Review: Marvel Rivals unleashes true chaos magic

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As a lifelong comic book enthusiast and seasoned gamer, I’ve seen my fair share of superhero adaptations, from the silver screen to the digital battlefield. Marvel Rivals is a game that has managed to capture the essence of what makes these characters so compelling while carving its own niche in the competitive shooter genre.

Let’s tackle the obvious similarity between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch. Marvel Rivals doesn’t just take inspiration from Overwatch; it copies aspects so closely that even the trickster god Loki would be impressed. For instance, the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda map will remind anyone who has played Blizzard’s shooter of Numbani right away.

Across the Multiverse

Just as in comic books where a vast interconnected web of alternate realities exists, a series of minor alterations can ultimately shape a completely distinct scenario. Overwatch’s teleportation expert, Symmetra, has transitioned between support and damage roles throughout her career. It’s only natural that some of her abilities would find their way into the wounded grasp of Doctor Strange.

As a devoted fan, let me express how captivated I am by the one-of-a-kind character, Strange, who serves as a Vanguard or “tank” in the usual shooter/MOBA context. Not only does he possess a teleporter, but his ability to conjure a massive magical barrier that withstands an astonishing amount of damage sets him apart. The anticipation for this game was so high that NetEase Games could have simply given us a color swap of Symmetra. Yet, they went above and beyond our expectations, offering Marvel enthusiasts a taste of the familiar yet delivering so much more. Strange is a distinct tank character who empowers a myriad of extraordinary plays.

The Winter Soldier is a character who further develops Blizzard’s concepts, yet carves out his unique path. Bucky combines the sniper-like accuracy of Cassidy, the grappling hook ability of Roadhog, and the upward punch move that Doomfist once possessed. All these traits suit an assassin equipped with a bionic arm perfectly.

Hulk Smash – Everything

Competition makes everything better. Remember when Overwatch 2 was supposed to have destructible environments. That was one of the many reasons Blizzard gave that it had to make Overwatch 2, then it never happened. Marvel Rivals has delivered on this promise, and it ups the fun factor tremendously.

Initially, it’s entertaining and somewhat typical for superheroes to create Hulk-like holes in nearby doors, but it serves a strategic purpose in the game as well. Knocking down building sections can provide unique sniping spots. Moreover, if Iron Man is hiding behind cover to fire missiles, you might need to demolish that part of the structure to get an opportunity to target him.

Let Our Powers Combine

As a passionate gamer, I’m always thrilled when games like NetEase’s offerings bring together my favorite superheroes for epic showdowns. It’s like watching Marvel movies, but now I get to be part of the action! The way they’ve implemented team-up abilities is brilliant. Characters can amplify each other’s powers in unique ways. For instance, the Hulk can share some of his gamma strength with Iron Man and Doctor Strange, giving them a significant edge.

Know Your Role

One of the biggest controversies that has emerged in the early stages of Rivals has been the lack of a role queue in competitive play. This inevitably leads to the 4-5 DPS lock. But because of the unique skillsets these characters have, things can work in non traditional ways.

In simpler terms, the character known as The Punisher is easy for beginners to handle, being classified with a difficulty of one star. However, during one game, I was astounded to witness an enemy Punisher blocking over 20,000 points of damage! Upon examining the abilities of a character I believed I was familiar with, I discovered that his deployable turret can actually absorb damage. While I wouldn’t recommend using The Punisher as a tank, it seems that skilled players can make him quite resilient.

As I have written about, some people are already finding success with a new form of Overwatch’s infamous GOATS comp, mixing three tanks and three supports. So far NetEase is saying no role queue is planned.

It seems like that choice is likely correct for now, since metas (meta-games) need more time to stabilize. Currently, no Dualist can conquer the map as swiftly as strategist Jeff the Land Shark, who possesses an extraordinary ability to devour entire enemy teams and then leap away from the map.

Regardless if you haven’t been a fan of hero shooter games before, I strongly recommend giving this one a shot. It’s free and offers an opportunity for anyone who enjoys superhero universes to discover their favorite character within this diverse group. Although it carries influences from previous games, its rapid speed and strategic depth set it apart as a unique experience. In essence, it’s like a sidekick stepping up to become the hero – this game is prepared to combat crime in the gritty streets of Marvel Manhattan.

Score: 8/10

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2024-12-21 03:28