Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes[b] is a 2000 crossover fighting game developed and published by Capcom. It is the fourth installment in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, which features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Originally released in Japanese arcades, the game received ports to the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, and iOS over the span of twelve years.
In Marvel vs. Capcom 2, players select a team of characters from the Marvel and Capcom universes to engage in combat and attempt to knock out their opponents. While the game uses similar tag team-based game mechanics to the series' previous iteration, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1998), it features several significant changes, such as three-on-three gameplay, a new character assist system, and a more simplified control scheme. The character artwork uses traditional 2D-animated sprites, while the backgrounds and visual effects are rendered in 3D. This makes Marvel vs. Capcom 2 the first game in the franchise to feature 2.5D graphics.
The game was acclaimed by critics, who praised its gameplay, visuals, and character roster, while criticizing its soundtrack, initial lack of online multiplayer support outside Japan, and game balance. Since its release, it has been considered one of the greatest games of all time especially in the fighting game genre. Following its release, Capcom lost the use of the Marvel Comics license, putting the series on a decade-long hiatus; eventually a sequel was released in 2011, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.
