Just yesterday, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, the latest fighting game from Arc System Works and Sony, ascended to the pinnacle of Steam’s best-seller list. However, despite its impressive early sales, the reception among PC gamers has been less than enthusiastic. The game, which boasts the esteemed pedigree of its developers and the beloved Marvel franchise, is facing significant challenges in its initial rollout on the platform. Even after a day-one patch aimed at rectifying some critical issues, the reviews remain firmly in the Mixed category, with a chorus of familiar grievances surfacing from the community.
A Mixed Reception
Launched on August 6th for both PC and PS5, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls quickly captured the attention of gamers, propelled by the excitement surrounding a new title from Arc System Works combined with the Marvel brand. Yet, many players who eagerly dove into the game on release day have expressed dissatisfaction with its performance. The influx of negative reviews has pushed the average rating into the Mixed territory, with players voicing concerns that echo common issues seen in major game releases on Steam, particularly regarding anti-cheat software and mandatory third-party logins.
PC Gamers Can’t Recommend Marvel Tokon In Its Current State
A recurring sentiment among the negative reviews is the phrase, “I can’t recommend it.” Despite the initial excitement, numerous PC gamers have found the performance issues insurmountable. Many have reported that the game is “actually unplayable” due to frame rate problems and overall poor performance, which detracts from the gaming experience. A significant portion of the criticism points to the anti-cheat software as a primary factor in these performance woes.
While Marvel Tokon does not utilize the much-maligned Denuvo, it does come equipped with Kernel Level Anti-Cheat. This addition has raised concerns among gamers, who believe that such programs consume valuable system resources and negatively impact gameplay. Several reviews have highlighted this as a leading issue affecting the game’s PC port.
Moreover, the requirement for players to log into a PlayStation Network account to access the game has not been well received. Many Steam users are frustrated by the need to create yet another login, particularly given the current sentiments surrounding Sony’s recent decisions, such as their shift towards a disc-free model. One reviewer succinctly captured the frustration: “The idea that I need a Sony account to play a game off-platform is ridiculous. I don’t even HAVE a PSN account.”
Additional complaints have surfaced regarding the lack of support for Linux systems and the Steam Deck. While the game’s “Unsupported” status on the Steam Deck is clearly indicated, it has not alleviated the disappointment among gamers who hoped for better integration within the Steam ecosystem. With issues ranging from stuttering frame rates to the mandatory PSN login, many players are finding the barriers too steep, leading some to reconsider their engagement with PC gaming altogether.
In response to the feedback, Arc System Works and Sony have already released a patch to address some of the game’s initial shortcomings. There is hope that further optimizations and fixes will follow, but for now, the launch of Marvel Tokon on PC has been anything but smooth.
