Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (Arcade)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (Arcade).

On March 21st 1998, Capcom released the Official Soundtrack CD for Marvel Vs. Capcom. Among the bonus features on the disc were instructions to access a web page known as the SULEPUTER SECRET WEB PAGE, which contains alternate renditions of songs from the game as well as the "Producer's Essay", a 5-page developer commentary from the game's producer Kenji Kataoka.

Producer's Essay#

In the game's initial stages, it was conceived as a direct sequel to Marvel Super Heroes, known naturally as Marvel Super Heroes 2. The dev team was given an initial proposal for a character roster by Capcom which consisted of; Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Gambit, Psylocke, Thor, Dr. Doom, Juggernaut, Magneto and Thanos. This is very similar to the previous game's roster besides missing Iron Man, Blackheart and Shuma-Gorath (and the inaccessible character Anita) in place of Gambit and Thor. Additionally, Dr. Doom and Thanos would presumably have been promoted to playable characters based on this description, similar to how Magneto and Juggernaut were in the transition to the first Marvel Super Heroes.

Aside from this, the dev team were also given two lists from Marvel detailing various characters and villains from their comic series that they had given the full clear to use. With all this information in mind, Kataoka came up with a finalized proposed list of; Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Psylocke, Venom, Jubilee, Mr. Fantastic and Howard the Duck. Of the 11 characters here, only 5 made it into the final game in a playable form, with Thor, Psylocke and Jubilee being made Assist characters and Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Howard The Duck getting omitted altogether.

Iron Man is stated to have not been included because another company had an exclusive contract at the time to utilize him in video games. The particular company was not stated but is presumably Acclaim, the publisher of Iron Man & X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal which released around the same time this game was being developed. Upon expressing their desire to use the character, Marvel suggested the dev team take their Iron Man sprite and re-color it to use War Machine instead, which is what the dev team did for the final game. Mr. Fantastic, as well as the entire Fantastic Four, were all disapproved by Marvel for the same reason, with another company having the exclusive rights to use them in games. This company is probably also Acclaim, who had released a Fantastic Four game shortly before Marvel Vs. Capcom released. Curiously, despite the disapproval for their inclusion, a piece of Fantastic Four iconography can still be seen in the final game, with the Four Freedoms Plaza being viewable from the top of the Daily Bugle stage.

Thor was also rejected for licensing reasons, but specifically in the U.S., with such a discrepancy not applying in Japan. This discrepancy was even wrapped up entirely late in development with Thor being given full approval internationally, but due to a lack of space in the game's ROM, Thor was instead included as an Assist character. Psylocke was almost playable in the game but was similarly rejected due to a lack of ROM space and thus relegated as an Assist character instead.

Following Psylocke's cut, Kataoka wanted to focus on developing Jubilee, but soon assessed the ROM would only have space for one new Marvel character. Between her and the other proposed new character Venom, the latter was ultimately chosen and Jubilee was instead made an assist character. Venom is notably stated as well to have previously been proposed for Marvel Super Heroes but rejected at that time. Kataoka mused that Marvel probably gave them the greenlight this time due to having more trust in their abilities by that point.

Howard The Duck was rejected at the offset by Marvel, presumably due to the character's lack of popularity at the time and association with the poorly received 1986 movie. This view was seemingly also shared by game designer Atsushi Tomita according to former Capcom artist Katsuya Akitomo. Regardless, many on the dev team heavily pushed to get Howard in the game, working on him to half-completion and starting a petition around Capcom's office to send to Marvel. Howard The Duck is not included in the final game, hence one can guess how well this went.

The original proposed final boss for the game was Galactus. Upon asking for Marvel's approval, they said no which caused confusion around the dev team and even prompted Akitomo to ask why not. According to Marvel, Galactus was too strong to conceivably be a fightable opponent, as it was inconceivable that such a being could be defeated by simply attacking him. In response, Akitomo brought up a particular Fantastic Four comic, #243, where Galactus was defeated by simply attacking him. Regardless, Galactus was not included in the final game, though he would later be the final boss of Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and its Ultimate re-release.

With Galactus off the table, both Marvel and the dev team cycled between multiple options for a potential final boss pick. Marvel's initial suggestion was Loki. Capcom did see potential in this, as Loki's capacity for magic granted leeway for creativity, plus he had significant history as the reason for the Avengers existing. They ultimately rejected him due to the character being relatively unknown in Japan, and not seeing the character as being appealing to those that don't know him. Marvel's second suggestion was Fin Fang Foom. As a big dragon with history as an Iron Man villain, Marvel saw him as a suitable pick. Capcom disagreed, failing to see the point of an Iron Man villain when Iron Man himself wasn't in the game.

It was after listing of villains between the two parties aimlessly after this (Including Carnage, who Marvel rejected) that Kataoka suggested Onslaught, assuming that such a suggestion wouldn't go anywhere. The Marvel rep was actually receptive to the idea, pending the character for approval which Kataoka ultimately got from Marvel proper a few weeks later.

Misc. Notes#

Aside from corroborating many of the prior points, Katsuya Akitomo has also stated that She-Hulk was proposed to be a playable character. She was envisioned as a character who would break the fourth wall to attack, such as hitting the opponent with the health bar. She was rejected by Atsushi Tomita who viewed the design concept as unsuitable for a fast-paced arcade game and failed to find features distinguishing her from Hulk besides that. She-Hulk would ultimately come to fruition as a playable character in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and its Ultimate re-release. The design concept of fourth-wall breaking attacks was seemingly also incorporated into Deadpool in the same game.

Tomichin Secret File Booklet#

The Japanese "Secret File" promotional booklet features a dedicated gag page for the unused assist character Tomichin, stylized like an American comic book layout with various designer commentary.