Well, it’s been a
month since I bought Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, and now, by the grace and blessing of the
Evil Overlords at Capcom, I can actually play that Heroes and Heralds mode that only partly
justifies the 40 extra bucks I spent on a game I already owned.
But I have to admit, the whole thing confuses me just a bit.
Buckle up and prepare to save - or enslave - the world.
Heroes and Heralds presents you with a choice, right off the bat: Good or evil?
Do you fight for the fate of humanity, dog-ality, red-arremer-ality, zombie-ality, and whatever-the-hell-Shuma-Gorath-is-ality?
Or do you say NUTS TO ALL THAT and swear your allegiance to Galactus, tenderizing earth
for his delicate palate?
It’s your choice, and fortunately said decision won’t have long-lasting ramifications, as
the status quo of the world is restored once a week, for the forces of good and evil to
to start anew.
BUT NUTS TO THAT, IT’S A CARD GAME NOW.
Yes, in an utterly baffling maneuver of making their hyper-elite tournament version of Marvel
Vs. Capcom 3 casual as pleated-front khakis, the Heroes and Heralds mode carries with it
a card game mechanic that allows you to buff your party by collecting, equipping, and fiddling
with CARDS.
I almost have to appreciate it as a slap directly in the face of the No Items Fox Only Final
Destination crowd.
The effects of these cards are varied and diverse, and may or may not have stipulations
or trigger conditions.
You can equip three cards at a time, with one card receiving a boosted effect; three
deck slots allow you to tailor these combinations to your liking.
You obtain cards by inflicting freedom or violence upon various areas, which become
progressively more difficult as your influence rises.
(Because you always get the weaksauce out first; that’s how all these games go.)
The cards you obtain are random, though certain cards like Professor X or Missile the Dog
(the one in Phoenix Wright’s throw) increase your chances of obtaining rare cards.
Cards have a letter grade indicating their rarity, with S-class cards blowing C-class
cards out of the water and so on.
Higher-stakes fights will pit you against opponents with some absolutely absurd bonuses.
I recall one fight where my opponents had seemingly unlimited X-Factor.
Unlimited.
That’s just wrong, folks.
You’re probably asking, “What the hell’s with that bingo card down there?”
Glad you asked.
By defeating five opponents on the card and completing a row, you gain access to “special”
battlefields like Asgard or the Demon Village, full of top-tier opponents and your best chances
at those absurdly-powerful cards.
But be warned: A single loss in a bonus stage will remove it from the map, and then it’s
bingo all over again.
Probably the most appealing aspect of the cards, though, is the inclusion of the Sirs
and Madams Previously Not Appearing In This Film, and uncovering some of the more obscure
and eclectic characters amongst this collection of franchises.
Want an ability line of Blade, Sakuya from Okami, and whip-wielding prosecutor Franziska
von Karma?
Absolutely.
Only a foolish fool who bought the same game a second foolish time would be so foolish
as to foolishly turn down a foolishly free update to add the foolhardy Heroes and foolish
Heralds mode to this foolish game.
I mean, really.