Marvel Rivalsis just around the corner, and the pace of major announcements has picked up accordingly. Of course, the addition of new heroes is undoubtedly going to be some of the most exciting news. Most recently,Marvel Rivalshas revealed Hawkeye as the next playable character to join the game’s roster.
Marvel Rivals' full rosterwill feature 33 playable characters when it launches on December 6. With the recent reveal of Hawkeye, the number of characters that have been officially revealed has now climbed to 28. Hawkeye bears a natural resemblance to Hanzo fromOverwatch, but this connection could have some troubling implications thatMarvel Rivalsshould really try to avoid.
Marvel Rivals Shouldn’t Let Hawkeye Become the Next Hanzo
Some Marvel Rivals Heroes Should Feel Familiar to Overwatch Fans
Marvel Rivalshas already released a few heroes that appear to be inspired by some counterparts inOverwatch. More accurately, since the two games are in the same genre, there are simply some popular character archetypes that are bound to reappear. Namor may have a “turret” building style similar to Torbjorn, but he has a completely unique identity otherwise. The same can be said forMarvel Rivals' Hulk designcompared to that of D.Va fromOverwatch, and so on and so forth.
In this regard, Hawkeye is no exception. Of course, as the designated archer of the cast, Hawkeye was always going to draw comparisons with Hanzo. However, this comparison could turn into a cause for concern. After all, Hanzo was very often a formidable opponent, even to the point of becoming an early and ongoingcontroversy forOverwatch.
Hanzo’s Place in Overwatch’s Meta Could Be a Cautionary Tale for Marvel Rivals
Hanzo is a sniper in the same vein as Widowmaker, and this role is certainly a double-edged sword. Players who can fight from a distance or take on airborne opponents will always be necessary in the hero shooter genre. On the other hand, they can often prove to be a nuisance, regardless of how good or bad they are in a given patch. Unfortunately,Hanzo’s place inOverwatch’s metawas just one small part of a large and volatile picture, with many other characters shifting in and out of the meta.
Hanzo has an exceptionally solid kit, not only giving him the ability to deal significant damage, but to provide support to his team all the while. AsOverwatchClassic has reminded everyonerecently, the original game was practically the Wild West when it came to balancing. Hanzo has been relatively less problematic inOverwatch 2’s lifespan, although he has also been less relevant. This hints at the balanceMarvel Rivalsshould attempt to strike with Hawkeye, or risk running into the same pitfalls as the early days ofOverwatch.
Hawkeye Feels Familiar But Fresh in Marvel Rivals
Hawkeye may appear similar to Hanzo at a glance, but his kit has more than enough unique qualities to set itself apart. For example, two of Hanzo’s defining abilities are his Wall Climb and Sonic Arrow, both of which Hawkeye has no equivalent for. More importantly, some of Hawkeye’s own abilities are wholly original, and could help him avoid meeting the same fate as Hanzo.
Hunter’s Sight is a particularly interesting case, which allows Hawkeye to visualize Afterimages of his opponents. Striking the Afterimage will do direct damage to the corresponding enemy, which should definitely help Hawkeye to stop any foes that attempt to flee. Moreover, Hawkeye has a few different melee moves, which means he’s encouraged to play in more vulnerable situations than Hanzo is. Hawkeye’s Skyward Leap is remarkably similar to Hanzo’s Lunge, but this simply goes to show the strength of their shared archetype.
Ironically, the biggest similarity between the two heroes is also the source of their greatest difference. Both Hawkeye and Hanzo wield a bow, but the mechanics of Hawkeye’s archery have one key difference. Hawkeye can only get full charge on an arrow when he is directly aiming at an opponent, which prevents players from keeping max damage stored at all times. This is a reasonable nerf for any DPS, and shows thatMarvel Rivalsdevelopersmay have already anticipated the kind of reputation that Hawkeye needs to avoid.
Marvel Rivals
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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!
