Editing Marvel vs. Capcom (section)

==Gameplay==
[[File:MvC3 gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|A screenshot from ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds]]'', featuring [[Hsien-Ko]] and [[Felicia (Darkstalkers)|Felicia]] from Capcom's ''[[Darkstalkers]]'' series and [[Iron Man]] from the [[Marvel Universe]]]]

The basic gameplay of the ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' series was originally derived from ''X-Men: Children of the Atom'' and ''Marvel Super Heroes''.<ref name=EuroG/> Players compete in battle using characters with unique moves and special attacks.<ref name=Manual>{{cite book |url=http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Sony_Playstation/manual/Formated/X-Men_vs._Street_Fighter_-_1998_-_Capcom_Co.,_Ltd..pdf |title=X-Men vs. Street Fighter - PlayStation (Manual) |publisher=[[Capcom]] |access-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref> Using a combination of [[joystick]] movements and button presses, players must execute various moves to damage their opponent and deplete their life gauge, or alternatively, have the most cumulative health when the timer runs out.<ref name=Manual/><ref name=Manual2>{{cite book |url=http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Sony_Playstation/manual/Formated/Marvel_Super_Heroes_Vs._Street_Fighter_-_1999_-_Capcom_Co.,_Ltd..pdf |title=Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter - Sony Playstation - Manual |publisher=[[Capcom]] |access-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref> However, unlike the two aforementioned games, which focus on single combat, the ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' series revolve around tag team-based combat.<ref name=EuroG/> Instead of choosing a single character, players select multiple characters to form teams of two or three.<ref name=EuroG/> Each character on the team is given their own life gauge.<ref name=GIReviewSAT>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=sat&path=feb98&doc=xmsf |access-date=January 20, 2017 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |title=X-Men Vs. Street Fighter - Sega Saturn - Review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990921173526/http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=sat&path=feb98&doc=xmsf |archive-date=September 21, 1999 }}</ref><ref name=SSM>{{cite magazine|date=January 1998|title=X-Men vs Street Fighter - Exclusive!|url=http://retrocdn.net/images/b/bd/SSM_UK_27.pdf|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|access-date=January 20, 2017|issue=27|pages=52–61}}</ref> Players control one character at a time, while the others await off-screen.<ref name=Manual/> Players are also free to swap between their characters at any point during the match.<ref name=GameSpotReview>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/marvel-vs-capcom-review/1900-2540395/ |title=Marvel vs. Capcom [Clash of Super Heroes] Review (DC) |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=April 2, 1999 |access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> As characters take damage, portions of their life gauge will turn red, known as "red health", which represents the amount of health that a character can recover if the player tags them out.<ref name=Hardcore>{{cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/12/16/review-ultimate-marvel-vs-capcom-3-ps4/239911/|date=December 16, 2016|access-date=January 20, 2017|last=Shive|first=Chris|website=Hardcore Gamer|title=Review: Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS4)|archive-date=December 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217141948/https://hardcoregamer.com/2016/12/16/review-ultimate-marvel-vs-capcom-3-ps4/239911/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The off-screen, dormant characters will slowly replenish their red health, allowing players to cycle through their team members and prolong their ability to fight.<ref name=Hardcore/> Furthermore, as characters deal and receive damage, a colored meter at the bottom of the screen known as the "Hyper Combo Gauge" will gradually fill.<ref name=Beginner>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/marvel-vs-capcom-3-beginners-guide/|date=February 16, 2011|access-date=January 20, 2017|last=Grimm|first=Michael|website=[[GamesRadar]]|title=Marvel vs Capcom 3 Beginner's Guide}}</ref> By expending meter from their Hyper Combo Gauge, players can perform "Hyper Combos" – powerful, cinematic attacks that deal heavy damage to the opponent – in addition to several other special techniques.<ref name=Manual/><ref name=Beginner/> If one character loses all of their health, they are [[knocked out]] and the next available fighter will automatically come into play.<ref name=SSM/>

Each successive ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' installment has added, removed, or altered gameplay elements over the course of the series' history.<ref name=EuroG/> ''X-Men vs. Street Fighter'' added two-on-two tag team features.<ref name=History/> ''Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter'' introduced the concept of the "assist" by allowing the player to summon their off-screen partner to perform a special move without switching characters.<ref name=History/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://shoryuken.com/2012/03/16/a-history-of-tag-team-fighting-game-innovations/ |title=A History Of Tag Team Fighting Game Innovations |last=Co |first=Franz |website=Shoryuken |date=March 16, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=March 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317125257/http://shoryuken.com/2012/03/16/a-history-of-tag-team-fighting-game-innovations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> This feature was replaced in ''Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes'', which instead randomly allocated an unplayable guest character with a preset assist move before each match; in addition, assists were limited to only a few uses per round.<ref name=History/> The assist features from ''Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter'' were re-incorporated into the following sequel, ''Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes'', once again granting players the ability to call in their off-screen characters at any time during the match without constraint.<ref name=MvC2>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/12/marvel-vs-capcom-2-new-age-of-heroes-2|date=May 11, 2000|access-date=January 20, 2017|last=Dunham|first=Jeremy|website=[[IGN]]|title=Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes}}</ref> ''Marvel vs. Capcom 2'' also increased the number of characters per team by one, providing a three-on-three battle format.<ref name=MvC2/> ''Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds'' introduced "X-Factor", a comeback mechanic which offers increased damage, speed, and red health regeneration for a limited time upon activation.<ref name=Beginner/> ''Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite'' reverts to two-on-two partner battles and removes traditional character assists, in favour of a free-form tag system where the second character switches in at any point, irrespective of whether the player is mid-combo or in air.<ref name=MvCI/> ''Infinite'' also implements the [[Infinity Gems|Infinity Stones]] as a gameplay mechanic, where each of the six stones grants unique abilities and enhancements to the player.<ref name=MvCI/>

