It has been far too long since Marvel heroes and villains received a proper fighting game, but Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls was absolutely worth the wait. Arc System Works has taken everything I love about Marvel fighting games and combined it with the studio’s signature anime-inspired style, resulting in an explosive 4v4 tag fighter that feels both familiar and completely fresh.
From its fantastic roster to its fast-paced combat and incredible character designs, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls delivers almost everything I have missed about Marvel vs. Capcom. There are still plenty of characters I would love to see join the fight, but the foundation here is already fantastic.
Gameplay and Story
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is everything I’ve missed about Marvel vs. Capcom. The combat is fast, flashy, and chaotic without becoming impossible to follow. Building a four-character team also creates plenty of opportunities to experiment with different fighters, assists, and combinations.
The tag mechanics are the real heart of the experience. Each character has their own playstyle, but you are encouraged to think about how the entire team works together. Finding the right lineup is incredibly satisfying, especially once you discover assists that complement your favorite fighter or help cover a weakness in your strategy.
Despite the larger teams, Marvel Tōkon is approachable enough that you do not need to master four completely different characters before having fun. You can lean heavily on your favorite hero while gradually learning how the rest of your team contributes. There is still plenty of depth for competitive fighting game players, but newcomers should be able to jump in and start throwing out impressive attacks relatively quickly.
The roster is one of the game’s greatest strengths. It combines obvious Marvel icons with a few characters who do not always receive the spotlight. Every fighter feels distinct, and choosing four characters can be surprisingly difficult when so many of them are fun to play.
The story centers on a godlike being demanding a tournament of champions. Earth’s strongest heroes and villains must prove themselves in combat, and if its champions fail, the entire world will be destroyed. It is a straightforward setup, but it is also a fun excuse to bring these characters together and explain why they are constantly fighting one another.
Episode Mode presents the story through beautifully illustrated motion-comic sequences that fit the game perfectly. Fighting games do not always need an incredibly complicated narrative, and Marvel Tōkon gives players just enough motivation to move between its explosive battles.
Graphics and Design
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls features some of the best alternate designs I have seen for these heroes and villains. Arc System Works did not simply copy the characters’ most recognizable comic book or movie appearances. Instead, the team created bold new costumes that retain the most important elements of each character while fitting the game’s anime-inspired visual direction.
I absolutely love many of the design choices made for these suits. Even characters we have seen adapted dozens of times manage to feel exciting again. The strong outlines, exaggerated effects, and expressive animations make every battle look like a Marvel comic brought to life through anime.
Attacks have an incredible sense of impact, and the screen regularly fills with energy blasts, special moves, and assists. Despite everything happening at once, the action generally remains readable. That is especially important in a 4v4 fighter, where battles could have easily become visual chaos.
The voice acting is equally fantastic. The performances capture the personalities of these characters while matching the game’s heightened presentation. From heroic declarations to mid-battle banter, I would not have it any other way.
Feedback
There is honestly not much I can complain about with Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. The combat is exciting, the presentation is gorgeous, and the roster offers a strong mixture of heroes and villains.
If I had to point to one weakness, I wish the launch roster included a few more options. Twenty characters provide plenty of possible four-person team combinations, but Marvel has such an enormous library that everyone will inevitably notice a favorite who did not make the initial lineup.
Thankfully, the roster is already expected to expand through additional content. If Arc System Works continues introducing fighters with the same level of creativity, Marvel Tōkon could eventually develop one of the best rosters in any Marvel game.
Final Verdict
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is the Marvel fighting game I have been waiting years to play. It captures the tag-team excitement I have missed from Marvel vs. Capcom while establishing an identity of its own through Arc System Works’ incredible designs and combat systems.
The launch roster could have been slightly larger, but the characters included are fun, visually distinctive, and filled with personality. Combine that with fantastic voice acting, approachable mechanics, deeper team-building possibilities, and an entertaining comic-book story, and there is very little holding the game back.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is not merely a substitute for Marvel vs. Capcom. It is an excellent fighting game in its own right—and one that I cannot wait to keep playing as its roster grows.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is available now on PS5 and PC.
