Okay readers, I've got a little confession to make. I've been a comic book fanboy most of my life. Every Wednesday, I hit the local comic shops and checking out all the new releases. Spider-Man. Captain America. Iron Man. The X-Men. You name it, I've probably read it. Of course, I'm also a huge video game fan. So when Capcom and Marvel first teamed up back in 1996 for X-Men vs. Street Fighter, let's just say that my piggy bank ended up as a sacrifice to the arcade gods. Now here we are fifteen years later and the companies have come together again with a team-up of epic proportions, Marvel vs. Capcom 3. So does this latest crossover live up to the hype? Or is it doomed to collect dust in the back issue bins?

The first thing that's got to be said about Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is that there's no shortage of variety in the cast of fighters available on either side of the battle. Fans of the series will feel right at home with mainstays like Ryu and Wolverine, while newcomers like Deadpool and Resident Evil's Albert Wesker bring their own brand of butt-kicking to the franchise. And then there are the wildcards, those characters tossed in that make you stop and say "What the-?!", such as the giant floating head M.O.D.O.K. or Ghosts n' Goblins knightly hero, Arthur. Although substantially smaller than Marvel vs. Capcom 2's seam busting roster of more than 50 fighters, MvC3 still ends up feeling more robust overall, as each of the 36 included characters has its own unique style of play.

Speaking of "style of play", that brings us to one of the biggest (and perhaps most welcome) changes to Marvel vs. Capcom 3 ... the gameplay. I'll be the first to admit that, as much as I've enjoyed the Capcom's previous fighting games, over the years they've gotten more and more complex. For MvC3, though, Capcom has done an amazing job of making things accessible to gamers of all skill levels. The main attack buttons have been simplified to a three-button control scheme, as opposed to the four to six buttons in previous games. Despite this, there's no shortage of moves at your disposal. And if you're brand new to this whole "fighting game thing", Capcom's inviting you to take part in the fun as well, with the addition of Simple control type. By using Simple controls, beginners can effortlessly execute combos with the press of a single attack button, with the trade-off being a more limited access to a character's available moves. No matter how you decide to play, Simple or Normal, nothing beats seeing all those big moves pay off. If you don't believe me, check out the look on a kid's face the first time he hears the announce call out "K.O.!!" after he's managed to win his first match. That alone is worth the price of the game.

Considering how visual comic books are and how fanatic fans can be about their favorite characters, you'd better believe that Capcom had to put a lot of emphasis on MvC3's presentation. Luckily for fans, it delivered in spades. From the fluid, fast-paced action of the fighters to the living, breathing environments where the fights take place, words like "Amazing" or "Breathtaking" simply don't do MvC3 justice. The combination of cel shading and 3D models make everything look like they were pulled straight from the panels of your favorite comics. Adding to that, Capcom managed to score some impressive sounds. In fact, the main voice cast from Marvel's The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated series all reprise their roles for their video game counterparts.

It's taken more than a decade for the stars to align just right for this latest entry to the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. While I hope it doesn't take another decade for the next entry, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 was well worth the wait.Whether you're playing offline against the computer, against a friend in the same room, or online against an opponent across the country, vC 3 brings back that nostalgic feeling of dropping a week's allowance in quarters calling "next" down at the local arcade. For newcomers and hardcore fans alike, MvC3 is, without a doubt, the best, most authentic arcade experience to ever grace the current generation of home game consoles.

Final Score: A+