On release, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite didn’t get the warmest of receptions. Audiences generally regarded this as a step down from previous entries in the MvC franchise. The pivot from being a 3v3 team fighter to being a 2v2 tag game rubbed longtime players the wrong way. Many also took issue with Disney’s interference in the roster, removing non-MCU characters like the beloved X-Men, Doctor Doom, and Super Skrull. The final nail in the coffin for MvC:I was the release of Dragon Ball FighterZ, which offered the 3v3 experience with another beloved IP.
Though things seemed grim at the outset for Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite, a devoted base continued to explore the game. The tag mechanics, crazy combos, and fantastic netcode kept them coming back, and the game has now evolved into a bit of an underground darling. The efforts of the community are to thank for the ongoing interest in MvC:I, including one of the game’s biggest champions: JakoMan.
For those unfamiliar, JakoMan is a competitive player and TO based in Michigan. JakoMan is well-known for his character choices in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and MvC:I, running Ghost Rider / Felicia / Nemesis in 3 and Ghost Rider / Nemesis in Infinite.
Tonight!
The JakoMania Chronicles: MVCI PS4 Online Tournament #50 1/5/22 8pm EST (5pm PST) (USA/Canada & Wired Only) Sign Up Page: https://t.co/TXNPOqqDgw
Stream: https://t.co/ZfzeRJPUni
The JakoMania Nation Discord: https://t.co/Wrs6vce6l6 pic.twitter.com/1CBw07jczF
— UG| Jako Man 🔜 @FrostyFaustings2022 (@TheJakoMan) January 5, 2022
We recently caught up with JakoMan at CEO, where he was running the Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite side tournament. JakoMan is a massive proponent of MvC:I and runs an online weekly, JakoMania. After running his tournament, playing friendlies, and catching up with his scene, JakoMan kindly took the time to talk to TopTier.
JakoMan Talks MvC:I and JakoMania
TopTier: So you’ve been doing JakoMania MvC:I tournaments online for a while right?
JakoMan: Yeah, I’ve been doing the JakoMania Chronicles online Marvel Infinite tournaments since last year (2020) in December.
TT: Have you seen more people signing up over time?
J: It’s been growing a little bit for like…what? Like the last year. We’ve been getting new players in, some of the old heads are coming back as well for the online tournaments I host on Wednesdays at 8 PM eastern time.
TT: How was it hosting an in-person side tournament at CEO compared to your online one? Was it nice having people be there and be able to talk to them?
J: Oh yeah man! It was really nice to meet everyone in person. It’s way different from online because [online] it’s just like yourself streaming matches. In-person, you meet everyone and can talk to everyone and play games. Plus offline there’s no input delays and it’s, like, super fun.
TT: What about Marvel Infinite makes you want to keep the scene alive? This is a game that doesn’t really get love compared to Marvel 3, but you’re putting in a lot of work to make sure it gets played. What about the game makes you feel like you need to do that?
J: The game itself. The gameplay is super creative and super fun to play. I can play that game for hours, just like Marvel 3. You can do a lot of stuff in that game, man. It’s pretty much like the sandbox of fighting games. You can do whatever combos, tech, resets you want. In Marvel Infinite, the tag mechanic, the way you can express yourself through your gameplay and your team…a lot of the players pick the same characters and teams but play differently. They have their own combos, strategy, tech, and all of that.
TT: Who’s your favorite player to watch right now?
J: My favorite player as of right now? I would definitely say Taekua. Taekua is all the way from NorCal, he plays Ghost Rider/Nova. Also, he’s pretty much the best Ghost Rider player out there, and I’m pretty much the second best. He’s the best one right now, he’s my training partner. He showed me a lot of tech with Ghost Rider, like the super tag resets and all that. Shout out to Taekua, man.
TT: When’s the next offline MvC:I tournament?
J: The next offline, for anyone who is wondering, I will be hosting the side tournament at Frosty Faustings 2022 next month all the way in Chicago. If you guys are going to that event, please let me know. The sign-up page will be up soon, later this month.
Where to Find More Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
While Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite may have missed the eSports train, the game survives through its dedicated player base. If you’re interested in trying the game or just seeing what the hype is about, head to JakoMan’s YouTube channel. He regularly publishes matches and highlights from the JakoMania series.
You can also sign up for the MvC:I side tournament at Frosty Faustings here.
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