Summary
Marvel Rivalsisn’t out in the wild for everybody to play yet, but what’s been graciously displayed by influencers and streamers thus far gives an exciting peek at how its 6v6 hero shooter gameplay is implemented. The most viral moments have undoubtedly come fromScarlet Witch gameplay inMarvel Rivals, revealing her Ultimate, Reality Erasure, can delete nearby opponents from existence and that she has dialogue intimately taunting other characters such as Doctor Strange and Magik.
Comparisons to characters fromOverwatchare as rampant as they were always going to be given that the games have a lot in common. The secret ingredientMarvel Rivalshas that distinguishes it, then, is its adaptation of lore and source material from Marvel. It’s these character interactions and abilities that will endearMarvel Rivalsto anyone who might not have been familiar or warm to the competitive live-service genre but is willing to give it a go after seeing their favorite comic book characters realized so astonishingly, and Spider-Man is a clear proponent of an adaptation done well.
Marvel Rivals Adapts Spider-Man’s Spider-Sense as a Passive Ability
Spider-Man has a passive spider-sense ability that gives players a warning of enemies that have been around. The hero profile abilities tab gives a video demonstration of this, where Spider-Man’s spider-sense triggers the same iconic flashes around his head. Spider-Man then looks around a corner and, sure enough,Marvel Rivals’ Punisheris there.
This doesn’t seem to be particularly helpful if players are already in the midst of several opponents, but if opponents are nowhere to be seen and purposefully trying to be stealthy as they traverse the map it seems as if Spider-Man will be a huge boon in locating them or at least acknowledging someone is nearby before that opponent can ambush them.
Overall it’s unlikely to provide a massive advantage and will likely be overlooked once battles ensue and become chaotic. Still, it’s a brilliant adaptation that honors Spider-Man. Indeed,Marvel Rivalswouldn’t be nearly as special if it wasn’t meticulous with the characters it’s adapting and getting creative with how it inserts their authentic abilities into gameplay.
If Spider-Man’s spider-sense did anything more than notify the player that an enemy is near, such as highlighting their silhouette through a wall, it would also probably be a bit too much. Therefore, NetEase was able to find a fair balance with it that neither lessens nor exaggeratesSpider-Man’s precognitive superpower.
Spider-Man is Comprehensive Thanks to Marvel Rivals’ Attention to Detail
Spider-Man’s web-swinging inMarvel Rivalshas been a viral point of evidence for this premise as players grapple with the physics and momentum of his incredible mobility; wall-crawling and wall-sprinting is also a wonderful and faithful touch, even if players don’t find the time to slowly scale a destructible surface beyond the opening queue. NetEase must’ve considered the functionality of Spider-Man’s abilities and decided to adapt them anyway, which is the best choice it could’ve made because without each of these elements Spider-Man wouldn’t feel complete as a character.
Seeing how artistically inventiveMarvel Rivalsis, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to believe that a Peter Parker skin could drop at some point in the game’s future. Such a skin could portray Peter in ordinary clothes, even if doing so means NetEase needs to design a Peter Parker face and model.
It’s already demonstratedhow faithfullyMarvel Rivalsadapts each Marvel characterand how in-depth it is with each ability or attack they have, so the sky is truly the limit on what lengthsMarvel Rivalscan go to when it comes to additional skins or characters themselves. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, there is unique dialogue between characters that allows for supplementary world-building.
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!
