Summary
Marvel Rivalsis one of the most exciting forthcoming Marvel games and it’s interesting to see how it’s been received thus far. In a gaming landscape where it would appear that genre clones aren’t desirable,Marvel Rivalsat least ensures that there was a niche gaming community desperate for something that could rivalOverwatchas a hero shooter. It’s perhaps icing on the cake, then, that this clone has been announced as part of the indomitably popular Marvel IP and is dressed in the equally popular art style ofArcaneorValorant.
Rather,Marvel Rivalsalso preys on the easily exploitable concept of a multiverse or dimension-hopping.Marvel Rivalscertainly won’t be the first or last time Marvel employs this long-leashed narrative outline, and yet it works perfectly for a 6v6 hero shooter that seeks to incorporate any and all Marvel characters. As an ensemble game with endless opportunities in whom it may feature, it isn’t surprising to see characters such asMarvel Rivals’ Luna Snow, Loki, Peni Parker, and more battling together. Black Panther is featured alongside these heroes, and while it may be easy to lose sight of him amid other iconic names he’s surely going to stand out overall with so much precedence in upcoming Marvel games now.
Black Panther is Soon to Be Crowned the King of Marvel Games
Only shown briefly,Marvel Rivals’ Black Panther can evidently summon Bast’s essence to become a massive, ethereal, and purple panther and wreak havoc onMarvel Rivals’ destructible environments. It’s unclear what other potential he has as a damage or DPS class, but him joining the ensemble as a launch character is representative of how iconic he is in the wider Marvel pantheon. It’s notMarvel Rivalsalone where he’ll be featured in an upcoming Marvel game, though, as there are a couple of others in development that will center their attention almost wholly on the Wakandan king:
So while it’ll be great to see Black Panther inMarvel Rivals’ launch roster, players definitely shouldn’t feel bad if he winds up not getting the most attention because he’ll have more than enough limelight inMarvel 1943: Rise of Hydraand his own standalone game from EA. Indeed, Black Panther has been important in many Marvel games such asMarvel vs. Capcom: InfiniteorMarvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order.
But with two lead roles and an ensemble role it’s clear that the character will be the face of Marvel games for a while as he’s spread out between entries. Yuri Lowenthal’s portrayal of Spider-Man is being requisitioned forMarvel Rivalsas well, but while Spider-Man has never been anything less than Marvel’s chief mascot it’s fascinating to finally see Black Panther leading the pack in games with a lot to look forward to.
Yuri Lowenthal plays Spider-Man in Insomniac’sMarvel’s Spider-Manfranchise, Firaxis’Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and now NetEase’sMarvel Rivals.
Black Panther’s Reign in Games Risks Oversaturation
Of course, one downside to Black Panther being so ubiquitous in upcoming Marvel games could be that he’s a little too prominent. That won’t necessarily be detrimental, however, unless each interpretation of the character, T’Challa or otherwise, fails to be dynamic and distinguishable.
Marvel Rivals’ Black Panther will be boiled down to signature attacks and abilities, which is more of an understandably shallow take since that’s all he needs to be beyond any lore the game associates with him.Rise of Hydra, on the other hand, has the tall order ofintroducing players to Azzuri inMarvel 1943’s titular WW2 eraand juggling three other playable characters simultaneously.
EA Cliffhanger’s standalone Black Panther gamecan’t be a slouch, either; whether it’s an origin story or dives into Black Panther’s life with an original canon behind him, Black Panther won’t have Captain America or an ensemble to fall back on. Each interpretation that follows the last will hopefully have something novel to bring to the character, even with how Azzuri is depicted in contrast to T’Challa. Doing so authentically will therefore be a true testament to common tropes and genuine character development from each developer.
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!
