The studio best known for big action single-player games such as the Tomb Raider series was tasked by publisher Square Enix to build the first game in a partnership with Marvel. Crystal is clearly stepping out of their comfort in creating a machine reminiscent of Destiny but set in a new Marvel Universe.
NOTE: This review is based solely on the game’s single-player campaign. We’ll cover multiplayer in an upcoming piece.
Marvel’s Avengers
Developed By: Crystal Dynamics
Published By: Square Enix
Available For: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia (PS5 and XSX versions will be available later this year)
Games based on comics typically fall under one of three categories, single-person cinematic game, big online game, or mobile genre skin. Marvel’s Avengers feels like a Frankenstein of all these types of genre. While that sounds like a blueprint for disaster, the game pulls off some incredible feats.
The game’s main campaign is shorter than you would like a title based on Marvel’s biggest property to be (only doing narrative Hero Missions about 10-12 hours total) but it lands the right narrative emotional rollercoaster. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Avengers to bring a group of individual heroes together when the threat is too great for one to handle alone. While that motto is the canvas the game is painted on, the heart comes from its lens, Kamala Khan (Ms.Marvel). Voiced by Sandra Saad, Kamala is an endearing way to tell an Avengers story. She’s those who’ve dreamed of having powers in order to be a hero standing with Iron Man and Captain America. We get to immerse ourselves in her journey from fan to Avenger. Her story is fun, action-packed, and tragic at times. Crystal Dynamic’s narrative team does a proper job of giving her proper cultural nuances through her attire and conversations with her father. It sets her apart from most other characters they could have written this story around.
As you reassemble the team you’ll get to play as each of the avengers in their own bit of narrative spotlight throughout the story. Each of the characters brings a unique control adaptation. As Iron Man or Thor you’ll get to fly and become air support for the team while as Hulk or Ms. Marvel you’ll get to smash barriers hiding gear upgrades while Black Widow is the team’s spec ops character for sneaking around environments.
By far the most satisfying character to play as is Captain America. There’s something soo satisfying ricocheting his shield through groups of enemies and hearing it snap back to your arm.
Admittedly the connection between Thanos and the Marvel Universe had started to get thin towards the later MCU. Between him being the villain of Ultimate Alliance 3 and appearances in recent big Marvel crossover events, it’s buried a library of great villains. Marvel’s Avengers tries something new as earth’s mightiest heroes take on MODOK (and a surprise enemy at the end). AIM and MODOK’s agenda of ridding the world of superpowers fits this story where the Avengers don’t just need to win a fistfight they need to win the argument about whether the world is better off without superpowers. It’s a welcome and more layered change from trying to wrestle away space rocks from a titan.
After completing the game’s main campaign, I can tell you this story is more of a universe beginning point than Marvel’s Spider-Man. That doesn’t mean there aren’t issues with somethings being crammed or skipped over. Inhumans and terrigenesis play key roles yet aspects of it remain behind a high wall of being a Marvel fan. The game writes terrigen crystals in a more grounded way but then pulls that rug out at the end without really emphasizing the space origins of it. There is a ton of setup for the future character additions and full sequel but we likely won’t see Square Enix full post plan for months. Fortunately, the game has tons of replay value via its multiplayer element and character progression the feels nearly endless.
Mechanically, Marvel’s Avengers is fun but there is a repetition factor that may wear thin for some. The game doesn’t have much variation in set pieces or mission variation which only contributes to game fatigue. While we didn’t need all the Marvel villains, there is a serious drought of boss fights with well known Marvel characters in the story mode. The only villains outside of MODOK you’ll get to face are Taskmaster and Abomination. We need more villains in future updates and soon; Loki, The Hood, Ultron, there are tons of villains that could come to the game.
Marvel’s Avengers shows just how far the house of ideas has come to console gaming in a short amount of time. It wasn’t so long ago that games utilizing its library of characters were limited to either Spider-Man games or mobile titles. This game might feel a bit undercooked when you see frame rate issues, unjustifiably long load screens, and a lack of boss battles. Despite its issues, the game still lands the fantasy of being in the pages of a Marvel blockbuster event. You get massive action moments that are fun to play over and over, phenomenal character work building Kamala Khan for an audience beyond the comics, immersion that feels like it can only be done with Marvel characters. While the game is an entry point for a long term game that will frequently add content, it’s a ticket that’s worth the price of admission.
As mentioned we’ll rate the game’s multiplayer early next week and update our review score.
