Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Introduces Air Combo Button

Marvel vs.Capcom 3 took the control system from Tatsunoko vs. Capcom and added a launch button. So, instead of LP, LK, HP, and HK the layout on an arcade stick is…

The air combo button replaces moves like down+HP or down+HK in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. If you hit the other player with a launch attack you send them flying straight up, perfect position for an aerial rave. Chris Redfield’s launch attack is an uppercut. Deadpool has a low jumping shoryuken move for his launch attack.

Once you launch an opponent you can send them crashing to the ground by hitting down+launch or, if you want to keep them in the air, juggle them with a partner character. Up+launch calls a partner character to knock an opponent higher. Right+launch kicks an opponent to the right. That’s the team aerial combo in a nutshell. A player getting pummeled can counter an air combo by using the same moves.

Speaking of moves, here’s a snapshot of the move list for ten announced characters.

I spent most of my time playing with Dante and Chris, two of the newcomers in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Dante is the Dante from Devil May Cry 3. The crystal move makes a wave of ground skimming ice crystals appear. Jet Stream makes Dante dash into his opponent, it’s like a 2D Stinger. Jam Session is an anti-air attack where Dante plays an electric guitar to make a cone of lightning appear. Million Dollar, one of Dante’s super moves, is a straight forward bullet blast. Devil Trigger makes Dante transform into the Devil design Kazuma Kaneko drew.

Chris Redfield is Cable-lite. He has a rapid fire gun blast, arcing grenade attack, and a one-two punch with knockback. Similar to Jill, Chris pulls out a grenade launcher for one of his super moves. He launches a blast of elemental grenades (fire, electric, etc.) straight forward.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 comes out in spring next year.