Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls offers an engaging take on tag-team fighting, but it encounters significant challenges on PC.
Let’s clarify one thing: Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is not aiming to be the next installment in the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise, nor does it aspire to emulate Dragon Ball FighterZ or BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, the previous tag-team fighting games developed by Arc System Works. Instead, Tōkon presents a unique approach to multicharacter tag-team combat while retaining the developer’s hallmark stylish gameplay and high skill ceiling. Nevertheless, its launch has experienced some turbulence, impacting the overall experience of what is otherwise a solid fighting game.
Similar to the beloved MvC series, Tōkon allows players to assemble a multicharacter team from a roster of 20 iconic Marvel characters. The format pits teams of four against each other, featuring a lineup that includes fan favorites like Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man, alongside more unconventional choices such as Ms. Marvel, Blade, and Danger. Notably, villains like Dr. Doom, Green Goblin, and Carnage join the fray, while some characters take on new roles — for example, Shuri takes the place of Black Panther and Robbie Reyes embodies Ghost Rider. Each character belongs to a primary team, such as the “Fighting Avengers,” which includes Cap, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Hulk; or the “Amazing Guardians,” featuring Spider-Man, Star-Lord, Peni Parker, and Ms. Marvel. Players also have the freedom to mix and match characters to create custom teams.
Combat unfolds on a 2D plane with 3D graphics, facilitating cinematic battles where players can call in teammates for assist attacks and switch between characters during gameplay. However, this is where the similarities to other fighting games largely end. All characters share a single health bar, and at the start of each match, players can only use one main character and one assist character. The rest of the team can be utilized once the “Assemble Gauge” is filled by dealing damage. This mechanic is akin to building tension in a comic before a cameo appearance from another series.
Gameplay is more structured, with the frenetic action of multiple characters appearing gradually. Players can build their “Skill Gauge,” enabling them to execute character-specific ultimate attacks, such as Carnage’s devastating spiked tentacle assault. If the “Skill Gauge” is full and the opponent has won two out of three rounds, players can unleash a formidable combined special attack called “Tōkon Assemble,” showcasing the most visually impressive and powerful moves available. The game’s design encourages intentional gameplay rather than mindless button-mashing, culminating in exhilarating character-swapping and special move chaos that contributes to its unique experience.
However, the multiplayer experience has its drawbacks. Matchmaking in both casual and ranked games tends to be balanced, utilizing player performance and an initial questionnaire to ensure fair competition. Yet, a notable issue arises for PC players, who must create a PSN account to engage in online play. Connectivity problems have surfaced, likely stemming from the game’s anti-piracy DRM and its interaction with Sony’s Playstation Network. While the PS5 version maintains smooth matchmaking and connectivity, PC players might want to postpone their online battles until these issues are resolved.
Despite the challenges in multiplayer, Marvel Tōkon offers substantial single-player content. Each of the five main teams features its own story mode, or “Episode,” presented through animated, voice-acted comic panels. Additionally, there is a traditional arcade mode and a survival mode that resembles a roguelite experience.
With its captivating blend of manga and comic art styles and a high skill ceiling, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls presents a wealth of entertainment. However, the game’s initial hurdles in facilitating crossplay from PS to PC are unfortunate drawbacks for players eager to engage with the title.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is developed by Arc System Works, directed by Kazuto Sekine, and written by Kieron Gillen. It is available on PS5 and PC.
