How a game like Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is actually Rock Paper Scissors

The recently released expansion game to last year's Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, is a traditional 2 person fighter. Its a cell shaded sudo-2D/3D three on three battle game. Now, although it directly does not have any obvious allusions to a game so seemingly simple and mundane as Rock, Paper, Scissors, it does have a few key elements that can be correlated to the long time game of hand gestures.
The main factor is in its strategy in gameplay. Each player in MvC3, gets to choose from a roster of playable fighters, but gets to pick only 3 to use for the match. This means that just like in R.P.S, each player has 3 options for what to send out first during play. A player in R.P.S. can send out either Rock, Paper, or Scissors, while in MvC3 a player can similarly send out either Hulk, Phoenix Wright, or Wolverine; for one example.

                              Players can literally use "Paper" as an attack

But its not just in terms of matching characters with the physical rock, paper, or scissors in R.P.S., its the basic underlying concept that players must analyze their opponents arsenal, and then apply what they have to counter or attack the enemies group of three. They have a set of moves that do different things for each character, and must decide what to use next. It can be as broad as what character would best go against what other character, or broken down into sub categories such as which specific move would best counter attack an opponents specific move choice. The other main difference is that while there are choices being made among three major options, the battles and choices are being made lightning fast, even faster than R.P.S., which is very quick in play. The choices are being made in MvC3 without stop, in a constant button mashing extravaganza, to choose the move that will bring down your opponent.

                     Each player chooses which one of 3 characters to send into battle

The game goes on until one player has defeated all the opposing characters or alternatively until the timer runs out on the game clock. After a player wins a round, it can either end there, or matches designed to be best 2 out of 3 can be played, also like R.P.S. So yes, the game is enhanced greatly to modern fighter standards with super moves, specials, healing factors and combos, but when you strip it all away, there are lines to be drawn that connect this hectic comic book-video game mashup brawl to the simple rhythms of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Its just a matter of perspective.