Why Marvel Rivals Is More Than Just Another Hero Game

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 11, 2024 4 Views 6 Min Read
Why Marvel Rivals Is More Than Just Another Hero Game

Key Takeaways

  • Marvel Rivals offers an extensive roster with familiar characters, enhancing emotional connections.
  • The Timestream Entanglement story in Marvel Rivals sets it apart, promising evolving gameplay narratives.
  • Marvel Rivals focuses on story and character immersion in the hero shooter genre for success.



In a genre as crowded as hero shooters, standing out isn’t just a luxury — it’s almost necessary. With countless other hero shooters like Overwatch 2 and Valorant all vying for gamers’ attention, any new additions to the genre need to be able to distinguish themselves, lest they become effortlessly overshadowed in the market. Rising to that challenge, NetEase Games’ Marvel-based hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, brings its own uniqueness to the tried-and-true hero shooter formula, with an offering of features that don’t merely rely on the fame of its label to lead it to success.

Marvel Rivals doesn’t necessarily deviate from the most fundamental elements of a hero shooter, but it certainly embraces its liberties in other areas. Instead of solely trying to sell its fast-paced gameplay, Marvel Rivals emphasizes its story much more than other hero shooters have been known to, which is simultaneously reinforced by its extensive roster of playable characters. These elements, as well other features integrated into its gameplay, help Marvel Rivals to carve out its own identity in an otherwise overwhelming selection of hero shooter titles.


Moon Knight posing in front of a moon in Marvel Rivals

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How Marvel Rivals Distinguishes Itself in the Hero Shooter Genre

Marvel Rivals Has an Extensive Roster of Familiar Characters

For starters, Marvel Rivals has one of the most extensive rosters of playable characters of any game in the genre. Currently, there are already 33 different characters to choose from, each of whom complements a specific playstyle, and there are even more characters yet to come. Since the Marvel universe as a whole includes a wide variety of diverse characters, the potential for Marvel Rivals to eventually feature well over 100 playable characters is considerably high, which will, in turn, contribute to its uniqueness and appeal in the hero shooter genre.

Marvel Rivals
‘ roster is already so extensive that it could be considered the
Super Smash Bros.
of hero shooters.


Another advantage Marvel Rivals has when it comes to its roster is that they are all characters who are familiar, even to those who have never played the game. Since Marvel’s massive universe extends beyond gaming and goes into other media like film and books, there is a greater chance that those who play Marvel Rivals have already been acquainted with the game’s characters — as opposed to other hero shooters that feature original characters. This ultimately increases the emotional immersion many players may experience in Marvel Rivals, as they have had a chance to form some sort of bond with the franchise’s characters before even playing the game.


Marvel Rivals’ Timestream Entanglement Story Has a Lot of Potential

Down on Marvel Rivals‘ deeper levels is its story, which is only just coming together, as the narrative is set to gradually unfold over time. At the heart of Marvel Rivals‘ story is the Timestream Entanglement, a phenomenon created by Dr. Doom and his 2099 counterpart, in which multiple timelines and dimensions merge to become one reality. This ultimately sets Marvel Rivals on a different path than most hero shooters, as it opens up the game’s story and gameplay to a myriad of possibilities, given how utterly endless the Marvel universe is. Whereas many hero shooters have a basic narrative that largely remains static, Marvel Rivals‘ is primed to evolve significantly over time.

In a genre where it’s far too easy for a game to blend in and sneak by unnoticed, Marvel Rivals takes bold steps to ensure that doesn’t happen to it. Rather than featuring original characters players have never met before, Marvel Rivals pulls from a long list of characters many players are likely already familiar with, leaning on their emotional connection with those characters for enhanced immersion and more meaningful gameplay. Furthermore, Marvel Rivals‘ story and the massive number of possibilities available because of it set it up for success in a genre where narratives are largely set aside.

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