After 11 years the Marvel vs. Capcom series has returned in style with “Marvel vs Capcom 3.” The newest addition in the series returns the series to its former greatness while missing a few additions that would have made the game more accessible.

The controls are simple, compared to other fighting games, with only six buttons. A light, medium and heavy attack button, a special attack button and two buttons assigned to calling in your characters partners. By pressing combinations of half and quarter circles along with an attack button a character can perform a special move such as a fireball, fire a stream of bullets or call in a diminutive robot with a toy hammer.

Fighting games are the most fun when anyone can pick up a controller and at least look like they know what they’re doing and “Marvel vs. Capcom 3” allows this, thanks to its very accessible fighting system. Due to the simplicity of the controls, it’s easy to transition from mindlessly mashing buttons in an attempt to win to thinking about what each input means, thanks to the motions for special attacks being shared by all characters and a few string of attacks being common throughout the whole cast.

The game also has a simple mode with one button dedicated to all attacks and another to special moves. Simple mode is pointless – the controls in the game are simple and the simple mode is about as useful to learning the game as button mashing.

The game could be more beginner friendly though. Mission mode is intended to teach players more advanced combos and techniques yet the timing and motions necessary to complete them are never explained or demoed, leaving it up to trial and error.

The online is also frustrating at times. The matchmaking is decent when it works, but more often than not, you’ll be disconnected from another player before your match can begin and you’ll be forced to start the search for a new opponent.

However, the game is best when played against someone else in real life. The combinations of trash talk and mind games just can’t be matched by an Ethernet cord and headset

The solid fighting system and presentation makes “Marvel vs. Capcom 3” a great game to pick up if you have an interest in comic books, video game history or fighting games. However the lack of a proper tutorial mode and online hiccups keep it from achieving perfection, however as a one-on-one fighting game, it’s one of the best on the market today.