Poll: Are You Buying Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls? 1
Image: Push Square

Like a sprightly Peter Parker, the Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls beta is in full swing.

And I’ve been playing it every spare minute since dev Arc System Works switched on the servers.

As is routine for me in fighting games, I’m getting my ass absolutely handed to me by pretty much everyone online (curse you Magik players – I think she’s the first on the list to get nerfed) but I’m having a blast understanding the deeper mechanics.

I’m still not sure about the default control scheme: I really hate the way the “easy input” special moves are mapped, but I appreciate there needs to be a more accessible option for newer players, and you can still use traditional DP motions (and do more damage) so that’s fine.

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Poll: Are You Buying Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls? 2
Image: Push Square

While the Japanese studio has clearly tightened up the tag mechanic from previous betas, I’m not sure how I feel about assists and tags being mapped to two different buttons. More than any other fighting game, this can feel like a “pat your head and rub your belly”-style experience.

But it’s hard not to fall in love with the spectacle of it all: Arc System Works has absolutely nailed that anime-style look, and even when I’ve been getting pummelled, I’ve been beaming from ear-to-ear over what’s happening on screen.

I’m enjoying the single player Episodes mode too. While I appreciate this isn’t the package’s main appeal, the comic book presentation is way better than I expected, with My Hero Academia: Vigilante’s Betten Court providing the vibrant art for Spider-Man’s story.

Apparently, each of the five different narratives will have a different artist, so this should add some nice variety while playing through.

Poll: Are You Buying Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls? 3
Image: Push Square

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though: I’ve had a mixed experience with the rollback netcode so far; most of my matches have been fine, but some have been a bit stuttery. This could use further optimisation.

Furthermore, I think the flow of some features could be improved – do we really need to see the title cards when hopping into Quick Training, for example? Probably not.

The good news is a lot of my criticisms should be easy to fix. Arc System Works seems to be engaged with the community and responding rapidly to feedback, so that all bodes well – I’d honestly expect further improvements at launch as early as next month.

The question is: will you be joining me in picking up the PS5 and PC fighter day one? Let me know how you’re getting on with the beta and what your current purchasing plans are below.

Poll: Are You Buying Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls? 4
Image: Push Square

Are you buying Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls? (1,706 votes)

  1. Yes, and I've already pre-ordered it12%
  2. I didn't pre-order yet, but I'll be there day one10%
  3. I plan to get it, but not at launch11%
  4. Maybe, I'm still thinking about it11%
  5. I'll get it when it's discounted later13%
  6. No, I'm not really interested in it43%

Who's your favourite playable character in the Marvel Tokon beta? (741 votes)

  1. Black Panther2%
  2. Blade10%
  3. Captain America6%
  4. Danger2%
  5. Doctor Doom6%
  6. Ghost Rider6%
  7. Green Goblin7%
  8. Magik11%
  9. Magneto5%
  10. Ms. Marvel3%
  11. Iron Man4%
  12. Peni Parker2%
  13. Spider-Man13%
  14. Star-Lord2%
  15. Storm3%
  16. Wolverine17%