Capcom shocked the world yesterday by announcing the sequel to Marvel vs. Capcom 2 that fans have been clamoring for for almost 10 years Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 appeared on the Dreamcast, original Xbox, PS2, and in arcades and has been a massive cult phenomenon ever since. It recently reappeared on Xbox LIVE/ PSN to a significant reception as well.

USA Today reported the following on MVC3′s tech:

“As you can see, this is the biggest engine a fighting game has ever had under the hood, when it comes to raw processing power,” says Seth Killian, Capcom’s “special advisor” on the game. “This is the MT Framework that’s powering the game, the same technology that brought us Resident Evil 5 and Lost Planet 2.”

For a preview of what you might be getting in MVC3, you may want to check out the recent Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom for the Wii. It totally rocks and I have a feeling the mechanics are going to be very similar.

For anyone who isn’t currently interested in Capcom fighters, behold the badness in this trailer:

From the fact sheet:

Features
•    Innovative graphics and gameplay bring the Marvel and Capcom Universes to life: Powered by an advanced version of MT Framework, the engine used in Resident Evil 5 and Lost Planet 2, now comes to Marvel vs. Capcom 3, bringing beautiful backgrounds and character animations to the forefront.
•    Evolved VS. Fighting System: Wild over-the-top gameplay complete with signature aerial combos, hyper combos and other original systems. The evolved battle system takes the exciting mind-reading game to a whole new level!
•    3-on-3 Tag Team Fighting: Players build their own perfect team and use Assist Attacks and each character’s special moves to create their own unique fighting style.
•    Living Comic Book Art Style: See the most adored characters from the Capcom and Marvel universes brought to life in a "moving comic" style, blurring the boundaries between 2D and 3D graphics.Of course we’ll have more coming soon, and here are a few places you’ll be able to find the good stuff:

Release Date:  Spring 2011
Genre: Fighting
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Mad Catz and Capcom came together today and revealed the “Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 Tournament Edition Fight Stick,” and oh boy does it look purrdy.

Due out “sometime” this fall, for an to-be-determined price point, the Tournament Edition Fight Stick is likely to become and instant collectors item for Comic book fans and gamers alike, as the hunk of plastic is decorated with never-before released artwork from the game.

“Capcom has demonstrated that by working in close collaboration with Mad Catz, we are able to produce fighting controllers which deliver the level of performance and authenticity that our fans demand,” said Christian Svensson, vice president business development & strategic planning at Capcom Entertainment, Inc. “We’re delighted to further our relationship and continue the evolution of this range to encapsulate the Marvel VS Capcom franchise and look forward to the fans reaction upon release.”

Somehow I’ve never felt the pull of these items, beyond their clear aesthetic value at least, but if this item is already a must-have, by all means, enjoy!

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is available on Xbox Live and The PlayStation Network right now, go get it.

Those who have been waiting, rejoice! Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is now available through the Playstation Network. However, there is also a limited retail release of the game at Gamestop for $14.99.

People who buy the limited retail copy will recieve a code to digitally download the game from the Playstation Network and also a redemption code for a month’s subscription of digital comics from Marvel.com.

There are only 15,000 retail copies available though, so if you want one you’re going to have to be quick to get a copy. Curious about our thoughts on the game? Check out our review for the Xbox 360 version.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for X-box 360 is a near exact replica of the classic Dreamcast game.‚  All fifty six characters split down the middle with Capcom heroes like Ryu and Mega-man and Morrigan on the left side and Marvel heroes like Capt. America and Cyclops and Juggernaut on the right side.‚  The three on three tag system, one of the most innovative inclusions to a fighting game to date, is alive and well as a welcome addition to the less team oriented fighters populating the genre today.

The difference between MvC2 and many other fighters, like Soul Calibur IV or Tekken or Virtua Fighter (there are many), is that each player is allowed to pick three characters for each fight.‚  Once you’ve selected your characters and their assist type, which means that with the tap of the left bumper or the right bumper another character you’ve chosen who isn’t on the screen fighting at the time will jump in and shoot something or heal you or grab your opponent and jump back out, the battles ensue.

The combat is fast and frantic, but with only four main buttons:‚  Low Punch, High Punch, Low Kick, High Kick, and the two assists, the battles are all about button combinations and timing.‚  By offering players the ability to select three characters, the variety in teams is wide.‚  Even the best players can be beaten if they pick an un-unified team whose assists don’t work well with their move set.

If you’ve missed the jazzy theme song that guides players through the game, you’re in luck.‚  The song still sings above all of the action in the game, on repeat, which will probably grow on your nerves after the 10^th “I wanna take you for a ride.”‚  I can’t complain, the song is nostalgic and something fans of the game have to deal with.

The display options offer to pretty up the game and smooth out some of the pixels, but if you’re a purist and insist on playing MvC2 in it’s original pixilated form, the option is also available.

The real charm of the whole purchase is in the online play.‚  With Ranked and Player matches of up to six players with four spectators per round and minimal lag, the throwback fun of standing around an arcade cabinet while you wait your turn returns.‚  There’s nothing like basking in the smell of teenagers sweating around a machine in a dimly lit room, but MvC2′s online play is still incredibly fun.

Fingers crossed for some downloadable content for this package.‚  Although all fifty six characters have six costumes, some more wouldn’t hurt.‚  Some new levels and characters (a new theme song?) would surely help keep MvC2 at the top of gamer’s minds in terms of fighting games.‚  As is, the package is no different than the Dreamcast version, excluding online play.‚  But that’s good enough for me.

Blast Factor: A classic fighter, with everything unlocked from the beginning, now available on Xbox Live Arcade with the online play that never made it over from the original Japanese release. If you loved it before, get it, but if you’re new to the series, be sure to give this a shot.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is available on XBLA, as part of the Summer of Arcade, for 1200 Microsoft Points.

Worry not, PS3 owners. While the Xbox 360 crowd got their notice for a release date of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 earlier, Capcom has let us know that you will be able to slash with adamantium claws, fire a rocket launcher and team up with characters from two universes on August 13.

I used to play Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on an arcade machine at a movie theater in the Fenway area, despite the fact that the screen was starting to dim and the left joystick wouldn’t let you move any direction except for forward. Now that I’ve moved away from there, I’ll be picking this up when it comes out. What’s your system of choice, folks?

Sure, you played Marvel vs. Capcom 2 in the arcade and on last generation’s systems, but now you get to play it with a lot of the original, hi-definition assets intact, meaning this will be the prettiest version of an old classic you can play. Plus, it’s $15, which is far less than you can get it for used in retailers and online.

Today, Capcom shows off Storm from the X-Men and Jill Valentine of Resident Evil fame. A mutant with the ability to control weather hardly seems like a fair match for Jill, but I don’t see Storm toting a rocket launcher either, and anyone who has played Resident Evil knows that rocket launchers are capable of saving the world.

In addition to the screens, we also have strategy videos for the two characters. Enjoy remembering how you went about kicking ass back in the day.