GamesThird Person ShooterMarvel Rivals is a 6v6 hero shooter in development at NetEase, testing begins in MayWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesThird Person ShooterMarvel Rivals is a 6v6 hero shooter in development at NetEase, testing begins in MayWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
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The whole thing is, of course, rooted in a Multiverse beef: A clash between Doctor Doom and his counterpart from the year 2099 has somehow caused a collision of universes in a “timestream entanglement,” forcing heroes and villains into unexpected alliances and enmities as they seek to defeat both Dooms before either of them can take control of these newly-created worlds.
Sounds a bit like Secret Wars, maybe, except the battle lines aren’t quite so clearly drawn: Good guys and bad guys are all just cats in a bag. It’s not the deepest narrative setup ever but it’s also not entirely out of line with typical comic book fare—I mean, Secret Wars happened entirely because The Beyonder wanted to watch some fights. At the very least, it’s a better justification for the chaotic brouhaha than we ever got from Overwatch.
The initial roster of characters includes:
I have to admit, I struggle a bit to see how The Punisher fits into that lineup: He is, after all, just a guy with a gun. On the other hand, he’s also the guy who singlehandedlykilled the Marvel Universe. Maybe the smart play here would’ve been to let him handle the Doom situation while everyone else goes out for a nice lunch.
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One particularly interesting aspect of Marvel Rivals is “Team-Up Skills,” which enables two characters to combine their abilities into unique powers and tactics: Rocket Raccoon can blast away at enemies while riding around on Groot’s back, for instance, while Hulk can unleash his Gamma energy to supercharge Iron Man’s armor. (I think it’s fair to say that superpowers in Marvel Rivals don’t hew too precisely to the previously established canon.) It’s not clear at this point whether every character will be able to team up with everyone else, or if only certain heroes or villains will be able to get together
Destructible environments will also enable players to “alter [the] environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield,” Netease said. “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.”
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Marvel Rivals will follow a seasonal structure, with new heroes, maps, and other unlockable content added in post-launch updates. A full release date hasn’t been announced but alpha testing is set to begin in May—to sign up for a shot at access, head over tomarvelrivals.com.
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Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneThe best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit
Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene
Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene
The best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit
The best part of Marvel Rivals Season 1 is Mister Fantastic’s obnoxiously fun chest-bump attack and his ridiculously OP kit
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