Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Fifty-six characters, three-on-three teams and a screen so crammed with effects that at times you can't tell where you're standing — Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is a celebration of the unbridled madness a fighting game can allow itself. And yet beneath that explosion of color pulses a surprisingly deep and competitive system.

The game from Capcom united heroes from the Marvel comics with icons from the studio's own franchises into a single colossal crossover. The three-on-three format, letting you swap characters in a flash, call teammates in for assist attacks and chain combos, gave the game incredible speed and depth. The fights resemble a colorful storm more than a classic round of a fighter.

It's precisely this blend of spectacle and tactical depth that made it a long-standing pinnacle of „team-based" fighters. Players kept discovering new combos, character synergies and strategies for years after release, and the competitive scene returns to it to this day, making it one of the most enduring tournament titles of its kind.

The Dreamcast version was the best home port at the time — faithfully bringing the arcade experience, including its smoothness and vast roster, straight into living rooms. For console owners it was a ticket into a world that otherwise lived mainly in the arcades.

The combination of casual spectacle and enormous mechanical depth makes Marvel vs. Capcom 2 a one-of-a-kind — a game equally enjoyed by a random button-masher and a seasoned tournament fighter hunting for the perfect combo.

Why play it: For an insane crossover of dozens of characters and a timeless fighting system that the competitive scene still loves today.