This week in games: Marvel takes on Capcom

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Platforms: X360, PS3

Better bring your shield

Whatever trials and tribulations come your way this week, be thankful you're not
Frank Tieri, the writer behind this latest installment in the Marvel vs. Capcom
fighting series. His unenviable task: to come up with a sensible backstory that will give the comic-book heroes of the Marvel
Universe (including favorites like Captain America, Iron Man, and
Wolverine) a reason to beat up on Capcom video game icons like Street Fighter's Chun Li, Resident Evil's Albert Wesker, and Viewtiful Joe's, uh, Viewtiful Joe.

But the daft plot is likely to be the least of fighting game fans'
concerns. More importantly, how does this eagerly-anticipated sequel play? The critics, to
put it mildly, are impressed.

Joystiq's Taylor Cocke gave it one of its most enthusiastic write-ups so far, scoring it a perfect 5/5, and praising it for its accessible control system.

"You'll quickly realize that you can pull off flashy moves and special attacks
just by flipping around the joystick and mashing buttons," writes
Joystiq. "If all you're looking for is an enjoyable time throwing your
favorite characters together in battle, then the simplicity of MvC3 is perfect for that."

That'll have some fighting game pros raising their eyebrows -- the genre is
notoriously hard to master -- but never fear. Newbies might be able to
play along, but fans who dive deeper will find it "one of the most deep
and customizable fighting games out there." It's "a
game made great by an enormous amount of love and attention to
detail...a worthy sequel to one of the most beloved fighting games of
all time."

IGN's Richard George was a touch less impressed, but still awards a favorable 8.6. Although Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is flashy, fun, and deep, he writes, "if
you're looking for an expansive, varied fighting game experience, it's
nowhere to be found." He notes its stripped-down roster, which omits fan
favorites like Mega Man, but comes down hardest on the game's limited
selection of modes and extras.

"The core of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is incredible," he says, "but for many of you that's only going to go so far."

That may be true -- but it's already gone far enough to push Marvel vs.
Capcom to a reported quarter-million in pre-orders alone. Metacritic
puts its average review score at a glowing 89%, one of the top performers of the year so far. We'd expect no less from a superhero.

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Also Out Now:

Dying for Daylight

Platforms: PC

Take a trip around the South in this darkly comic, vampire-themed
adventure. You'll visit Memphis, Charleston, and the Big Easy itself,
New Orleans, in your quest for a legendary daylight potion. Will you
stay ahead of the vampire clan? Can you get from one end of Bourbon
Street to the other without succumbing to the lure of one of those
vividly-colored frozen drinks? Good luck.

Platforms: X360 Kinect

Kinect owners will no doubt be heartily fed up with Dance Central by now, so
here's an offering from THQ that'll give you a new set of songs and
challenges. Featured artists include Lady Gaga, the Pussycat Dolls, and,
of course, MC Hammer. You can't make a dance game without MC Hammer.

Platforms: PC

What do you get when you cross Space Invaders with Angry Birds? Bearing a
passing resemblance to a certain Namco alien-blasting arcade game,
Chicken Invaders pits you (armed with your trusty, crispy-fried laser,
naturally) against ten dozen waves of egg-hurling fowl. You win, you get
a shot at 30 unique bonuses and 15 special medals. You lose, you get a
bunch of chickens. It's a pretty good deal either way, we reckon.

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Platforms: X360

You could be forgiven for seeing that title and assuming it means Gears 1,
2, and 3 -- but Gears 3 won't be out until fall. Instead, the third game
in this compilation is the "Road to Ruin" campaign and a set of
multiplayer maps. Selling at under $30, it's a great deal.

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