With the forthcoming Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite reviving the fighting game franchise, these are some of the new characters we believe the game should have on its roster.
During PlayStation Experience 2016, fighting game fans were bestowed with the absolutely excellent news that Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is actually in production and will eventually be making its way to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One sometime in 2017. As of now, very little has been revealed as far as how the title's gameplay modes will operate on an in-depth level, but even so, it's safe to say that most fans of the franchise are far more curious to find out which heroes and villains will be joining the growing list of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite's roster.
So far, Capcom has officially unveiled six fighters for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, debuting the likes of Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Ryu, and Mega Man X in its first gameplay trailer during the Capcom Cup 2016 tournament. Shortly after the reveal of the aforementioned heroes, the fighting game's developers decided to share even more with the fans by confirming the addition of series regulars Captain America and Morrigan.
Save for the inclusion of Captain Marvel, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite has already dropped in a lot of familiar faces from the franchise's past. While that's certainly not a bad thing, it would definitely be more interesting if Capcom decided to freshen up the roster a bit with some notable figures that have never graced the series before as playable fighters. With this being the case, we took the liberty of selecting ten brand new characters that should be in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite that will not only be a perfect fit due to their brawling capabilities, but will also reinvigorate the series due to them making their inaugural premieres.
3 MARVEL
Groot
Although Groot will surely be busy in the Telltale Games' upcoming title based on Guardians of the Galaxy when it releases, perhaps the sentient, tree-like creature will be able to squeeze in some time as a playable character for Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. After all, his longtime friend and partner Rocket Raccoon was introduced to the fighting game series in the one of the franchise's previous titles, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and Groot's supernatural strength and plant-growth powers would complement his gadget-oriented comrade's abilities well.
Not only would Groot be an absolute powerhouse when it comes to sheer brawn, but also he would be able to have incredible reach during a match thanks to his capacity to sprout dramatically and increase mass on a whim. Of course, doing so would likely inhibit his movement for a brief period and cause him to lumber around, so should he be added into Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, his most effective combos would possibly be those based on ground combat. Furthermore, being able to hear his varying inflections of the sentence, "I am Groot!" during pre- and post-match smack talk would be incredibly charming to say the least.
Black Panther
Arguably, one of the better comic book runs of this year has been Ta‑Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze's Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, and the Wakandan king was considered by many as the best character to be found in Marvel's latest superhero epic, Captain America: Civil War, thanks to the fabulous performance of Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa. So, what better way to boost Black Panther's visibility even more so than to have him as a character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite?
Timely marketing tactics aside, Black Panther's no slouch when it comes to combat, and his abilities would be a great addition to Marvel's roster in MvC: Infinite. With T'Challa having attributes such as being a skilled hunter, a trained acrobat, a martial artist, and a gymnast, he more than qualifies as a candidate for the game. Not to mention with his superhuman senses, enhanced strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, healing, and reflexes working in tandem with his vibranium uniform, Black Panther's fast-paced combos would be a deadly force to be reckoned with.
Scarlet Witch
Generally considered to be one of the most powerful characters within the Marvel universe, Scarlet Witch (AKA Wanda Maximoff) could have a significant impact during a battle within Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. With her abilities of probability manipulation, chaos magic, and capacity to tap into mystic energy for reality-altering effects, Scarlet Witch would be a solid addition to the game's roster.
Taking into account Scarlet Witch's sorcery techniques, should developers wisely decide to make her a part of the main cast of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, then creators might need to figure out a way to not make her so overpowered at her inception. That said, though, it's quite possible for her to adopt a play style similar to that of Dr. Strange's in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 with her having to use a series of low to mid-damage long-range projectiles and complex setups, which would justify a potential OP status due to there being an added level of skill required by players to use her.
Loki
Based on the god of Norse mythology of the same name, Loki is the adoptive brother of the Asgardian god of thunder, Thor, in the Marvel universe, and he wields a mighty bag of tricks all his own. With superhuman strength, durability, and stamina supported by magical powers such as astral projection, flight, energy blasts, shapeshifting, and telepathy, Loki would be a formidable foe to come across in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.
Beyond Loki's supernatural abilities, he also tends to carry a weapon with him into battle, such as a sword, a whip, or his iconic three-pronged spear. Combining these with his aforementioned powers could cause astonishing results, especially when one considers the lengthy reach he would have on his opponents when using his spear. That said, since he's only crossed paths with the majority of the Marvel universe, it will be interesting to see how Loki would fare against some of Capcom's more potent personalities.
The Purple Man
The Purple Man (AKA Zebediah Killgrave) has been a well-known entity by fans of Marvel universe for quite some time after his debut in Daredevil #4 way back in October 1964. Of course, once David Tennant excellently portrayed the villain in the first season of Netflix's series Jessica Jones, a new and more sinister air had been breathed into the character, thrusting the Purple Man into an even more prominent position in the collective consciousness.
After having had his skin inadvertently doused with a chemical that turned his hair and skin purple during an international espionage mission, the Purple Man has been imbued with the abilities of controlling people through verbal suggestion, as an intoxicating pheromone secretes from his pores to manipulate the minds of others. Combine that with his paranormal regenerative healing abilities, and the Purple Man is an intimidating figure to fight. Plus, one can only imagine how much fun his most powerful Hyper Combo could be, as he would be able to force enemy combatants and their partners to basically beat themselves to a pulp.
2 CAPCOM
Samanosuke Akechi
Samanosuke Akechi, the protagonist of the first and third entries in the Onimusha series with Onimusha: Warlords and Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, would be a stellar addition to Capcom's roster in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. Not only is Samanosuke a skilled swordsman that's able to wield a number of weapons such as katanas, broadswoards, and battle-axes, but also he can dish out a fair amount of damage with magical attacks like the ability to generate warriors out of thin air and the capacity to transform into a True Onimusha capable of defeating creatures as fearsome and fantastical as the king of the Genma demon race, Fortinbras.
