Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes

Game Overview

Released in Japanese arcades in February 1998 (North America in March 1998), Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes runs on Capcom’s CP System II board. Building on the tag-team foundation of X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, the game introduces a dedicated Partner system: each player chooses a main fighter and a support character who can be called for assist attacks. A new Duo Team Attack allows temporary simultaneous control of both characters for powerful combined supers.

The roster blends Marvel characters (Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Hulk, Venom, War Machine, etc.) with Capcom fighters drawn from multiple franchises, including Mega Man, Strider Hiryu, Morrigan, Jin Saotome, and others. Secret characters such as Roll, Shadow Lady, Orange Hulk, and Gold War Machine expand the selection further. The story involves heroes uniting to stop the powerful entity Onslaught. Gameplay emphasizes air combos, hyper combos, and assist-based pressure typical of late-1990s Capcom fighters. Multiple regional revisions exist in MAME under the parent set mvsc and various clones (mvscu, mvscj, etc.). The game is fully playable with good emulation status on the CPS-2 driver.

Quick Specifications

• Title: Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes
• Developer / Publisher: Capcom
• Release Year: 1998 (Arcade – Japan February, North America March)
• Platform: Arcade (CP System II)
• Genre: 2D Fighting / Tag-Team
• Players: 1–2 simultaneous
• Controls: 8-way joystick, 6 buttons (Light/Medium/Heavy Punch + Kick)
• Hardware: Capcom CP System II (68000 @ 16 MHz + Z80, QSound)
• Display: Horizontal raster, 384 × 224 @ ~59.64 Hz
• MAME ROM sets: mvsc (parent) and regional clones (mvscu, mvscj, mvsca, etc.)
• Modes: Arcade, Versus

Key Features

• Full tag-team gameplay with dedicated Partner assist system.
• Duo Team Attack for temporary dual-character control and combined supers.
• Expanded Capcom roster beyond Street Fighter, including Mega Man, Strider, and Darkstalkers characters.
• Large selection of Marvel heroes and several hidden alternate versions (Roll, Orange Hulk, Gold War Machine, etc.).
• Classic CPS-2 graphics, sprites, and QSound audio.
• Fast aerial combat, hyper combos, and assist-based strategies that defined the Marvel vs. Capcom style.
• Fully supported in modern MAME with good emulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes?

It is a 1998 Capcom arcade fighting game that pits Marvel Comics characters against Capcom video-game heroes in 2D tag-team battles. It is the third game in the Marvel vs. Capcom series.

How does the Partner / Assist system work?

Each player selects a main character and a Partner. The Partner can be called in for assist attacks. A special Duo Team Attack lets both characters fight together briefly for powerful combined moves.

What hardware does the arcade version use?

It runs on Capcom’s CP System II (CPS-2) board, the same hardware used by many late-1990s Capcom fighters.

What is the main MAME ROM set?

The parent set is mvsc. Regional versions include mvscu (USA), mvscj (Japan), and others. Emulation status is good.

Are there secret or hidden characters?

Yes. Examples include Roll (Mega Man’s sister), Shadow Lady, Orange Hulk, Gold War Machine, and others unlocked through specific conditions or codes.

Is the game different from Marvel vs. Capcom 2?

Yes. This is the 1998 original with a smaller roster and the Partner assist system. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (2000) features a much larger roster, the Variable Assist system, and different mechanics.