History VideoGame / MarvelSuperHeroes

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/marvelsuperheroes_873.jpg]]

The roster retained Wolverine, Psylocke, Juggernaut, and Magneto, from the previous game, and was diversified with the additions of ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/SpiderMan, ComicBook/IronMan, the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk, [[ComicBook/GhostRider Black]][[ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} heart]], and Shuma-Gorath (a ComicBook/DoctorStrange/Kull the Conqueror villain [[AdaptationDisplacement more people know about from these games than the comics]]). A secret character from Capcom's own character library, Anita (the little girl that accompanied Donovan in ''[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Night Warriors]]'' who fights on her own right here), is also present and [[VideoGame/CapcomVs continued the tradition]] set by Akuma in ''VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom''.

* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: All the characters are voiced by native English speakers, with Cal Dodd and Rick Bennett reprising their roles from the ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' cartoon as Wolverine and Juggernaut.

* AdaptationDistillation: Only half of the playable characters (Captain America, Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man and Iron Man) and Doctor Doom were featured in the original story (still only a small fraction of the hero cast that was sent to throw down with Thanos), aside from the Mad Titan himself. Plus, rather than Thanos possessing all Infinity Gems at once, they (save for the Mind Gem, which is always with him) are scattered throughout the 8-stage ladder.

* AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Shuma-Gorath's and Dr. Doom's endings in ''Marvel Super Heroes'' involves them [[spoiler:taking the control of the universe]]. Also happens in Thanos' ending if [[spoiler:the player chooses the first option]].

* BadassArmFold: Doctor Doom has this as his IdleAnimation. While it [[RuleOfCool looks cool]], it's not exactly the most practical position to have your arms in while fighting. Of course, it's ''Doom'' we're talking about.

* {{BFS}}: Anita's floating sword is bigger than her, however, but she seems to be able to control it with telekinesis.
* BigBad: ComicBook/{{Thanos}}.
** TheDragon: Doctor Doom.
* CallingYourAttacks: A fighting game, so not surprising. Capcom had even more fun with this trope than they did in VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom.

* TheCameo: Many characters appear in the endings and on the stages. Thor[[note]]actually Thunderstrike when he filled in for the Odinson, as in the comics - note the built-in mask on the helmet - although the game still treats it as him being the original Thor[[/note]], She-Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Nova, and Drax the Destroyer appear on Thanos' stage as statues and are broken free in the heroes' endings. Mephisto and Lady Death can also be seen, naturally not turned to statue. Also Adam Warlock in Juggernaut's ending and Cyclops in Wolverine's ending (as well as the other X-Men who were not brought over from ''Children of the Atom'', plus Jean Grey, in Psylocke's ending). For Thor, She-Hulk, and Nova it also counts as an [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird]] [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Cameo]] of sorts. There is also a Cameo of ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Akuma]]'', of all people, during Anita's FlamingSword special, aptly named "Akuma's Burn", and also a Cameo of Mei-Ling, Hsien Ko's sister from ''Darkstalker's Revenge'', during her Lightning Sword special move.

* ClothingDamage: Happens to Captain America and Wolverine when both are hit with an Infinity Move as a finisher and on their last round.

* CruelMercy: In Hulk's ending, Thanos tells Hulk to kill him. Hulk tells him to live with the defeat

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Almost literally, with [[EldritchAbomination Shuma-Gorath]].
** The FinalBoss with Thanos, as he has the Infinity Gauntlet and the six Infinity Gems. To put this in perspective, in the story this game is based on, when he had that he was pulling punches and still killed every enemy that directly fought him (which is was a larger cast than what appears in this game)

** The only Capcom-developed Marvel vs. Capcom game where each character (except Anita) has a unique theme for winning a match, akin to the ''Darkstalkers'' games.

** Many of the characters are...different from what they'd be known for in the sequels. For example Magneto's famous air dash is exclusive to his flight mode and Magnetic Tempest is totally different, Captain America and Spider-Man only have one super, Hulk is ''much'' faster but doesn't have any armor on any move and has a completely different projectile attack, and Shuma-Gorath's Mystic Stare is a standard projectile instead of triggering a delayed explosion. Most character's staple playstyles in this series would not be established until their respective next playable appearance.

** You have to hold directions on the character select screen in addition to a button press to get alternate costumes, of which there were only one other option. Later games made color scheme selection button-dependent (which would later be phased out in ''Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3'' and ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'')
* ElephantGraveyard: Shuma-Gorath's pre-historic stage features several massive skulls and bones, one of which appearing to be a Triceratops.

