Marvel Rivals Review

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Marvel Rivals has truly caught my attention. Having played numerous Hero Shooters throughout the years, I can confidently assert that this game is a serious contender to Overwatch’s throne.

I’m absolutely thrilled by both Overwatch and Marvel, and when Marvel Rivals was unveiled, I was eagerly anticipating trying it out myself. A game that features a roster composed entirely of iconic heroes from one of the world’s top comic book publishers sounds brilliant in theory, but there was always the possibility that the final product might not meet expectations. However, many of those doubts were alleviated after I spent a lot of time with Marvel Rivals’ beta test last summer, and the full release has largely quelled any remaining apprehensions.

The game titled “Marvel Rivals” is a hero shooter that’s openly inspired by “Overwatch“. At its release, it offers three modes: Convoy, Domination, and Convergence, which correspond to “Overwatch 2“‘s Payload, Control, and Hybrid modes. Some of the heroes’ abilities seem to be borrowed directly from “Overwatch“, such as Scarlet Witch’s Ultimate, which resembles a D.Va Bomb, and Star-Lord’s Blaster Barrage ability, similar to Reaper’s Death Blossom Ult. Critics might find issue with the game copying “Overwatch‘s” concepts, but its lack of originality is offset by an abundance of fun.

To put it simply, I’m really enjoying Marvel Rivals, and as a seasoned Overwatch player, the resemblances to Blizzard’s game have made it a breeze for me to dive into NetEase’s latest offering. While it’s true that many of its abilities and concepts borrow from Overwatch, that doesn’t make them any less entertaining or engaging. Furthermore, Marvel Rivals certainly isn’t lacking in original ideas.

Marvel Rivals’ Destructible Environments Are a Game-Changer

As a diehard gamer immersed in Marvel Rivals, I can’t help but be thrilled by the strategic depth that comes from its destructible environments. In the heat of the game’s adrenaline-fueled battles, I find myself with an arsenal of abilities at my disposal to shatter structures on the map, turning the tide in my favor. A clever move might be to demolish a sniper’s perch or bring down a wall hiding enemies, but it’s the unexpected, jaw-dropping moments that truly set Marvel Rivals apart. The exhilaration of unleashing my powers during intense combat, only to watch an entire cliffside collapse and bury us all under a mountain of debris, is something you just have to experience for yourself.

As a devoted fan, I must say, it’s not just about the destructible environments that sets Marvel Rivals apart from Overwatch. What truly makes this game unique is its clever implementation of team-up abilities. This feature encourages players to strategically select their characters based on how they can synergize with their teammates. For instance, if a teammate picks The Punisher, it’s wise to choose Rocket Raccoon, as he can set up a gadget that allows Punisher to shoot without reloading. Rocket can also ride on Groot’s shoulders, and interestingly, Jeff the Land Shark can too! Moreover, if Luna Snow is on the team, Jeff’s projectiles can get an icy boost. Such intricate interactions make a thrilling and strategically rich experience.

Among the thrilling collaborative skills in Marvel Rivals, one standout is a team-up move between Wolverine and the Hulk. The Hulk can lift and toss Wolverine at adversaries, often causing diversions rather than outright defeats. These distractions can leave enemy teams exposed to subsequent attacks. Remarkably, some players have employed this rapid sequence, known as Fastball, to knock airborne enemies from the sky. Players discover numerous inventive ways to exploit the diverse skills within the Marvel Rivals roster, and with an expanding roster, the number of potential combos will also increase.

In the gaming community, it’s been pointed out that Marvel Rivals’ team-ups might be too strong, and there could be some merit to this critique. Additionally, some players aren’t pleased with specific abilities, such as Jeff the Land Shark’s Ultimate which allows him to swallow an entire team and throw them off a cliff for an effortless team elimination. It’s clear that Marvel Rivals isn’t perfectly balanced, but that doesn’t have to be a negative aspect. The outlandish abilities create numerous opportunities for laughter-filled moments, making it perfect for bonding with friends. While some adjustments might benefit the game’s competitive side, NetEase needs to tread carefully to ensure they don’t strip away the fun from Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals Launch Roster

  • Adam Warlock
  • Black Panther
  • Black Widow
  • Captain America
  • Cloak and Dagger
  • Doctor Strange
  • Groot
  • Hawkeye
  • Hela
  • Hulk
  • Iron Fist
  • Iron Man
  • Jeff the Land Shark
  • Loki
  • Luna Snow
  • Magik
  • Magneto
  • Mantis
  • Moon Knight
  • Namor
  • Peni Parker
  • Psylocke
  • Punisher
  • Rocket Raccoon
  • Scarlet Witch
  • Spider-Man
  • Squirrel Girl
  • Star-Lord
  • Storm
  • Thor
  • Venom
  • Winter Soldier
  • Wolverine

The game Marvel Rivals, while not perfectly balanced, isn’t suffering because of it. There are a couple of issues with the game though; one that might never be fully resolved, and another that will be addressed over time as new content is added for this hero shooter. One issue that will hopefully be improved upon is its limited map selection. At launch, Marvel Rivals only has eight maps for its primary game modes, which can make the game feel repetitive quickly. It doesn’t help that multiple maps are set in the same general locations, with two in Yggsgard, two in Tokyo 2099, and two in the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda.

The progression in Marvel Rivals is unlikely to change its lackluster rewards. It’s common practice for free-to-play games like this one to offer the best skins in the shop and make players pay real money for significant in-game items, from a financial perspective. However, I believe introducing a system that would enable Marvel Rivals players to unlock skins more often within the game could greatly enhance the experience. The original Overwatch managed this with its loot boxes, despite its flaws. Unfortunately, global rules and regulations make it highly improbable for Marvel Rivals to implement a similar system, but it would certainly make leveling up more engaging, as opposed to feeling pointless beyond unlocking ranked play at level 10.

In the Marvel Rivals game, the progression of the Battle Pass isn’t perfect, as it deviates from the standard method. Unlike traditional Battle Passes where players advance by leveling up, Marvel Rivals awards currency for completing challenges. This currency can then be used to select specific rewards along a track. While some might appreciate this approach, I find it less thrilling when compared to the traditional system as the excitement of unlocking items is diminished. However, if more Battle Pass options become available in Marvel Rivals, and these passes don’t expire, this system might feel more rewarding. But only time will tell.

In Marvel Rivals, you engage in team fights consisting of six players on each side, and there’s no restriction on roles. Occasionally, this setup can lead to challenging matches, yet personally, I haven’t found it to be a significant issue so far.

Overall, I’ve been quite pleased with my experience playing Marvel Rivals. The matchmaking system is incredibly swift, making it simple to jump into “just one more game.” Moreover, the quality of the game’s presentation has been noteworthy. The game boasts a vast array of 33 characters, which ensures that battles remain engaging and thrilling. This diversity in characters keeps me on my toes, and I find it hard to imagine growing tired of it, especially with regular updates featuring new characters and maps on the horizon.

In my view, Marvel Rivals appears to be a genuine challenger to Overwatch’s dominance; this is a game that could comfortably take up residency in my multiplayer lineup for an extended period. Interestingly, at its launch, Marvel Rivals merely represents the start of what seems like an expansive journey. There appear to be countless possibilities for fresh roster and map inclusions over the ensuing years. Some of the rumored Marvel Rivals characters have me intrigued about the game’s future development, and I eagerly anticipate watching it grow and change.

The Marvel Rivals game is currently accessible on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X consoles. Game Rant recently conducted a review of this game on the Xbox Series X platform.

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2024-12-10 11:14