For years, the overwhelming might of established hero shooters has seen certain titles reign supreme, but a new champion by the name ofMarvel Rivals, while not an immediate revolution, may have what it takes to breathe new life into the genre. Many features from the latest Marvel-fueled free-to-play multiplayer game are difficult not to compare toOverwatch 2, butit thankfully makes several refreshing changesthat should entice players to grab their capes again.
Marvel’s iconic cast of characters has grown more popular than ever in the past decade, but that doesn’t mean that every video game released with the brand would successfully resonate with fans. However,Marvel Rivalsthankfully does more right than wrong, helping it rank closer to the other super-powered hits like theMarvel Spider-Mangames than theill-receivedMarvel Avengersgame of 2020.
Marvel Rivals
Marvel’s characters have been adapted with many different representations in the comics, movies, and games, butRivals’gameplay and visuals lean more toward the colorful comic book styles and humor. That style, along with its addictive gameplay loop, makesMarvel Rivalsan Avenger-level threatagainst other hero shooters. However, some aspects still hold it back from being a true hero that could have finally broken the tired tropes that have become rampant in the F2P multiplayer genre.
Avengers Assemble To Redefine Team-Based Shooters
Marvel Rivals Includes Newer & Classic Characters From The Comics
With thirty-three playable characters at launch,Marvel Rivalssports an incredibly varied roster of beloved heroes and villains from the brand’s lush history. Some are more recognizable than others, but each holds unique skills that must be used to damage opponents, help allies, or effectively navigate the battlefield. Each character fits into one of three categories: the tanky Vanguard, the damage-focused Duelist, and the supportive Strategist. While specific classes are nothing new to the hero shooter genre, the wayRivalsencourages players to try out different characters with special team-up abilities is a refreshing addition that hopefully more games adapt.
Many ofMarvel Rival’s best launch characterscan be extremely satisfying to use, but effectively implementing team-ups rewards specific character picks with incredibly lucrative boosts to teammates' attacks and mobility and even helps resurrect certain characters. One specific example is when Venom teams up with Spider-Man or Peni Parker, a new AoE attack unlocks. In contrast, other team-ups can boost attacks or infuse others with elemental damage and effects. Theteam-up abilities are an incredibly clever mechanic that adds layers of extra strategy toMarvel Rivals’gameplayand will surely be pivotal in its Competitive Ranked matches.
10 Best Marvel Rivals Team-Ups (& How To Perform Them)
With how many team-ups there are in Marvel Rivals, it can be hard to keep track of them all or what’s worth using, but some stand out above the rest.
A good team composition can be the difference between an effective win or a quick loss in many multiplayer games. Many newer players are going to gravitate towards the damage-focused Duelist class, whichcurrently has more than double the number of characters the others feature. In the right hands, a well-balanced team will typically always win against an unbalanced one. Still, the team-up mechanic can make up for the shortcomings of an unbalanced team comp. However, some ofMarvel Rivals' characters need some balancing of their own.
A Cast That’s Hard Not To Love
Other Hero Shooters Dream Of Having Marvel’s Character Recognition
Player feedback will help futureMarvel Rivalsupdates balance gameplay, butat launch, there’s an unfair advantage for characters like Iron Man and Scarlet Witch. Those characters can be challenging to hit, but they both have ultimate attacks that take little to no time to prepare and cause instant death for characters who can not move twenty feet away in 1.5 seconds to avoid their obliteration.
EachMarvel Rivalsplayable character has different abilities and attacks that fulfill a specific purpose in the sometimes chaotic six versus six matches. People who prefer to land effective damage from a distance can do so effectively with picks like Black Widow and Hawkeye, and those who like to get up close and personal will enjoy what Iron Fist and the incredibly agile Spider-Man can pull off. The game features everything in between with its impressive roster of thirty-three characters, which will likelygrow inMarvel Rivalsbright future.
Marvel Rivalsexcels in making each fighter feel unique from one another while also fitting their iconic abilitiesinto how each plays. Some common disagreements exist on which class some characters fit into, like Wolverine being a damage hero rather than a tank with regeneration and his adamantium skeleton. However, each individual is thoughtfully placed in a role that finds creative uses for their powers.
By featuring a game with an already well-established cast, it’s incredibly easy to feel attached to the playable characters, which is something other hero shooters can struggle to accomplish.Future updates will include fixes plus additional skins and characters, which lead toMarvel Rivalsmicrotransactions, one of the game’s biggest disappointments.
How Marvel Rivals Could Improve
Expensive Skins And A Lack Of Modes & Story Presentation Disappoint
Marvel Rivals' approach towards its inevitable battle passis a welcome one thanks to its content not becoming inaccessible when the next season starts, so players can take their time unlocking its content. While in-game credits can be earned without purchasing the battle pass and by completely consistently updating challenges,earning credits without the battle pass is still very slow going. Many individual skins cost around $15, which is a missed opportunity because ifMarvel Rivalscharged $5 or $10 per skin, it would’ve been a significant advantage over the often overpriced skins in games likeOverwatch 2.
The Luxury Battle Pass forMarvel Rivalsseason 0 costs around $5. It includes several skins, in-game currency, and other player customization accessories. Future passes may cost more.
Another disappointing feature ofMarvel Rivalsis how it currently tells its overarching story, which could have ranked among other great multiversal storylines in the comics. A PvE mode with story cutscenes might have been a lot to ask for, butMarvel Rivals' nearly non-existent plot is unlocked by completing specific challenges. It seems like a satisfying reward, but players are only given a few paragraphs to read, which lack any type of presentation once unlocked.The wayMarvel Rivals' story is presented is incredibly underwhelming, especially for a brand known worldwide for its captivating and character-rich plotlines.
Cross-play worked smoothly during the review period, butMarvel Rivalscurrently lacks cross-progression. Hopefully, it’ll be implemented in a future update with more game modes. Quick Play features the typical Control and Payload Escort game types, which can also be played against AI opponents to help new players not feel so overwhelmed. Besides those, and the still new Ranked Competitive mode, the only other mode currently available is Conquest. Conquest is a fast-paced game mode that focuses on earning kills, causing characters to explode into crystals that must be collected until one team gathers fifty.
Final Thoughts & Review Score
Screen Rant Gives Marvel Rivals 8/10
Quick Play matches ordinarily last between five to ten minutes and will likely occupy the attention of most players with its eight maps, each partially destructible and well-designed to encourage player momentum. It’s highly encouraged to try different playable heroes, especially with the Hero Tutorial and Practice Range, where skills can be practiced so that players are not trying characters they are inexperienced with within the heat of battle, potentially letting teammates down.
A hero shooter’s first week is vital to a live service game’s success, andMarvel Rivalshas made a strong impression for many good reasons. While the game’s story lacks the presentation the brand is worthy of, its diverse gameplay with beloved characters and new mechanics have set a high bar for the hero shooter genre. No matter what type of character players enjoy using in multiplayer shooters,Marvel Rivalshas a hero or villain for everyone, and with time, it can get better.