* FlamingSword: Anita has a special where she sets her sword on fire, and slashes her opponent with it, complete with a Cameo of ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Akuma!]]''. Fitting enough, this move is called "Akuma's Burn".

* GameplayAndStoryIntegration: In a way. If Thanos does not have a particular Infinity Gem in his possession during the final battle, the AI will not use the Hyper Combo associated with it. This restriction does not apply to him under player control.

* GeniusBruiser: The Hulk, where he's in the guise of the Merged Hulk/Professor persona. (remember, The Green Scar from ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' and ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' had yet to be created at the time) There's also Spider-Man and Iron Man, as well.
* GuestFighter: [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Anita]], the CreepyChild that follows Donovan, as a SecretCharacter. [[note]]At first only in the Japanese version of the Playstation port, but internationally in ''[=MvC=] Origins''.[[/note]]

* ImmuneToFlinching: Juggernaut retains his Super Armor attribute, though it's not as pronounced as it was in 'X-Men:COTA'. Using the Space Gem will bump it back up to something comparable to its previous level, though.

* LifeDrain: Used by Shuma-Gorath in one of his normal throws. Also by Thanos in his Soul Gem infinity combo. Iron Man using the Soul Gem also qualifies.

* MightyGlacier: Hulk's attacks are very powerful and much faster in this game than his other appearances in the Capcom fighting games, but he still moves slowly. Juggernaut also qualifies, he moves slowly (unless using his Hyper Combo "Juggernaut Headcrush" attack) and some of his attacks have long recovery time.

* MultipleEndings: Thanos in the console ports has an ending where the player can choose to seize even more power with the Infinity Gauntlet, or renounce it and become a simple farmer on a distant planet (Which actually happened in the comics too.)
* MythologyGag: Spider-Man takes a jab at the notorious Clone Saga after winning a MirrorMatch.
** [[http://rq87.flyingomelette.com/RQ/Marvel/MSH/comic.html Most of Thanos' elements, such as winquotes and the like, are outright taken from famous comic panels]] such as one of his super move images being taken from the iconic cover of Issue #1 of the Infinity Gauntlet storyline. His "I want more power!" ending image is taken straight from the comic issue where Thanos becomes the new Eternity. Even his "renounce the power" ending happened in the comics storyline. Following from the first ending where Thanos took supreme power, it turned out that as the new Eternity he had no control over his physical form and thus no control over the Infinity Gauntlet, meaning all of his deeds were undone. Thanos attempts to destroy himself with a nuke but Thor knocks him away and Thanos survives and retreats. With that said and done, Adam Warlock, now in possession of the Gauntlet, ventures to a distant planet and indeed finds Thanos there having turned his old costume into a scarecrow and become a simple farmer. Said 2nd ending in game has farmer Thanos and features his scarecrow in the background as well.
** Thanos' stage is the same shrine he built for Lady Death in said storyline, albeit with two Thanos stone heads instead of one skeletal face and one based off of Lady Death (though the shrine is changed to what is seen on the games over the course of the story, as Thanos obtains omnipotence from the Infinity Gauntlet and decides to give up on trying to win Death's affection)
** Juggernaut's ending at one point shows an image of a triumphant Adam Warlock wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, said image being directly inspired by the front cover of issue #1 of ''Warlock and the Infinity Watch''.
* NoManShouldHaveThisPower: The heroes' ending all have them dumping the power of the Gauntlet, using this trope as justification. [[spoiler:It scares Iron Man terribly when he realizes he actually used the power unwittingly to fix his broken body, but Cap reassures him that he's only human, just take it as a second chance at life.]]

* PoweredArmor: Iron Man, natch.
** Also Dr. Doom.
* PowerUp: Activating any of the Infinity Gems results in this. In addition, each member of the cast (save for Doom, Thanos and Anita) has a specific affinity to a certain gem, which grants them a unique buff:

** The Space Gem increases a character's defense. Users who have an affinity for this gem include Magneto and Juggernaut, the two former boss characters from ''Children Of The Atom'' who become invincible under the gem's effects.

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Psylocke, and Anita as a SecretCharacter.