Another gameplay element that helps to distinguish the ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' series from other fighting game franchises is its emphasis on aerial combat.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=September 1998|title=X-Men vs. Street Fighter|url=http://i.imgur.com/6mwSmFn.jpg|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=45|page=138|access-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name=GameFan>{{cite magazine|date=February 1998|title=X-Men vs. Street Fighter|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/45478630@N07/4243211205/in/photolist-7sXyRT-7sXyfe-7sXy4H-7t2wH5-7t2wvm-7t2vYo-7t2oMs-7t2fGy-7t2B4N-7sXeGZ-7sXFDF-7t2zLL-7t2uqW-7sXm6B-7t2BPj-7t2hnW-7sXDUB-7sXv74-7t2rwL-7sXmhV-7t2k8L-7t2ra5-7t2Bmd-7sXkED-7sXKNc-7sXE7K-7sXz3v-7sXren-7t2i5b-7sXnHR-7t2irm-7t2CVG-7sXtk6-7t2mXC-7t2gsS-7t2xSJ-7t2ohu-7sXhma-7sXmFk-7sXAfF-7sXp8D-7sXze8-7sXAUB-7sXutX-7sXsr4-7t2mKA-7sXzBK-7sXqZv-7sXkeV-7t2Aau|magazine=[[GameFan]]|volume=6|issue=2|pages=74–79|access-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref> Every character in the ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' series is given a "Launcher" move, which sends the opponent flying up into the air.<ref name=GameFan/> The player can then choose to follow up immediately by using a "Super Jump", which allows a character to jump much higher than normal, in order to continue their [[Combo (video gaming)|combo]]; these airborne combos are called "Air Combos" or "Aerial Raves".<ref name=EuroG/><ref name=Manual2/> ''Marvel vs. Capcom 3'' introduced a gameplay feature known as the "Team Aerial Combo" or "Aerial Exchange", giving players the opportunity to extend their Air Combos further by quickly tagging in their other characters while mid-air.<ref name=Beginner/>

As Capcom's design philosophy for the series has changed to appeal to a wider audience, the control scheme has been repeatedly modified to accommodate people less familiar with the fighting game genre.<ref name=MvCI/><ref>{{cite web|title=Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds First Impressions|website=[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]]TV |last=Klepek |first=Patrick|date=April 20, 2010|url=http://g4tv.com/articles/70546/Marvel-vs-Capcom-3-Fate-of-Two-Worlds-First-Impressions/|access-date=January 21, 2017|archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063247/http://g4tv.com/articles/70546/Marvel-vs-Capcom-3-Fate-of-Two-Worlds-First-Impressions/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first three installments utilized the same layout of six attack buttons, separated as three pairs of light, medium, and hard punches and kicks.<ref name=MvCI/><ref name=Manual/> In ''Marvel vs. Capcom 2'', in order to make the game more accessible, the layout was tweaked to four attack buttons, consisting of two pairs of light and heavy punches and kicks, and two dedicated assist buttons.<ref name=Chiappini/><ref name=Simplify>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/06/simplifying-marvel-vs-capcom-3|date=January 6, 2011|access-date=February 20, 2017|last=George|first=Richard|website=[[IGN]]|title=Simplifying Marvel vs. Capcom 3}}</ref> The control scheme was further simplified with the release of ''Marvel vs. Capcom 3'', which included three attack buttons designated to undefined light, medium, and hard attacks, two assist buttons, and an "exchange button" used to perform Launchers and switch between characters during Air Combos.<ref name=Simplify/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-vs-capcom-3-fate-of-two-worlds-hands-on/1100-6265675/|title=Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds Hands-On |last=Varanini |first=Giancarlo |website=[[GameSpot]]|date=June 15, 2010|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> In addition, ''Marvel vs. Capcom 3'' included two different control scheme options: Normal Mode and Simple Mode.<ref name=Simple>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/16/tgs-marvel-vs-capcom-3-gets-simple|title=TGS: Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Gets Simple |last=Brudvig |first=Erik |website=[[IGN]]|date=September 16, 2010|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5661915/the-argument-for-marvel-vs-capcom-3s-super-simple-controls|title=The Argument For Marvel Vs. Capcom 3's Super-Simple Controls |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |website=[[Kotaku]]|date=October 12, 2010|access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> Simple Mode, designed for casual players, allows players to perform special moves and Hyper Combos with single button presses at the expense of limiting a character's available moveset.<ref name=Simplify/><ref name=Simple/> Though ''Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite'' returned to a control scheme similar to ''Marvel vs. Capcom 2'' ― with four attack buttons, one dedicated button for character tagging, and another for activating Infinity Stone abilities ― it introduced a new "auto-combo" system to improve accessibility that allows players to repeatedly mash the light punch input to automatically execute ground and air combos without any damage penalty.<ref name=MvCI/><ref name=50Details>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/marvel_vs_capcom_infinite/b/playstation4/archive/2017/04/27/50-details-marvel-vs-capcom-infinite.aspx|date=April 27, 2017|access-date=April 27, 2017|last=Vazquez|first=Suriel|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|title=Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite - 50 Details We Learned During Our Hands-On Time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505023052/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/marvel_vs_capcom_infinite/b/playstation4/archive/2017/04/27/50-details-marvel-vs-capcom-infinite.aspx|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>