As somebody who its really into the .vs capcom series of games, i want to give my complete opinion on this game, since we are really close to get almost all the info. related about how the game will finally end up looking, playing, and overall feeling.
This series have a significant feeling for me, and i dont really know why. I have been a fan of Marvel Comics all my life, reading almost all regular-series since 2000. Im also a big fan of capcom fighting games (and mortal kombat series), so you can do the math. For some reason i don't buy consoles at launch, but i always finishing buying one, and everytime, a capcom .vs games its part of the reason. I bought a Dreamcast almost for all Capcom catalogue of games (mostly Cannon Spike and Marvel .vs Capcom 2), i bought a Wii mostly because Tatsunoko .vs Capcom, and i bought a PS3 only AFTER MVC3 was announced. Hell, i want a PS4 only because of this game and Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy
What im trying to say with this is that i really love the series, i think it has a legacy to live for, both as a concept and for the fans. So it hurts to me seeing that MVC has (and you are free to say otherwise) become a reality only to do as part of a merchandise concept for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
People believe that the ones we aren't happy with this product its because of the character roster of the way he looks. And in part is true. MVC its a series based mostly in the fact that we can see OUR favorites characters from both companies beating the crap out of each other, and since its a capcom game, they had to do it with amazing gameplay mechanics. It always has been like that.
MVC:I feels, to me, like a product that still need to polish. Still need to improve. And im doing free for the game, because two months ago it looked way worse to me.
Its about everything.
* About the graphics: the game had good graphics! but its the art style that it feels that its not following any direction. I remember somebody saying that MVC1 was the way how capcom and japanese saw marvel characters, and UMVC3 was how western people saw Capcom characters. This game, as far as i can say, feels like is trying to appeal to a group of persons that i'm not part of. Its look different, not exactly bad. But i don't like the colors, i don't like how sometimes looks too much darker, and in other times looks to bright. It doesn't feel consistent. You guys remember how TVC looked while playing in Orbital Gate stage? The characters looked only a little bit more darker, and most of the time they looked brighter because of the lights in the level. This game looks like Contest of Champions design, and i don't like that
* About gameplay: I have zero complains. At first i though that using 2v2 with no assist was an step back, but now i believe the game its going to be extremaly fun to play and watch at high level. My mind has changed in this aspect
* About sound: I have a complain here too, actually. I can't sense any hype for the music, or any details like that. You guys remember how MVC3 was really good about this? all the remixed themes from previous games (people was hype even about the I wanna take you for a ride song!), the menu music, even the music remix from the mission mode and galactus battle. Here feels worse. I do remember people saying that not having the characters main theme changing everytime the player changed characters in Tatsunoko was a bad decision, similar in MVC3. But here nobody says nothing (or maybe i haven't read enough).
I feel the same about the way punching sounds. It lacks...i don't know. Maybe its just me in here talking
*About characters: This is my most biggest complain. I felt offended when ComboFiend told everybody that in the end this is game about mechanics instead of characters...do any of you actually believe that? I certainly didn't. Lest just say we get a new Marvel .vs Capcom...but instead of capcom characters, we get those shitty Marvel Nemesis EA created...do you guys would be happy with that? Yeah, me neither. Im not trying to say that im mad because i ain't get the characters I LIKE...but instead we got almost the same characters of the previous games...but even LESS characters! This is way i say that this game need both more time of development. Because my only conclusion here is that its certainly feels like a product that exist mostly for the solo purpose to sell a game about MCU. We didn't got highly popular and legacy characters...and only few news. Whats the fun about that man? I think that what makes this series fun, for me at least, was the fact we goth crazy characters doing crazy things. Unique, surprising, crazy characters! I feel the same for Smash. Bros series...For me, 50% of MVC was just about that, about characters. To be totally honest, i was expecting crazy comebacks like Captain Commando, new ones like Asura, and outta nowhere adds like Jack Krauser from RE4 or something...It was fun to not being able to predict anything!
* About presentation: i feel this has gotten worse too. I had complained a lot about this previously, but this game feels like its being rush in this aspect. Cover art feels flat, menu art looks boring, and we got almost nothing of original art outside of variant covers and some art from Shinkiro the other day (that i believe was also a variant cover). We are talking about a MARVEL .VS CAPCOM GAME here. You can pick 3 artist from each company and every art they do probably gonna do miracles to this game. Put the characters in a way that this game SELLS the feel of every character actually fighting against themselves...Yeah its about ultron-sigma and shit, but who the fuck cares.
There's other little details that for me make this game feels like i need to be more time in development. It doesn't feel really like a product of both companies putting they resources and imagination to create something that collide in themselves...Like Ryu saying he hates spiders against Spider-man...Characters endings, introductions...and a lot more of etc.
Yeah maybe its me here. I do feel the game its going to be good in gameplay aspect. But everything else feels like a step down...