* {{Stripperific}}: In the ladies' side, Psylocke. In the men's side, Hulk.
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: All the characters are voiced by native English speakers. Cal Dodd and Rick Bennett reprise their roles from the ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' cartoon as Wolverine and Juggernaut.
* SwordPlant: Anita does this with her floating sword, she first places it on the ground, and [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throws it]] by pointing her finger at her opponent.

* TauntButton: First game in the series with taunts being very very easy to use and universal.

* UseYourHead: Juggernaut's Hyper Combo is the "Juggernaut Headcrush" where he lowers his head and charges headfirst across the screen. It's hugely damaging, but easy to jump over if you anticipate it.

* UpdatedRerelease: Received one with the original ''Marvel Vs. Capcom'' in ''Marvel Vs. Capcom Origins.'' It includes HD graphics, a store to unlock features (illustrations, cheats, etc.) and online play and is also the first time that Anita is available overseas since she's unlockable via the store too.

* TheCameo: Many characters appear in the endings and on the stages. Thor[[note]]actually Thunderstrike when he filled in for the Odinson, as in the comics - note the built-in mask on the helmet[[/note]], She-Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Nova, and Drax the Destroyer appear on Thanos' stage as statues and are broken free in the heroes' endings. Mephisto and Lady Death can also be seen, naturally not turned to statue. Also Adam Warlock in Juggernaut's ending and Cyclops in Wolverine's ending (as well as the other X-Men who were not brought over from ''Children of the Atom'', plus Jean Grey, in Psylocke's ending). For Thor, She-Hulk, and Nova it also counts as an [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird]] [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Cameo]] of sorts. There is also a Cameo of ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Akuma]]'', of all people, during Anita's FlamingSword special, aptly named "Akuma's Burn", and also a Cameo of Mei-Ling, Hsien Ko's sister from ''Darkstalker's Revenge'', during her Lightning Sword special move.

* GuestFighter: [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Anita]], the CreepyChild that follows Donovan, as a SecretCharacter. [[note]]Only in the japanese version of the Playstation port.[[/note]]

* {{Animesque}}: Psylocke's sprites clearly look like the work of Japanese artists, much more than any of the other characters.

* ShoutOut: Check [[ShoutOut/CapcomVsWhatever the page]].

* AGodAmI: Shuma-Gorath's and Dr. Doom's endings in ''Marvel Super Heroes'' involves them [[spoiler:taking the control of the universe]]. Also happens in Thanos' ending if [[spoiler:the player chooses the first option]].

The roster retained Wolverine, Psylocke, Juggernaut, and Magneto, from the previous game, and was diversified with the additions of ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/SpiderMan, ComicBook/IronMan, the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk, [[ComicBook/GhostRider Black]][[ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} heart]], and Shuma-Gorath (a ComicBook/DoctorStrange/Kull the Conqueror villain [[AdaptationDisplacement more people know about from these games than the comics]]). A secret character from Capcom's own character library, Anita (the little girl that accompanied Donovan in ''[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Night Warriors]]'' who fights on her own right here), is also present and [[VideoGame/CapcomVsWhatever continued the tradition]] set by Akuma in ''VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom''.

* UnexpectedCharacter: Shuma-Gorath.

** The only Capcom-developed Marvel vs. Capcom game where each character (except Anita) has a unique theme for winning a match.

** You have to hold directions on the character select screen in addition to a button press to get alternate costumes. Later games made color scheme selection button-dependent (which would later be phased out in ''Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3'' and ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'')

* ClothingDamage: Happens to Captain America when hit with an Infinity Move.

The roster retained Wolverine, Psylocke, Juggernaut, and Magneto, from the previous game, and was diversified with the additions of ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/SpiderMan, ComicBook/IronMan, ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk, [[ComicBook/GhostRider Black]][[ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} heart]], and Shuma-Gorath (a ComicBook/DoctorStrange/Kull the Conqueror villain [[AdaptationDisplacement more people know about from these games than the comics]]). A secret character from Capcom's own character library, Anita (the little girl that accompanied Donovan in ''[[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Night Warriors]]'' who fights on her own right here), is also present and [[VideoGame/CapcomVsWhatever continued the tradition]] set by Akuma in ''VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom''.

** '''''[[IncredibleHulk GAMMA CRUSH!]]'''''

* GeniusBruiser: The Hulk, where he's in the guise of the Merged Hulk/Professor persona. (remember, The Green Scar from ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' and ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' had yet to be created at the time) There are also Spider-Man and Iron Man, as well.