In his normal form, Samanosuke would more than likely cater to players who are comfortable with chaining together speedy slash attacks to chip away at their opponents' damage bars. When taking into account his ability to shift into Oni form, though, Samanosuke would surely be a lot more difficult to control, much like the original Devil May Cry's Dante was when he utilized his Devil Trigger ability in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. That said, though, if developers add Samanosuke into MvC: Infinite and incorporate what makes the samurai warrior so imposing in combat, fans will likely rejoice to see the Onimusha main character being done justice in the game.
Felyne
Although Monster Hunter's Felynes are primarily regarded for their abilities to perform a small variety of jobs in villages, from shopkeeping, farm maintenance, and hunting in the wild, the creatures are also able to work under a hunter as Felyne Chefs or Felyne Comrades, with the latter role aiding in battle with special skills and attacks. Plus, Felynes have been known to carry a plethora of weapons when engaged in combat, such as swords, shields, lances, bows and arrows, and even bowguns, which would allow for the character to be a versatile fighter in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.
Not to mention, Felynes would be relatively small – think the height of Arthur and Rocket Raccoon in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – so the Monster Hunter character could quickly evade and take advantage of attacks from larger opponents in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. Furthermore, should a Felyne representative be added into the fighting game, developers have a chance to tinker with one of the aspects inherent in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, which has allowed fans to download skins of other prominent video game characters like Mega Man and Chun Li and apply them to the cat-like creatures. If Felyne is added to MvC: Infinite, such a feature could have the character playing a role similar to Kirby in Super Smash Bros. by assuming certain characteristics of the opponent, making for some fun brawls.
Regina
Although a new Dino Crisis game is not in development, that doesn't mean that the main protagonist in the original title and the co-protagonist of its sequel, Regina, can't make an appearance as a new character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. In fact, her inclusion on Capcom's roster in the fighting game would give the developer's side an edge due to her proficiency in modern firearms, technology, and of course, the potential ability to lure dinosaurs to attack her opponents.
Bearing in mind the somwhat similar skill sets between Regina and Jill Valentine, should Capcom add the Dino Crisis character to MvC: Infinite, developers might do well to revisit the abilities of the Resident Evil heroine in Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes in order to refine them to work within Regina's purview. Like Jill, Regina could summon velociraptors and pterodactyls instead of rabid dogs and zombies as projectiles. Plus, Regina could have her Hyper Combo feature a gigantic Tyrannosaurus rex tearing enemies to shreds in a comparable fashion to Jill's use of Tyrant T-002 in her special attack.
Q
While not much is known about the origins and personality of Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike's Q, it's safe to say that the character would be an adept brawler in the Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite arena due to his previous experience in the genre. Plus, considering the fact that Q is a fan-favorite – gamers have constantly hounded Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono about the enigmatic figure being added to Street Fighter 5's DLC – the masked individual would surely be welcome in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.
Even though Q's identity is up in the air as to whether or not he's man or machine, with a brute-force battler move set including offensive maneuvers like the Capture & Deadly Blow grab, High Speed Barrage combo, and Total Destruction finisher, Q's background won't matter so long as the character dishes out the damage. Not to mention, with a high tolerance for attacks and considerable stamina, should Q make it into Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, the fighter would be a good choice for fans needing to get their bearings of the general controls at the outset.
Leon S. Kennedy
With Leon starring in what is widely considered to be the best Resident Evil game with the survival-horror franchise's fourth entry, it's truly a surprise that he has yet to appear in any Marvel vs. Capcom titles as a playable character. As most fans are aware, his series cohorts of Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Albert Wesker, and even Nemesis have made their way into the fighting game franchise, but now the once-rookie officer for the Raccoon City Police Department has a chance to shine in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite if developers let him.
As many Resident Evil fans are aware, Leon is an unbelievably talented marksman, with the ability to handle a wide swathe of weapons such as shotguns, fully automatic firearms, dual-wielded handguns, grenade rifles, rocket launchers, and more. Not to mention he's incredibly skilled in knife combat and can easily hold his own in unarmed conflicts due to his acrobatic abilities and training as a Special Agent for the U.S. government. Obviously, Leon's inclusion into Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is a no-brainer when one takes into account his varied skills, but it's Capcom's decision to decide if he's up to snuff to fight against the likes of Marvel's Mightiest Heroes.
1 But Will They Be Added?
Bearing all of this in mind, if a recent report about the release of the game's roster is to be believed, then Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite will feature less of the X-Men than in previous entries, as the developers will be focusing more so on characters from Marvel's cinematic universe from the past decade. This means that several of our selections for the roster on the comic book publisher's side could very well be integrated into the game due to their connection with Marvel's movies and Netflix shows.
As far as Capcom's potential fighters are concerned, the video game publisher and developer recently declared tentative plans to revive “dormant” franchises after the release of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. Should the company eventually do so, it could use the forthcoming fighting game's characters representing its side as way to telegraph or intimate which of its inactive series will go on to get resuscitated, thus lending credence to some of our choices above, specifically Samanosuke Akechi from Onimusha and Regina from Dino Crisis.
Whatever happens when it comes to Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite's roster, though, fans can only hope that developers make the right choices as far as never-before-included characters are concerned. Of course, it's entirely possible for the game to rely solely on series mainstays in order to avoid alienating hardcore fans. Then again, with Capcom having asserted its decision to apply a more DLC focused business model for the future, the company will more than likely add plenty of fighters to Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite as post-launch add-ons, which will potentially result in the need for fresh faces on both sides of the roster.
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite is set to release sometime in 2017 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.