Summary
The last few years have been a bit of a mixed bag for Marvel’s video game department. WhileInsomniac’sSpider-Manseriescontinues to knock it out of the park time and time again, andMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyis slowly becoming a cult classic,Marvel’s Avengerswas obviously a major disaster for the brand, and though it reviewed incredibly well,Marvel’s Midnight Sunsdidn’t shift enough units to be considered a success. But the future of Marvel games is looking brighter than ever, and it all seems to begin with the recently announcedMarvel Rivals.
Just announced,Marvel Rivalsis set to be a 6v6 hero shooter that seemingly borrows heavily from the likes ofOverwatch, but rather than play as original characters,Marvel Rivalswill give players a vast array of iconic heroes and villains to suit up as. Set to launch a closed alpha sometime in May,Marvel Rivals' debut trailer showed a lot of promise, and its surprisingly-packed day-one roster should give fans more than enough to chew on come release day.
Marvel Rivals' Launch Day Roster Explained
Coming out of the gate swinging,Marvel Rivalshas already confirmed a total of 18 playable heroes and villains, each coming with their own distinct moveset, and their own unique team role such as tank or support. These 18 playable characters include:
It’s currently unclear if all 18 heroes and villains will be playable duringMarvel Rivals' closed alpha test, but the game’s official website does state that “more than a dozen” playable heroes and villains will be available during the alpha, with Magneto, Magik, Spider-Man, and Black Panther all being double-confirmed to appear.
Marvel Rivals' Roster Offers a Lot of Diversity
For a starting roster for a free-to-play hero shooter,Marvel Rivals' line-upis incredibly impressive. With 18 heroes and villains being available from the get-go,Marvel Rivalshas already ensured that it’s provided at least one favorite character for every fan, with a pretty balanced roster of Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many others in between. It’s been a while since Marvel’s different hero groups have all joined forces in one video game, and it’s good to see them back together for such an ambitious project.
Another promising aspect ofMarvel Rivalsis that its roster is not only diverse in terms of where its characters are pulled from, but also in how those characters are going to function in a hero-shooter setting. Every playable hero and villain revealed so far leans heavily into their comic book abilities.Iron Man uses flight and repulsorsto blast enemies away from above, Spider-Man binds foes with webbing, Doctor Strange opens portals for the rest of his team, Loki teleports and steals other players' identities, and Hulk smashes.
Though a lot ofMarvel Rivals' characters' playstyles will inevitably be compared to some, admittedly, similar-lookingOverwatchhero abilities, those playstyles seem to suitMarvel Rivals' roster pretty perfectly, and the abundance of them ensures that every type of player is catered for, something that’s essential for a free-to-play multiplayer game. What sets truly setsMarvel Rivalsapart from its competition is its team-up mechanic, where heroes can link-up their abilities to perform unique attacks, such as Rocket Raccoon landing on Groot’s shoulders to essentially become a walking tank.
Marvel Rivals
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
