Even though Marvel isn’t as hot and happening as it was in years past, there are still enough people who are happy to work with the iconic superhero and villain group. After the hugely successful launches of Marvel Snap and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, among others, NetEase decided to bring literally all the heroes and villains together. Marvel Rivals is still in full development, but we were able to interview the developers behind closed doors at Gamescom and of course play the game to write this awesome Marvel Rivals preview.
Marvel Rivals – Good vs. Evil vs. Good
It’s still a mystery to me, as no one has ever come up with the idea of throwing a wide array of well-known Marvel characters into a hero-based shooter. However, NetEase came along and delivered Marvel Rivals. If you think the game is too reminiscent of, say, Overwatch 2, I can agree with you in some ways. All the heroes and villains fight together on two competing teams to achieve victory. Appearances like Dr. Strange, Magneto, Winter Soldier, Captain America, and Spider-man all have their own powers, and it’s entirely up to the player to choose which powers suit their playstyle.
While speaking with the developers, it became clear that fun is key. Marvel Rivals doesn’t have to stand out in the competitive landscape, but it does need to be well-received by the Marvel fanbase. In addition to the requisite known leads, there’s also room for Magik, Luna Snow, and Penny Parker. At the time of writing, there are at least 25 confirmed characters, but if the developers are to be believed, it won’t stop there. With seasonal content and an endless catalog of both heroes and villains, the potential roster is vast, something NetEase is taking into account.
He is getting more and more of his face.
When we compare the game to Overwatch, we see clear similarities. The game has a unique crew, divided into different classes for attack or support, and each character has their own unique skill set that provides a good matchup against a number of other characters. Additionally, a number of those skill sets are also very similar to the competitor’s skills, but Marvel Rivals offers a completely different gameplay loop and increasingly seems to have its own identity.
This “I just want to have fun” feeling immediately seeps into the gameplay. Special moves are almost always available and finishing moves fly around your ears. This makes the pace very high, adding a more arcade feel to the gameplay. Additionally, it’s nice that NetEase has committed to unlocking the current roster and future characters right away. There’s no endless effort to unlock a bunch of characters (we’re looking at you, MultiVersus), but just a full roster right away. This also makes the character variety much wider, as your favorite character is playable right away when you start the game. When asked how NetEase will make money, the response was still questionable. It was promised that the game will not include pay-to-win content and so the game will essentially have to make money through Battle Pass or paid cosmetics.
Initial ruling by Rudy Weinberg
Players who are a bit tired of Overwatch or are simply looking for a fun, free-to-play shooter seem to be in the right place with Marvel Rivals. The cast of characters available is large and they are unlocked immediately upon launch. Fun is key and this is particularly reflected in the gameplay, which is somewhat unbalanced, frantic and, above all, entertaining. However, it remains to be seen exactly how NetEase will generate revenue, as there is currently a big question mark behind it. What is certain, however, is that NetEase will be supporting the game heavily after launch. With 25 characters already available (and the possibility of hinting at Red Skull and other content), there is certainly a lot of content to discover.
Marvel Rivals will be released on December 6, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. Looking for all the gamescom content? Then you’ve come to the right place. For example, check out our massive gamescom live blog to follow the editors closely!
When it comes to negative sports, Rudy is a rock as he regularly knocks many fighters to the ground and picks their teeth. However, he is not averse to other types. Under the motto “you should try everything in your life”, the Amsterdammer experiments from time to time. Not always successful, patience is not really his strong point, just as being a graceful winner during many fights…
