To say Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite had a rough launch would be an understatement. Its attempt at a photorealistic art style fell more into the uncanny valley, and its Marvel Cinematic Universe-inspired roster failed to capture the hearts of X-Men and Fantastic Four fans. Luckily, some dedicated fans have begun a project they call Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite and Beyond, which aims to improve both the graphics and gameplay.

Returning to Marvel vs. Capcom’s Roots

Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite and Beyond’s director, executive producer, and art director, Maximillian Dood, uploaded a video demonstrating his team’s new art style and gameplay mechanics this past Sunday. He shed light on their vision: “To make the game pop like the original Marvel vs. Capcom.” This is a tall order, as it involves completely retexturing every character in the game in a cel-shaded style with bright colors. A far cry from Infinite’s original realistic and gritty art direction.

While some characters like Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield are still far from complete, every character on the roster has reached the stage where they appear in this new style and look great. Spider-Man, for example, now uses his brightly colored design seen in the original Marvel vs. Capcom. Other characters took different approaches, such as Nemesis’ darker coat gave more contrast with the rest of his design. Captain America and a few other characters even have entirely new models based on their appearances in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3.

Maximillion Dood’s team boasts that they have reworked lighting in multiple areas. The most notable is for the game’s Hyper Combos. These super moves look far flashier than they did in the original Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, which was a point of contention among fans. By using more dramatic lighting, the impact of these moves is massively increased. Other details, such as character portraits, UI elements, and the main menu’s artwork, are also being changed.

Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite and Beyond’s Gameplay Balance

While the core gameplay of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite was more positively received than other aspects of the game, there were still flaws that Maximillian Dood’s team sought to improve. One aspect that he emphasizes is the tag system. By slightly increasing the frames it takes to perform a Tag Crash, the move is risky enough that it is no longer entirely safe while still being a great tool. Characters also now automatically taunt if they tag out after a Hyper Combo, making them more punishable if they whiff their attack. These changes nerf powerful strategies while keeping them useful.

Changes to the balance of individual characters will also improve the game. Chris Redfield is a great example, as he was one of the worst characters in Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite. With Beyond, he can combine his different gun attacks into each other, making him a much more formidable fighter. Some characters, like Thanos and his new Infinity Gauntlet-based moveset, have even more changes. The current release contains all of the balance changes but none of the graphical changes because the team is looking for player feedback on their balance changes.

Infinite and Beyond’s Path Forward

Does Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and Beyond fix every problem with the original game? Many fans took issue with the roster’s lack of X-Men, some of the most popular characters in prior Marvel vs. Capcom games. This issue will likely not be changed for a long time. In addition, none of the changes here will impact the much-maligned story mode, which uses pre-rendered cutscenes that prevent the graphical changes from taking place.

However, the changes that are in place are huge. The photorealistic art direction did not fit Marvel vs. Capcom, and fans were rightfully disappointed. The changes made to the art style massively improve the experience for fans and newcomers alike, as it adds far more impact to the game feel. Those put off by the gameplay will probably not find it incredibly different but will likely discover a more enjoyable experience thanks to the balance changes. Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite and Beyond is planned to be released towards the end of this year, and it is shaping up to be something that all fans can enjoy.

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