Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes
Second entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom series (third overall crossover game including X-Men vs. Street Fighter); first game with the exact title 'Marvel vs. Capcom'.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes is a crossover fighting game that Capcom developed and published for its CP System II arcade hardware in 1998. As the second game in the Marvel vs. Capcom series (and the third overall crossover game including X-Men vs. Street Fighter), it pits characters from Capcom’s own video game library against those from Marvel Comics. Unlike the prior installment, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, which only used Street Fighter characters, this title pulls fighters from multiple Capcom franchises. The core gameplay stays close to its predecessor, but the assist system is dropped in favor of a new move called the Variable Cross.
The game was ported to the Dreamcast and PlayStation in 1999. It later reappeared in 2012 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as part of the Marvel vs. Capcom Origins collection, and again in 2024 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Windows as part of the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. Critics praised the Dreamcast version for its visuals, gameplay, and faithful arcade feel. For the PlayStation port, Capcom altered the tag team system to a 'Cross Over' mode that forced players to use identical teams (same two characters), rather than removing tag battles entirely. As a result, the PlayStation version received slightly weaker reviews than the Dreamcast one. The series continued with Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes in 2000.
**Gameplay**
This is the second 2D fighting game in the Marvel vs. Capcom series (third overall crossover) and uses tag team mechanics similar to Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter. Before a match, each player picks a team of two fighters. They can switch between them at any time during one-on-one combat. While one character fights, the inactive teammate slowly recovers health off-screen. The first team to drain the opponent’s health wins; if the timer runs out, the team with more health left is declared the winner.
Two major changes set Clash of Super Heroes apart from its predecessor. The Variable Assist feature, which let players call in their offscreen partner for a special attack, is gone. It is replaced by the Guest Character/Special Partner system. These guest characters are assigned randomly at the start of a match and can only be used a few times per round. The game also introduces the Variable Cross (also called a Duo Team Attack). Wh
- Release Year
- 1998
- Developer
- Capcom
- Platform
- CP System II arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
- Genre
- 2D fighting game
- Series
- Marvel vs. Capcom (second entry; third overall crossover including X-Men vs. Street Fighter)
- Notable Feature
- Removal of Variable Assist, introduction of Variable Cross
Lore & Background
Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes was originally developed for the CP System II arcade system board. It was exhibited at the AOU Show in February 1998 before being released in Japanese arcades that month, followed by North America in March 1998. The game features a total of 15 playable characters, including two secret characters: Roll from Mega Man and a palette-swapped version (such as Shadow Lady). It also includes 22 'Special Partner' characters drawn from Marvel and Capcom universes.
The game was ported to the Dreamcast in 1999, adding a Cross Fever mode for four-player gameplay. The Dreamcast version was praised for its visuals, gameplay, and translation of the arcade experience. A PlayStation port released later in 1999 altered the tag team system to a 'Cross Over' mode that forced players to use identical teams (same two characters), rather than removing tag battles entirely.
Reader's Guide
Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes is significant as the third entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, expanding the Capcom roster beyond Street Fighter to include characters from Darkstalkers, Mega Man, and Strider. Its gameplay retains the tag team mechanics of its predecessor but removes the Variable Assist feature in favor of a Guest Character system and introduces the Variable Cross attack, allowing both characters to attack simultaneously. The game's Dreamcast port was praised for faithfully translating the arcade experience, while the PlayStation port was hampered by RAM limitations, leading to the removal of tag team battles and reduced animation frames. The game's inclusion in the Marvel vs. Capcom Origins collection and the 2024 Fighting Collection helped preserve its legacy, though the Origins collection was removed from online stores in 2014 due to apparent licensing expiration. The game's roster and mechanics set the stage for the highly acclaimed Marvel vs. Capcom 2.
Did You Know?
- The game removes the 'Variable Assist' feature from the previous installment in favor of a 'Guest Character/Special Partner' system.
- The PlayStation version removed tag team battles due to the console's limited RAM capacity, replacing them with a Cross Over mode.
- The Dreamcast version includes a Cross Fever mode allowing four players to compete in two-on-two matches.
- The game features 22 Special Partner characters, including Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins and Devilotte from Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes?
It is a 2D tag-team fighting game that Capcom built for its CP System II arcade cabinets in 1998. It serves as the second entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom lineup and the third crossover title when you count X-Men vs. Street Fighter.
How does it differ from Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter?
While its predecessor restricted the Capcom side to Street Fighter fighters, Clash of Super Heroes broadens the roster by pulling characters from several different Capcom franchises. The core combat loop stays close to the earlier game, but the expanded character pool is the headline change.
What assist mechanic replaced Variable Assist?
The game dropped the Variable Assist system from the prior title and introduced Variable Cross instead, giving players a new way to call in their partner for support moves. This shift became a defining mechanical feature of the entry.
On what platforms can I play it?
Originally an arcade exclusive on CP System II hardware, it later received home ports on Dreamcast and PlayStation. Modern re-releases have since appeared on PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Windows.
Why is it considered important in the series?
It established the multi-franchise Capcom roster approach that later entries would follow, moving beyond the single Street Fighter cast of the first crossover. Its Variable Cross mechanic also set a new template for partner-assist gameplay throughout the line.
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