A crossover with a story worth caring about

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite has one of the best story premises I have found in a fighting game. That is the strongest part of my reaction, and it deserves to be said clearly. Bringing these universes into a shared conflict gives the crossover more narrative purpose than a roster standing together for a promotional image.

Unfortunately, the graphics and the gameplay do not impress me to the same degree. There is a gap between how much I like the idea of this adventure and how convincing I find the complete experience. My seven out of ten reflects both sides: a game with a narrative I value, held back by a presentation and fighting experience that disappoint me.

The appeal of a shared conflict

Ultron Sigma is a strong way to express the crossover's central idea. Combining threats from the two universes gives the story a reason to exist within the meeting of those worlds, rather than feeling like a generic problem that happens to involve familiar characters.

That kind of connection matters to me. A crossover can be more than an excuse to put recognizable names on the character select screen. It can use the meeting of its casts to create a conflict with a personality of its own.

Infinite's narrative is where I find the most convincing version of that ambition. The premise gives the characters a shared purpose and provides a reason to care about the larger situation. For a fighting game, that is a substantial attraction.

Presentation that does not meet the same standard

The visual side is where the disappointment becomes harder to ignore. These are characters with very strong identities, and I want their presentation to feel as convincing as the idea of seeing them together. Here, the graphics do not consistently give me that response.

This is a judgment about the visual result, not a claim about measured performance or a particular technical fault. I simply do not find the overall look as appealing as a crossover of this scale deserves.

That affects more than a screenshot. Fighting games ask the player to spend a great deal of time looking at the same characters and their actions. The presentation contributes to their personality, so a less convincing visual direction can weaken the whole experience even when the narrative premise is strong.

The fighting leaves me less enthusiastic

Infinite's two-character teams and Infinity Stones give its combat a clear set of ideas. There is an understandable attempt to shape a distinct version of Marvel vs. Capcom rather than simply repeat an earlier entry.

But having a recognizable system is different from making that system my favorite way to play. The gameplay does not give me the same level of enthusiasm as the story. I wanted the experience of fighting to sell the crossover as strongly as its narrative setup does.

That is the most important limitation for the final score. A fighting game cannot rely on its plot to carry every return visit. The battles themselves have to be the reason I want to come back, and here they leave me more reserved than I want to be.

Why I still find value in it

Seven out of ten acknowledges that the game has something worthwhile to offer. My admiration for the narrative is not a small consolation added to an otherwise empty experience. It is a meaningful reason I care about this particular entry.

At the same time, I cannot turn that admiration into a higher score while ignoring the two areas that disappoint me most. The graphics and gameplay are too central to the complete experience to be treated as minor details.

Infinite ends up as a game I appreciate more unevenly than I hoped. Its best idea is strong enough to make the disappointment noticeable, because I can see the appeal of the version where all of these elements work at the same level.

Final verdict

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite has a fantastic crossover premise and a story I rate highly within fighting games. Its visual presentation and gameplay do not reach that same standard for me, leaving a good but uneven experience. Seven out of ten for an entry with a compelling narrative heart and a less convincing overall execution.

Final score: 7/10.

Reviewed on PC by Andrew Louis. No review key or complimentary access was provided.