I have been a fan of fighting games ever since I played the original Mortal Kombat in the arcades. Even today, fighting games like Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) are the go-to experience when my gamer and non-gaming friends come over. It’s pure fun to see the veterans use strategy to take on each other while the noobs button-mash their way to victory. The number of fighting games available in the market is quite diverse today. However, the Marvel vs. Capcom games have always had a special place in my heart for two reasons: the cinematic finishers/special moves, and my immense love for Marvel characters. Having Spider-Man take on Ryu is one of my best childhood memories. While Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls isn’t exactly Marvel vs. Capcom, the “soul” of the game, no pun intended, feels the same. In this review, I’ll be focusing more on the single-player and couch co-op aspects of the game, as my ageing reflexes have tilted me more towards offline play over its robust online multiplayer.
Table of Contents
Controlled Chaos and the Shared Health Bar
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is a 4v4 fighter that writes its own rules to control the on-screen chaos. Having four fighters on each side can get wild, but the game does a fantastic job of ensuring you know exactly where the action is happening. For instance, each fighter does not have their own health bar. Instead, the game uses a shared health pool called the Vital Gauge, which actually extends over the course of a round as more of your team becomes accessible.
If you’re used to traditional tag-team fighters, this might be a bummer, but for me, it was a welcome change. It forces you to focus on exploiting your team’s unique fighting capabilities rather than just micromanaging health pools. It also ensures matches don’t drag on too long, which kept my non-gamer friends engaged. Matches lasted long enough to keep tensions high, but short enough that everyone wanted a rematch.
Mastering Tag-Team Tactics
The beauty of the game is that you can pick a character you like, stick with them, and have a blast. But switching things up gives you a distinct advantage. The strategy isn’t a rigid rock-paper-scissors matchup, but rather ability-based. For example, Spider-Man and Magneto can use ranged attacks to maintain distance, while characters like Wolverine and Captain America can easily close the gap.
The 4v4 system doesn’t give you all your fighters at once. You actually start matches restricted to your primary character and a single assist fighter, and you gradually unlock your full lineup by fulfilling mid-match conditions like executing “Wall Breaks.” Additionally, the assist mechanics run on an “Assemble Gauge,” allowing you to designate specific attack modes (like Forward Assists for projectiles or Downward Assists for anti-airs). The slick swapping you’re doing right before or after landing an attack is officially called a “Crossover.”
Accessible Combos and Cinematic Flair
Speaking of controls, it is incredibly easy to pick up and play. Handing the controller to a friend for a 15-minute tutorial shows just how simple it is to learn basic moves and character switching. The pause menu highlights all the moves, and it won’t be long before you feel like you are pulling off the slickest combos. The game has deeper complexities like assigning team positions and strategically calling in assists, but mastering the basics and gradually layering on new mechanics makes the combat naturally feel more cinematic over time. The best part? Pulling off those flashy combos doesn’t require complex button inputs.
You can use the game’s “Skill Gauge” to execute higher-damage EX attacks and chain together cinematic Ultimate Skills across your whole team. There is also a massive comeback mechanic called “Tōkon Assemble”, an all-out team attack you can only trigger when you are one round away from losing the match.
Tip: Experiment with all the characters, but pick 3-4 favourites to master for the most cinematic experience. Using your primary character to chain attacks with your party members yields massive hit combos. As for the roster, it features favourites from Spider-Man to the X-Men, Captain America, Blade, and more. The base roster consists of 20 playable characters, perfectly split into five thematic teams of four.
Comic-Book Story and Stunning Visuals
The game features a story mode officially known as “Episode Mode,” where you play through storylines for the five different teams culminating in boss battles against villains known as the Promoter and the Champion. The narrative unfolds across chapters presented in a unique, comic-book-style graphic novel format that gave me major Max Payne vibes (minus the noir aesthetic). The plot centres around a high-stakes tournament, somewhat like Mortal Kombat, but after a while, I found myself skipping cutscenes just to get to the next fight. Thankfully, there’s also a survival mode that throws increasingly difficult foes at you with each victorious round.
The environments and graphics deserve a massive shoutout. The vibrant backgrounds dynamically lose their colour during certain combos, making the fighters truly pop. And the character models? Simply amazing. On an OLED TV, the colours are breathtaking, from the reds and blues of Spider-Man’s suit to the sharp yellow of Wolverine’s outfit and the distinct light blue of Captain America. The incredibly smooth animations make every fight look like a high-budget movie.
The Verdict
Overall, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls feels like a breath of fresh air. It boasts a unique team-based playstyle, visually stunning environments, excellent character design, and moment-to-moment gameplay that is pure fun. It is definitely a worthy consideration for anyone looking for a new fighting game, especially for those party nights when you want non-gamer friends to join in on the action.
Editor’s Rating: 8.9 / 10
Pros:
- Incredibly accessible controls
- Gorgeous visuals and vibrant colors
- Great match pacing
- Unique character abilities
Cons:
- The comic-book-style story mode cutscenes can drag, tempting you to skip them
More info:
- Developer: Arc System Works
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing LLC
- Platforms: PS5, PC
- Price: Rs 3,999 on PlayStation Store
- Tested on: PS5
(We played a review copy of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls provided by Sony)
