As a long-time fan of both Marvel Comics and multiplayer shooters, I was excited to dive into the Marvel Rivals Closed Beta with high expectations. Having spent several hours playing the game, I can confidently say that Marvel Rivals offers a unique and engaging experience that manages to distinguish itself from its competitors in the genre, despite some noticeable similarities to Overwatch.
At first glance, Marvel Rivals by NetEase and Marvel Games appears similar to Overwatch as a team-based 6v6 shooter, featuring characters like Mercy, Winston, and Tracer replaced by Magneto, Spider-Man, and an unusual character, Jeff the Land Shark. However, despite its resemblance to Overwatch, Marvel Rivals offers more than just a clone experience. It holds unexpected depth that distinguishes it from Blizzard’s genre pioneer.
In simpler terms, every character in the game boasts distinct abilities, strengths, weaknesses, special moves, and inherent talents. Though some roles overlap with other games in the genre, their execution varies. For instance, Adam Warlock and Rocket Raccoon can heal teammates, but their methods differ significantly. Similarly, The Punisher and Rocket are categorized as ranged characters, yet they play uniquely due to The Punisher’s current overpowering nature.
My primary concern and key observation from the Closed Beta is that Marvel Rivals requires further development, with significant adjustments to its balancing act. Although the beta showcases an impressive polish and sleekness, there are evident imbalances that need addressing. In fact, it appears as though these discrepancies may have been intentionally included. With numerous heroes and villains of disparate power levels (considering The Punisher versus Magneto is a lopsided comparison), engaging in battles over cosmic disasters or the like, achieving balance seems an insurmountable challenge.
Despite its importance to the genre, the balance between character strengths and vulnerabilities in Marvel Rivals feels off. For instance, Storm exhibits an unreachable resilience while Spider-Man is easily knocked down by a few direct hits. Contrastingly, Iron Man’s missiles have minimal impact compared to The Punisher’s bullets that can tear through The Hulk’s formidable frame. I don’t anticipate comic book characters to be invincible in the game; however, the current stats appear disproportionate.
The character models are visually stunning and closely resemble the comics, while their voices and behaviors seem inspired by Disney’s interpretation of the franchise. However, appearances can be deceiving as this is a third-person shooter game, meaning each character comes with numerous alternate costumes. The environments range from familiar to forgettable, with no single stage leaving a lasting impression. Objectives differ per map, featuring typical tasks such as escorting vehicles, and the maps provide ample vantage points and choke-points, along with destructible surroundings. In the heat of battle, flying characters often gain an advantage due to particle effects and explosions obscuring the view.
The collection of heroes and villains in this story is diverse and intriguing, with newcomers such as Luna Snow and Peni Parker joining the cast. Some well-known characters take a backseat, while teams like the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy are underrepresented. A few key members are absent, but X-Men numbers are scant. The rogue’s gallery includes Venom, Hela, Loki, and Doctor Doom (or should I say, Doctor Dooms), though Galactus’ daughter serves as our storyteller. However, it remains to be seen how crucial the plot will be in this unfolding narrative.
As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the captivating world of superheroes, I must admit that some of these characters’ abilities are nothing short of amazing. Take Spider-Man, for instance, swinging through the city with the grace and agility of a true acrobat. Or Dr. Strange, conjuring portals that transport not just himself but his whole team, creating instantaneous getaways or traps against adversaries.
The most fascinating feature is how some powers can be combined effectively through Team Up attacks. For instance, Rocket’s infinite ammo skill influences The Punisher and grants him endless bullets when they’re close by. Selecting heroes that complement each other on your team could be crucial for winning, and NetEas has impressively designed characters that are distinct yet harmonious with others.
The Marvel Rivals beta shares notable resemblances to Overwatch, but these similarities seem deliberate rather than copied. They pay tribute to each other, and although balance adjustments are needed, the game boasts impressive movement and mechanics, demonstrating a high level of refinement even at this early stage. With ample time until the complete launch and an abundance of Marvel material to draw from, I’m optimistic that NetEase will deliver a significant success with Marvel Rivals.
The Marvel Rivals beta will last until the 5th of August for PC users via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S and X owners.
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2024-07-29 14:16