Here’s The Full Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Roster With 20 Characters And 5 Teams

Arc System Works has confirmed the official composition of the launch lineup. The Japanese studio has organized the 20 characters into 5 thematic teams right from the start. The Unbreakable X-Men pull together the franchise’s most iconic mutants. The other teams cover the classic heroes, cosmic entities, villains and unconventional picks.

Here’s the full official breakdown of the 5 teams in Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls:

• Unbreakable X-Men -> Storm, Magik, Wolverine, Danger
• Amazing Guardians -> Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, Peni Parker
• Fighting Avengers -> Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Hulk
• Knights of Doom -> Doctor Doom, Magneto, Green Goblin, Carnage
• Samurai Outriders -> Ghost Rider, Blade, Deadpool, Loki

The split takes into account both Marvel lore and the anticipated fighting styles across the roster.

Some picks clearly go against the grain in the final roster. Danger is the sentient training room from the X-Men and this inclusion caught the entire fighting game community off guard. Peni Parker brings her SP//dr mech from the Spider-Man multiverse into a roster where nobody expected her. These deep cuts confirm Arc System Works‘ skill for building lineups that go beyond the usual suspects.

Arc System Works has also locked in a Year 1 Character and Stage Pass for the post-launch. This additional content brings 4 more characters and a brand-new stage after the game’s release. The full roster could reach 24 characters with the complete pass. The structure hints at a 6th official team following the same pattern as the previous 5.

No specific names have leaked yet for these 4 additional characters in the Year 1 Pass. The Marvel character pool is virtually endless and the possibilities look wide open. Fans are hoping for some heavy hitters missing from the launch roster like Thor or Silver Surfer. The Japanese studio stays radio silent on the exact identities for now.

The custom team-name system automatically generates a unique title for every lineup. The first word ties to the point character placed in the 1st slot of the selection. The 3 other characters determine the second word of the generated name. These small details make all the difference for a fighting game aiming to build identity around its roster.

The 4v4 tag format sets Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls apart from the competition in a big way. Each player picks 4 characters who dynamically swap in and out during combat. The system forces you to think about synergies between all 4 characters rather than a single pick. The point character in the 1st slot defines the dominant playstyle of the whole team.

Arc System Works‘ fighting game expertise shows through immediately in these demanding mechanics. The studio behind Guilty Gear and DragonBall FighterZ nails the rhythm of team-based combat. Every character feels built to fit a specific composition. Mutants like Wolverine and Storm naturally sit next to deep cuts like Danger and Peni Parker.

The ambition of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls goes well beyond previous attempts to bring Marvel to the competitive scene. The 4v4 tag format paired with a roster thoughtful down to its deepest cuts creates a strong identity. Arc System Works could well deliver the best Marvel fighting game since the classic Capcom entries of the 2000s. It remains to see whether the mechanics live up to the promise against the genre’s most demanding contenders.