Marvel Rivals: The Case For and Against Adding More Spider-People

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As a lifelong Marvel fan who’s been following Spider-Man since the 90s cartoon days, I can confidently say that the Spider-Verse is a magical tapestry woven with threads of excitement and intrigue. With the release of Marvel Rivals, it was only a matter of time before the spider-lore found its way into this dynamic hero shooter.

Over numerous instances and through the years, it’s been scientifically established that Spider-Man is undeniably the most beloved superhero. So popular, in fact, he has engendered a whole multiverse centered around various iterations of himself. Though its origins can be traced back to the 1990s Spider-Man cartoon, the Spider-Verse truly took off in the 2014 run of Amazing Spider-Man comics, when Morlun and his family of vampiric Inheritors began hunting down Spider-People across multiple realities. Since then, the Spider-Verse has continued to gain traction due to its captivating animated movie series. It’s only fitting, therefore, that Marvel Rivals would want to hop aboard this trend.

At its launch, the game Marvel Rivals boasts a total of 33 playable characters, with a notable presence from the Spider-Verse. Characters like the original brand Peter Parker Spider-Man, Peni Parker, and Venom can be found in Marvel Rivals, each having unique skill sets. However, this only scratches the surface of the Spider-Verse, as there’s debate over whether more Spider-People should join the roster of Marvel Rivals.

The Case For Marvel Rivals to Add More Spider-People

There Are Still Plenty of Spider-People Who Deserve The Spotlight

The Spider-Verse has grown exponentially over the decades. What started as just a few variants of Peter Parker from slightly different realities has turned into a vast array of Spider-People from across wildly different universes, and many of those heroes have now become incredibly popular iterations of the Wall-Crawler. Spider-Man 2099, Gwen Stacey’s Ghost-Spider, Miles Morales, and Spider-Man Noir have all become household names, and all deserve their own spot on Marvel Rivals‘ roster.

Each of these Spider-Characters boasts their own unique traits and special skills. For instance, Spider-Man 2099 leverages advanced technology, Ghost-Spider showcases a variety of Symbiote abilities, Miles Morales manipulates bioelectricity and becomes invisible at times, while Spider-Man Noir is an expert marksman. Despite being part of the Spider-family, each one would offer a fresh addition to the team in Marvel Rivals.

The Case Against Marvel Rivals Adding More Spider-People

The Marvel Universe Is So Much Bigger Than Spider-Man

It’s clear that Spider-Man and his fellow Spider-folk are hugely popular, and rightly so. However, the Marvel universe is far larger than just Spider-Man. It appears that developer NetEase recognizes this, as the roster in Marvel Rivals includes characters from various parts of the Marvel universe. One of the game’s greatest assets is its diverse cast, which appeals to both casual players with familiar faces and dedicated Marvel fans with less common heroes and villains.

As a gaming enthusiast, I believe it’s crucial for Marvel Rivals to keep a mix of familiar faces and lesser-known heroes in its lineup during its lifespan. Piling on more Spider-People could potentially upset this delicate equilibrium. Overloading the game with too many Spider-People might give the impression that Marvel Rivals is just another Spider-Man hero shooter, rather than a game that honors the expansive Marvel universe as a whole.

Other Spider-People Can Still Be Easily Represented

Despite each Spider-Person possessing distinctive skills unlike those of Peter Parker, there’s still considerable overlap, which might not necessitate a complete spot on the Marvel Rivals roster. However, these characters are significant and deserve recognition. A reasonable solution would be to introduce cosmetic items that represent them. Since Spider-Man in Marvel Rivals already has a Spider-Punk alternate outfit, this suggests that Spider-Verse costumes could potentially be incorporated into the game.

Incorporating costumes inspired by Spider-Man 2099, Miles Morales, and Spider-Man Noir into Marvel Rivals would certainly add excitement, even if they don’t come with fully-voiced characters. This could partially fulfill fans’ wishes to play as these popular characters, at the minimum.

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2024-12-10 20:05