August 20, 2024
Marvel Rivals has set itself up to be one of the next big Team-Based PVP Hero Shooters, which I’m sure will make a big wave once it officially drops on December 6th, 2024. It’s dropping earlier than people anticipated with an originally announced 2025 release date. Marvel Rivals has been on the top of many gamer’s lists since its Alpha debut, and the recent closed beta brought even more hype. NetEase Games and Marvel Games also dropped a world premiere trailer at thegameawards announcing two new characters to their already stacked roster as well as announcing all heroes will be unlocked and free-to-play at launch and beyond! Here’s a closer look at some of the things we enjoyed during the Alpha and Beta and some things we hope are adjusted before the official launch.
Roster
One of the biggest things Marvel Rivals has going for it is its stacked roster. Out the gate, Marvel Rivals will have a total of 25 playable characters split into three categories – vanguard/tank, duelist / DPS, and strategist / heals:
- Magneto – Tank
- Peni Parker – Tank
- Groot – Tank
- Hulk – Tank
- Captain America – Tank
- Venom – Tank
- Doctor Strange – Tank
- Thor – Tank
- Hela – DPS
- Storm – DPS
- Scarlet Witch – DPS
- Namor – DPS
- Winter Soldier – DPS
- Spider-Man – DPS
- Black Panther – DPS
- Magik – DPS
- Star-Lord – DPS
- Iron Man – DPS
- Punisher – DPS
- Loki – Heals
- Mantis – Heals
- Adam Warlock – Heals
- Jeff the Land Shark – Heals
- Luna Snow – Heals
- Rocket Raccoon – Heals
Players will have a plethora of characters to choose from right away, and with Marvel’s IP, there is no telling who may pop into the game at any time. This is one of Marvel Rival’s strongest advantages since they can pull from both well-known and unknown characters to stack their roster even further. The diverse cast are so unique from on another in fight style as well that it makes for a continuously exciting experience as you search for your favorite playstyle.
Twitch streamers LastBlackSpartan and BluSatire noted the game’s diverse characters as one of their favorite parts of the game, stating they loved seeing characters that are popular, but also some that don’t get a lot of shine in mainstream media.
Gameplay
While Marvel Rivals can be a fun time, especially played with friends, there are some pitfalls when it comes to actual gameplay that a lot of people are hoping to see fixed going into the official launch.
Some people, like content creator NeverADought, have noted attacks from a few characters that feel like they have little to no weight to them, which made it feel like the power balance between characters was off. Magneto, for example, has attacks that don’t feel like they have weight behind them, leaving the player feeling like they are just going through the motions. If Marvel Rivals can find a way to make every hit from the characters feel impactful, it could enhance the gameplay experience even further.
Another hurdle Marvel Rivals will need to look at is its collapsible environment. Twitch Partner Amethyst notes that the collapsible environment gets in the way too much. She states, “I understand it being meant to make the gameplay feel realistic and have it either benefit or be a disadvantage to the player, but it is too intrusive and makes it less fun to play around – regardless of impact.”
This sentiment is echoed by Twitch Streamer Jelani Hendrix, who states, “For the most part they [the environment] look cool, but they can be a hindrance when it comes to someone who is a flying character (he’s an Iron Man main).”
While still an enjoyable experience overall, if Marvel Rivals can find a way to add weight to the characters and implement a less intrusive collapsible environment, it will help take the game to new heights once it officially launches in December.
Mechanics
Marvel Rivals does its character designs really well! The abilities given to each character make sense for them both in-game and in-comics. They have a broad landscape of material to pull from. The game takes it a step further and allows certain characters to team up to amplify these powers even further. The team-ups are probably one of the greatest mechanics in Marvel Rivals. This feature allows you to strategize with your team in different ways depending on who does and who does not have a team-up ability.
Twitch Affiliate, HGDamian notes that the game has a lot to like – character designs, abilities that make sense to character’s powers, and the quick in and out of battles – it does still lack in some areas. Things such as a Role Queue implementation, more character customization, and more team-up abilities would help keep the game’s interest alive upon launch.
Role Queue is a big ask across the board. As seen in games like Blizzard’s Overwatch 2, a role queue system will help keep a team of all DPS going up against a team of all Tanks. Having that choice to role queue or not really would bring balance to the game and is a feature I’m sure a lot of us are hoping for.
Final Thoughts
I’m excited for Marvel Rivals and have loved getting the chance to play in the Alpha and Beta test. While the roster is amazing, and each character’s abilities are unique and fun, there is always room for growth. Marvel Rivals is missing some vital balance in some aspects of the game. This ranges from characters feeling too light, both in movement and attack, the collapsible environment feeling intrusive at times, and the lack of role queue. If Marvel Rivals can find a way to adjust some of these concerns I believe it can be the next big hero-shooter, and who knows, we may even see it in the e-sports realm before long.
Keep your eyes on Marvel Rivals. It’s a fun game with a lot to offer, and if you’re playing with friends, it truly enhances the experience. I know I am not the only one excited for the December 6th launch day.