The live-service model has gained a bit of a troubled reputation in recent years. Too often, the live-service model has been used for greedy purposes, with publishers delivering a game that has little content under the guise that it’ll all be added in post-launch updates. But the live-service genre isn’t inherently bad. In fact, its unique approach allows developers to implement features that otherwise can’t happen in a traditional multiplayer title.Marvel Rivalshas become the latest example ofthe live-service model actually workinghow it’s intended.
One of the biggest strengths of the live-service model is that the game is always evolving. Just as fans start to get bored, a new season releases, bringing new gameplay mechanics, map changes, and new story elements. Though it’s still early days forMarvel Rivals, its use of the live-service model seems to be worthwhile, and it might be in the process of setting a new bar for ongoing live-service stories.
Marvel Rivals Sets a New Standard for Live-Service Narratives
Marvel Rivals' Story Is Presented Wonderfully
When players boot upMarvel Rivalsfor the first time, they’re treated to a short animated cinematic that lays out the game’s core premise. Players are shown thatDoctor Doom and his 2099 counterparthave created a devastating Timestream Entanglement, a time-breaking phenomenon that’s merging multiple timelines and parallel universes into one reality.
That brief cinematic forms the foundation ofMarvel Rivals' narrative, which is set to evolve over the course of the game’s lifetime. But that cinematic is just scratching the surface ofMarvel Rivals' story. By completing specific character challenges, players will unlock lore entries for the hero or villain, filling in their backstory and shedding more light on their role in this new Timestream Entanglement setting.
Players can unlock more general story details by heading toMarvel Rivals' “Season” pageand completing the challenges Galacta has tasked them with. New challenges unlock throughout the season, and completing them all rewards the player with a comic panel that furthers the game’s main story. These comic panels can then be found onMarvel Rivals' “Gallery” page, where they’re collected inside a comic book themed around the current season.
PresentingMarvel Rivals' ongoing story in the form of an in-game comic book is a really fun and practical way to incentivize players to keep completing seasonal challenges, and a great way to keep all of the season’s story in one spot.
Marvel Rivals Side-Steps a Common Issue With Live-Service Stories
A relatively common criticism of some live-service titles is that it can be hard to keep up to date with their ongoing stories. This issue is exacerbated when a live-service game holds a major event that has lasting consequences on the game’s story and world. If players miss just one of these in-game events, they can very easily lose track of the entire narrative.
This has been a particularproblem forCall of Duty: Warzone. Over the last few years,Warzonehas often brought major series characters back from the dead. These characters have then frequently shown up during the nextCall of Dutyentry’s campaign, with little to no explanation of how they survived their presumed death for those who don’t playWarzone.
Marvel Rivalswill seemingly avoid this criticism entirely. When players look atMarvel Rivals' Gallery page, they’ll notice theSeason 0 “Dooms' Rise” comicin the center of the screen, collecting all of the current season’s story content. This comic is surrounded by others, all of which have blank covers. It seems likely that these will be filled in each season, meaning that every season ofMarvel Rivalswill get its own in-game comic book, and that players will probably be able to easily access previous seasons' story long after they’ve finished.
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!