* AGodAmI: Shuma-Gorath's and Dr. Doom's endings in ''Marvel Super Heroes'' involves them [[spoiler:taking the control of the universe]]. Also happens in Thanos' ending if [[spoiler:the player chooses the second option]].

* PoweredArmor: IronMan, natch.

* TheCameo: Many characters appear in the endings and on the stages. Thor[[note]]actually Thunderstrike when he filled in for the Odinson, as in the comics - note the built-in mask on the helmet[[/note]], She-Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Nova, and Drax the Destroyer appear on Thanos' stage as statues and are broken free in the heroes' endings. Mephisto and Lady Death can also be seen, naturally not turned to statue. Also Adam Warlock in Juggernaut's ending and Cyclops in Wolverine's ending (as well as the other X-Men who were not brought over from ''Children of the Atom'', plus Jean Grey, in Psylocke's ending). For Thor, She-Hulk and Nova it also counts as an [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird]] [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Cameo]] of sorts. There is also a Cameo of ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Akuma]]'', of all people, during Anita's FlamingSword special, aptly named "Akuma's Burn", and also a Cameo of Mei-Ling, Hsien Ko's sister from ''Darkstalker's Revenge'', during her Lightning Sword special move.

* TheCameo: Many characters appear in the endings and on the stages. Thor[[note]]actually Thunderstrike when he filled in for the Odinson, as in the comics - note the built-in mask on the helmet[[/note]], She-Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Nova, and Drax the Destroyer appear on Thanos' stage as statues and are broken free in the heroes' endings. Mephisto and Lady Death can also be seen, naturally not turned to statue. Also Adam Warlock in Juggernaut's ending and Cyclops in Wolverine's ending (as well as the other X-Men who were not brought over from ''Children of the Atom'', plus Jean Grey, in Psylocke's ending). For Thor, She-Hulk, Nova and Iron Fist it also counts as an [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird]] [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Cameo]] of sorts. There is also a Cameo of ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Akuma]]'', of all people, during Anita's FlamingSword special, aptly named "Akuma's Burn", and also a Cameo of Mei-Ling, Hsien Ko's sister from ''Darkstalker's Revenge'', during her Lightning Sword special move.

* TheCameo: Many characters appear in the endings and on the stages. Thor[[note]]actually Thunderstrike when he filled in for the Odinson, as in the comics - note the built-in mask on the helmet[[/note]], She-Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Nova, Drax the Destroyer and Iron Fist appear on Thanos' stage as statues and are broken free in the heroes' endings. Mephisto and Lady Death can also be seen, naturally not turned to statue. Also Adam Warlock in Juggernaut's ending and Cyclops in Wolverine's ending (as well as the other X-Men who were not brought over from ''Children of the Atom'', plus Jean Grey, in Psylocke's ending). For Thor, She-Hulk, Nova and Iron Fist it also counts as an [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird]] [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Cameo]] of sorts. There is also a Cameo of ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Akuma]]'', of all people, during Anita's FlamingSword special, aptly named "Akuma's Burn", and also a Cameo of Mei-Ling, Hsien Ko's sister from ''Darkstalker's Revenge'', during her Lightning Sword special move.

* GeniusBruiser: The Hulk, where he's in the guise of the Merged Hulk/Professor persona. (remember, The Green Scar from ''Planet Hulk'' and ''WorldWarHulk'' had yet to be created at the time) There are also Spider-Man and Iron Man, as well.

* TheCameo: Many characters appear in the endings and on the stages. Thor[[note]]actually Thunderstrike when he filled in for the Odinson, as in the comics - note the built-in mask on the helmet[[/note]], She-Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Nova, Drax the Destroyer and Iron Fist appear on Thanos' stage as statues and are broken free in the heroes' endings. Mephisto and Lady Death can also be seen, naturally not turned to statue. Also Adam Warlock in Juggernaut's ending and Cyclops in Wolverine's ending (as well as the other X-Men who were not brought over from ''Children of the Atom'', plus Jean Grey, in Psylocke's ending). For Thor, She-Hulk, Nova and Iron Fist it also counts as an [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird]] [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Cameo]] of sorts.

%%* FragileSpeedster: Wolverine and Psylocke.

* GuestFighter: [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Anita]], the CreepyChild that follows Donovan, as a SecretCharacter.

* JackOfAllStats: ComicBook/CaptainAmerica and ComicBook/IronMan.

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Psylocke.

** Mephisto/Blackheart's Armageddon summons a meteor storm to the battlefield.