survivors. Public opinion turns against superhumans. Even the inactive members of the New Warriors are branded as "baby killers". Hindsight (desperate to distance himself from the team) releases their secret identities online, and several are attacked. She-Hulk forces Hindsight to shut down the site, and Hindsight is arrested. Angry civilians attack the Human Torch outside a club.

Guided by Iron Man, Congress quickly passes the Superhuman Registration Act (SHRA), 6 U.S.C. § 558, requiring the registration of all persons with superhuman abilities with the U.S. government, and the enlistment and training of those wishing to operate as superheroes. The law applies to those with naturally-occurring superhuman abilities, those humans using exotic technology (such as Iron Man), or anyone who wants to challenge the superhumans. Enactment of the federal law leads to revisions of state criminal codes.

Captain America refuses to join a S.H.I.E.L.D. strike force hunting superhumans in violation of the act, and is attacked by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s "Cape-Killers", even though the act has not been passed yet. Afterwards, he becomes a fugitive and forms an underground resistance movement calling itself the "Secret Avengers". Iron Man, Reed Richards, Hank Pym and She-Hulk come down in favor of the act. Spider-Man unmasks at a press conference as a show of support for the act.

The government-backed heroes track down unregistered superhumans and subsequently detain or register them. Captain America's Secret Avengers and Iron Man's Avengers end up fighting in Yancy Street. The Thing, who was only visiting the old neighborhood, gets roped into crowd control. However, when a young member of the Yancy Street Gang is killed in the violence that ensues, Grimm, disgusted with both sides, leaves the country for France. The Punisher seeks to join Captain America's forces, pointing out that Iron Man's decision to employ infamous mass murderers as enforcers of the act is what has motivated the vigilante to come out of hiding, although crime is at an all-time low as a result of the registered heroes. Captain America reluctantly accepts Punisher's offer of help.

As the final battle begins Cloak teleports the combatants to New York City. As Captain America is about to deliver a final blow to Iron Man, policemen, EMTs, and firefighters try to restrain him. Realizing how much damage the fight has already inflicted upon the very people he wishes to protect, Captain America surrenders and orders his team to stand down.

Reception[]

Marvel Super Heroes 2: Civil War holds a Metascore of 89/100 based on 136 critics, citing generally favorable reviews. Positive reviews came from IGN, GameSpot, Hardcore Gamer, and Electronic Gaming Monthly; all of which gave the game a 9/10 citing the game as a transformation from being an unfinished product to a fully fledged experience. EGM praised "the ability to bring up a 3D viewer in the Shop (in order to get a proper look at new costumes and color variants before purchasing them), combined with the option to filter certain purchasables (such as outfits) only for certain characters". 4Players and NY Daily News both said it was the game "you always wanted".

Civil War was nominated for "Best Fighting Game" at The Game Awards 2023 and for "Fan Favorite Fighting Game" at the Gamers' Choice Awards, both losing to SEGA Vs Capcom 2: Worlds Unite. Said game was also nominated for the Raging Bull Award for Best Fighting Game at the New York Game Awards and for "Best eSports Game" at the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2019.