is a 1995 fighting game developed and published by Capcom. Originally released for arcades on the CPS-2 arcade system, it was ported to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1997. The game, alongside Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, was also included in the Marvel vs. Capcom Origins compilation, released digitally for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012.
Marvel Super Heroes is loosely based on "The Infinity Gauntlet" storyline of the Marvel Universe. It is the second Capcom fighting game based on characters from Marvel Comics, following 1994's X-Men: Children of the Atom. It was succeeded by X-Men vs. Street Fighter, the first entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, in 1996.
Gameplay
thumb|Gameplay screenshot of a fight between [[Spider-Man and Thanos|left]]
Marvel Super Heroes is a fighting game in which superheroes and villains from the Marvel Universe fight against each other. Loosely based on The Infinity Gauntlet storyline, the game focuses on heroes and villains battling each other for the Infinity Gems. The main antagonist is Thanos, who plots to use the Infinity Gems to take over the universe.
The aim of the game is to use attacks and special abilities to knock out the opponent, or possess more life than him/her at the end of the round. Throughout the match, players build up a super meter which can be used to perform powerful Infinity Combo attacks. A unique mechanic in the game are the Infinity Gems; Power, Time, Space, Reality, Soul and Mind. These gems can be earned by obtaining them from opponents during arcade mode, or by fulfilling certain criteria during versus mode, such as getting the first hit. By using these gems in battle, fighters receive enhanced effects for a short amount of time, such as increased power or defense, health recovery or additional attacks. Certain fighters will receive extra benefits whilst using certain gems. For example, if Spider-Man uses the Power Gem, he can create a doppelganger on the opposite side of his opponent for extra damage during his attacks.
- Blackheart
- Captain America
- Doctor Doom
- Hulk
- Iron Man
- Juggernaut
- Magneto
- Psylocke
- Shuma-Gorath
- Spider-Man
- Thanos
- Wolverine
;Notes
Development and release
Capcom included the four characters from X-Men: Children of the Atom which their market research had determined to be the most popular: Wolverine, Juggernaut, Magneto and Psylocke.
The home conversions of the game were unveiled on the first day of the 1996 Electronic Entertainment Expo, with Stan Lee appearing at the booth. The Saturn version supports the 1 MB RAM expansion cartridge to include extra frames of animation and slightly quicker load times.
Initially the Saturn and PlayStation versions were both scheduled to be released in Europe in time for Christmas 1997, but Capcom's European publisher Virgin Interactive delayed the Saturn version until January 24, 1998, so that it could be bundled with the 1 MB RAM cartridge. In 2019, the game was announced as one of the titles to be included in the Marvel Arcade1Up arcade cabinet. In June 2024, Capcom announced that Marvel Super Heroes would be among the games included in the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics compilation, which was released the following September.
The game was dedicated to Marvel artist Jack Kirby, who died on February 6, 1994.