As its name suggests, one of a hero shooter’s most important elements is its roster of playable characters. To stand out in a fairly crowded market,new hero shootersneed to ship with a compelling cast of characters, each boasting a distinct visual design and a wealth of unique in-game abilities that are genuinely fun to use and useful in a variety of combat scenarios.Marvel Rivalshas one such roster.
In using pre-established characters that are already immensely popular,Marvel Rivals' roster has a clear and immediate edge over its hero shooter competition. But while developer NetEase could have played it safe and filledMarvel Rivals' roster with instantly recognizable characters, it instead struck a nice balance between iconic and lesser-known heroes and villains. But with more characters on their way, there’s an argument both for and againstMarvel Rivalscontinuing to add obscure characters.
The Case For Marvel Rivals To Add More Lesser-Known Heroes
Adding Lesser-Known Heroes Gives NetEase More Creative Freedom
The Marvel brand has become increasingly popular over the last decade thanks in large part tothe Marvel Cinematic Universe. As such, many newer Marvel fans now have a strong expectation of how certain characters should be portrayed, such as Tony Stark being a Robert Downey Jr-esque wisecracker.
Fordevelopers like NetEase, there’s presumably pressure to meet these expectations with their own version of the characters, which is whyMarvel Rivals' versions of many heroes will look and sound quite similar to their MCU counterparts. But when adding a character to the roster who isn’t as well-known, NetEase likely has much more creative freedom in how they approach the hero or villain. With fewer expectations, NetEase can experiment a bit more with a lesser-known hero’s abilities and backstory, which could lead to a more compelling and distinct version of the character.
Adding Lesser-Known Heroes Gives Them a Rare Spotlight
Another argument for adding more obscure heroes and villains toMarvel Rivalsis that it would give them a rare chance in the spotlight.The Marvel universeis vast, and every fan has their own personal favorite character. Some fans' favorite character will be an obscure one who isn’t often represented in most Marvel media, andMarvel Rivalscould finally give them their time to shine. This would be especially beneficial for those lesser-known Marvel characters who likely won’t get a full game all to themselves.
The Case Against Marvel Rivals Adding More Lesser-Known Heroes
NetEase Needs to Appeal to the Widest Audience Possible
But while it’s great to see lesser-known heroes and villains get the spotlight, it unfortunately might not be inMarvel Rivals' best interest. As a live-service multiplayer game,Marvel Rivalslives and dies by its player count.
WhileMarvel Rivals' current player countis very high, it’s been proven time and time again that live-service games can see a dramatic drop-off in the months following their launch. To avoid this potential drop-off,Marvel Rivalsneeds to keep as much of its player-base on board as possible, and one way to do that is by delivering additional heroes and villains that most players already know and care about.
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!
