After playing the Marvels Avengers beta, we left pretty pleased. Every hero feels unique to play, which just makes Spider-Mans console exclusivity that much even worse for PC and Xbox players.
On Monday, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix made a significant Marvels Avengers statement: Spider-Man is coming to the video game, but hell be unique to PlayStation systems. Not surprisingly, parts of the web appeared in anger. Nobody likes it when theyre informed they cant play with a new toy– specifically when that brand-new toy is freaking Spider-Man, one of Marvels most popular superheroes.
How different are the heroes in Marvels Avengers?
Iron Man and Thor hover around the Golden Gate BridgeImage: Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix
Iron Man enhances on some of Anthems good ideas, forcing me to blend melee and ranged fight in-air or on the ground. And when it comes to my heavy attack, I can swap devices in between my lasers, repulsors, and rockets.
I play as Thor, then Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, and finally, Black Widow. Each gameplay section offers me a little taste of each hero, their abilities, and their play design. Its the first take a look at my preferred aspect of Marvels Avengers: Every hero plays like they belong in a different video game.
Black Widow plays like a typical action-game hero, like Dante in the Devil May Cry series– however every hit sends out opponents into a small manage animation. In an one-on-one fight, its hard to think of ever taking a hit.
Thor right away releases Kratos vibes from God of Wars franchise reboot. I toss my hammer, pinning an AIM soldier to a truck, and beat on the staying baddies with my fist. When Im all set, I summon Mjölnir back to me, taking out a couple of more enemies on its method.
The very first objective in Marvels Avengers took me through the A-Day mission, the exact same one previewed at E3 2019. The objective happens mostly on the Golden Gate Bridge as a mysterious catastrophe surpasses San Francisco.
The initial Marvels Avengers squad, prior to Kamala joinsImage: Crystal Dynamics/ Square Enix
Such different playing heroes may sound like uncontrollable dissonance, however it works in Avengers favor. Each hero brings something special to the table.
And Hulk … plays like Hulk. And while I also use big fists and stomps as Ms. Marvel, who plays similarly to Hulk, I can direct that rage in a different method.
Captain America feels inspired by Rocksteadys Batman video games, as I cope quick melee hits, leap over enemies, and execute regular takedowns– a capability all heroes have access to, however I use it more regularly as Black Widow and Captain America. And when opponents get too far, I rocket my shield off my arm and watch it ricochet versus the AIM soldiers.
I can currently think of how Hawkeye will play when he comes to Marvels Avengers post-launch. I do not imagine a reskin of Black Widow with arrows rather of bullets. I imagine hell play more like Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn, or Lara Croft from Crystal Dynamics Tomb Raider video games.
The Spider-Man issue
The web-head in Insomniacs Marvels Spider-ManInsomniac Games/Sony
In a living video game like Marvels Avengers, with raid-like activities, the best hope players can have is that Spider-Man isnt worth playing. Otherwise, PlayStation players will have an unique benefit over PC and Xbox users. Its an offer that, on its face, isnt dissimilar to special Exotic weapons in the Destiny games, a deal Bungie got rid of after its split with Activision.
And that draws for Spider-fans who do not own a PlayStation or want to play on another console to be with good friends. Fans on the Marvels Avengers subreddit expressed aggravation over the exclusivity deal. One gamer with a physical disability noted they can just play on PC, and were sad to not be able to play their favorite Marvel character.
Its unclear whether Spider-Man is an irreversible or timed PlayStation unique. A ComicBook interview with Crystal Dynamics co-head Scott Amos conveyed that Sony holds specific rights to Spider-Man, and so Crystal Dynamics made Spider-Man just for Sony players. Many of Marvels Avengers is for everybody, all of it is for PlayStation players.
The unique nature of each of the Avengers makes me that much sadder about Spider-Mans exclusivity. If the heroes all played likewise, with a couple of capability tweaks– like in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 or the LEGO Marvel video games– I could stomach the exemption a bit simpler. But with Marvels Avengers, rejecting Xbox and PC gamers access to Spider-Man resembles Blizzard revealing that the Barbarian will only be on Xbox consoles when it releases Diablo 4.
Thor beats on a soldierImage: Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix
There are crucial distinctions in between the Spider-Man scenario and Destiny Exotics, however. With Destiny, Exotics only stayed exclusive for a year, while its possible that Spider-Man may never concern PC or Xbox players– a PR agent for Marvels Avengers informed us it has no extra info to share about Spidey. And Destiny characters are more than a single weapon. Guardians have an entire toolkit of abilities and numerous other weapons to gear up– one weapon doesnt define a play style, even if its extremely powerful.
No one likes it when theyre informed they cant play with a new toy– specifically when that new toy is freaking Spider-Man, one of Marvels most popular superheroes.
Spider-Man resembles an entire class unto himself, like making the popular Hunter class exclusive to Destiny gamers on PlayStation, instead of a single weapon.
Its the very first look at my favorite aspect of Marvels Avengers: Every hero plays like they belong in a various game.
Marvels Avengers very first look didnt show much promise, and this weekends beta is a chance for it to reveal gamers why they should care. However its hard for news of this offer not to sour the mood.
I can already envision how Hawkeye will play when he comes to Marvels Avengers post-launch. If the heroes all played similarly, with a few capability tweaks– like in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 or the LEGO Marvel games– I might stomach the exclusion a bit simpler. One player with a physical special needs noted they can just play on PC, and were sad to not be able to play their preferred Marvel character.
