Like a masked superhero, there are more rivals than he meets with the eye. “Overwatch with marvel character” is a formula that sounds so lucrative on paper that I initially doubted its quality, fearing that it is nothing but a cash grip. After playing several dozen hours and removing the metaphorical mask of the game, I can see a gentle, challenging -working hero. Marvel rivals perform a basic concept with huge skills and finesse. Thanks to the huge list of free characters in the premieres, a satisfying game loop and the fastest matching system I have ever experienced, the first months of the game were a solid foundation from which you can build for many years.
Marvel Rivals is a shooter of the heroes of a third person, a species of multiplayer games defined by unique characters with separate combat capacity sets. The developer Netease launched the game in December last year with a generous list of 33 comic icons and committed to add more each season for free. Gracial heroes are extremely diverse, both in terms of their toys and where they fit in the canon of Marvel; For every Avenger A, such as Iron Man and Thor, the game also includes newer, more vague characters such as Luna Snow or a squirrel girl.
Regardless of the mode you play, seeing how these classic characters show their skills. Spider-Man may fall to get Ko, but Hulk was quickly closed by Hulk, who comes from the other side of the battlefield to protect his healers. After Storm recalls the deadly tornado, Dr. Strange can return the portal to restore his team to his destination as soon as the revival, and the concealed woman provides a huge shield to provide everyone safely. The characters of Marvel and their powers are well represented and it is nice to watch, even if you do not know all the details of what is happening.
I spent most of my time in a speedy game or competitive playlists, and each of them randomly goes through the same three modes of the game: domination, convoy and convergence. Each mode stands before two six teams to capture the area, escort the vehicle or some combination of these two. If you are intimidated by PVP, Practice vs. AI allows you to play the same playlists against a computer -controlled enemy team, and achievements are still in the daily missions and progress of the season. This is a great way to try recent characters if you need to feel the Iron Man repulsor or the twin element of Star-Lord.
There are also other modes, such as Conquest, Doom Match and occasional seasonal mode, but the characters of the game are so specially designed for team game modes with enormous maps that these other places are not fun. You can play so you want in a quick game and find a moderate success, but this is not the crazy of the conquest map. It is a pity, because the variety of characters is a enormous point of sale of this superpower.
The heroes’ shooters live and die because of their schedules, so it is noteworthy that this is one of the aspects that makes Marvel’s rivals develop. Each comic comics are unique and entertaining for the game, and although several characters can feel a bit under or overput each season, it is an extremely balanced cast. There are distance heroes, compact circuit heroes, and even some such as Cloak & Dagger or Scarlet Witch with target skills for players who have not spent hundreds of hours, polishing their shooting skills. We also encourage you to change. For example, if an opponent chooses a character who prevents my favorite (like Wolverine while playing groot), I can exchange for someone who counterattacks this counterattack. Frustration is compact -lived because there are so many profitable characters to choose from.
The most unique element of Marvel Rivals in the game is a team system that unlocks skills and passive buffs while playing in specific characters in the same team. Venom gives Spider-man an attack of Symbiał, Heela can revive Thor or Loki, gaining murder after death, and the rocket can drop an ammunition lighthouse for Punisher and a winter soldier. It adds another level of complexity of the team’s composition and encourages players to try recent characters, which maintains various and engaging.
The only glaring problem of the heroes’ composition is the distribution of roles. The characters of Marvel’s rivals fall into one of the three camps: Vanguard, duel or strategist. Avangard characters have enormous health pools and defense skills, individuals are speedy injury dealers, and the strategists have cunning sets that allow them to treat and strengthen teammates. Each role is equally valuable in the team, but most of the characters – 20 of 37 at the time of writing – are duels, exceeding the number of both other roles. Because this is the largest category and role that most resembles a classic shooter, many games start with players trying to choose their favorite duel instead of playing one of the supporting roles, leaving slower teammates, playing in Vanguard/Strategist or blocking as a duel and starting playing in an imbalance. This problem is not unique to Marvel Rivals, and many recent players in the genre of heroes probably prefer to play a character that seems more familiar, but it is more than the tendency of the player; Due to the fact that so many characters match this category of duels, the game design worsens the problem.
Although the list of heroes is massive during the premiere, the map pool turns in the opposite direction. Fortunately, this can be improved through future updates; Netase has already added Midtown to start the first season, and then Central Park six weeks later. If the studio keeps up with this term, this complaint will quickly archaic.
It is also undoubtedly the most glossy online experience for many players in my life. Most of the time, the games are almost immediately, and I was in line only for over 5 seconds after a few times. Toxic players are easily reported and often demanded during the day. LAG is practically non -existent, even when watching other players, and on PS5 I have never encountered performance problems. The maps also look attractive, full of details and Marvel Easter Eggs for players who are looking for them.
Ultimately, Marvel Rivals is not a revolution in game design, but the culmination of the successes of the shooters who were earlier. His gameplay is tight and balanced, his characters satisfy in exploit, and I come back to play more every night. I have hugs with the distribution of the roles of the characters, but I don’t spoil the game as a whole. Marvel Rivals does not succeed, because it is a grip of cash, finds success because he earned.
This 2025 review reflects our thoughts on the current state of the game in the publication. Therefore, updates after taking into account were included in the final result.
