Marvel Rivals review: The hero (shooter) we need and deserve

Sometimes in the world of gaming, there are a few trends that alot of companies like to do in order to maximize profits from others, regardless of how the public reacts. One such trend that people noticed is the rise of hero shooters, like Overwatch and Paladins, but there’s been a change in that rise where Marvel and NetEase Games have collaborated to create Marvel Rivals, a 6v6 hero shooter that harbors back to the reason why we love hero shooters way before the burnout.

 

With this game, there’s a whole list of characters to play as, split into 3 different categories: Vanguards, Duelists, and Strategists. Some of these characters include Moon Knight, The Hulk Squirrel Girl, Jeff the Land Shark, and recently the first family, The Fantastic Four. They each have their own unique learning curve that makes mastering hard, but very well worth it to help your team in securing goals. Some of these heroes can even use team-up moves, like Hulk and Wolverine having a Fastball Speical move, and Groot can carry either Rocket Racoon or Jeff. Plus, We’re still going to get alot more characters in the future

 

With these characters, we have the opportunity to showcase them in various different maps, split between 5 different game modes, including Convoy, Conquest, Domination, Convergence, and Doom Match, each with different strategies in how to win, what characters to use, and how well your team coordinates with the mission at hand. 

 

Since this game is free, this does not mean everything in the game is free. Sure, all the characters are unlocked from the start, but the battle passes and the extra costumes require real-world money to acquire them. Luckily, if you buy a battle pass, it stays unlocked, even well after the season ends, which is a nice touch on NetEase’s part. 

 

There are a few gripes I have with the game that I think a lot of people can vouch for, including the fact that there’s no cross-progression, so you can't play on PS5 and then jump on PC like nothing happened. This severely limits who plays the game and locks people out of limited-time cosmetics, which is not a good look. 

 

Overall, Marvelo Rivals is a triumph in the already worn down hero shooter genre of gaming, standing on its own achievements, its own strengths and weaknesses, and its growing foothold on the hero shooter market. With characters people already know, gameplay that’s not prioritized to the hyper-competitive, and a chance to show future content without the fear of a sunset, Marvel Rivals is going to be around for a very long time, and I for one cannot wait to see what comes next.

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9.5/10