Narrative is always a tricky thing to get right in a multiplayer game, especially a hero shooter, and especially a live-service title that’s ever-changing. These live-service games need to have a strong premise that explains why the cast has come together to fight one another, but that premise can’t be too complex or overwhelming as it might put off players jumping in for the first time. Thankfully, Marvel Rivals strikes a nice balance with its narrative.
While it’s still early days for Marvel Rivals and things can easily change, its core premise is a really strong one that fully embraces its comic book universe. Suitably high-stakes and over-the-top, Marvel Rivals‘ story is a great backdrop for its chaotic action, and it’s only just beginning.
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The Story of Marvel Rivals Explained
The Catastrophic Clash of Two Doctor Dooms
The inciting incident of Marvel Rivals‘ main story sees two variants of Doctor Doom clash. During their experiments with the laws of time, Doctor Doom and his 2099 counterpart create a catastrophic event known as the Timestream Entanglement, in which multiple timelines are suddenly fused together.
Now called “Chronoverses,” these timelines each contain different versions of iconic Marvel heroes and villains, some of whom have slightly different motivations and personalities to the usual characters fans know and love. But regardless of what universe they originally came from, any hero and villain caught in Dooms’ Timestream Entanglement must now fight for their lives in a never-ending battle that will see sworn enemies turn into reluctant allies and vice versa.
The Chaotic Life Inside The Timestream Entanglement
The Timestream Entanglement has caused chaos to erupt in all of its trapped universes. Some characters have decided to seize this opportunity to further their own gains, such as Loki and Hela, who have teamed-up to stage a coup in Yssgard, or Black Panther, who has taken the already-prosperous nation of Wakanda and turned it into a galactic empire.
But while the Timestream Entanglement has been advantageous for some, the vast majority desperately seek a way to return the universes to their natural state. The Avengers have converted their tower into a fearsome stronghold, and heroes like Iron Man attempt to use a new substance called Chronovium to reverse the Entanglement.
Though he’s trapped in the Mirror Dimension and can only break free for short bursts of time, Doctor Strange works alongside Scarlet Witch and her connection to chaos magic to keep the realities from collapsing in on themselves. Meanwhile, Spider-Man and his Web-Warriors try to protect the Web of Life and Destiny from Dooms’ forces.
This Is Only The Beginning of Marvel Rivals’ Story
As a live-service game, Marvel Rivals‘ story is designed to evolve over time, and its core premise sets the stage for that perfectly. The concept of multiple universes and timelines converging means there’s no shortage of possibilities when it comes to future storylines and roster additions. With each new season of Marvel Rivals, fans can likely expect to see a bevy of new story content, from new character bios that shed more light on their respective universe, to special events that begin a new chapter in the Timestream Entanglement’s journey.
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