Despite vampires overtaking New York, Marvel Rivals’ first season characters were not figures typically associated with Dracula like Blade or Morbius (though the former has been heavily teased in-game). Instead, players were given access to the Fantastic Four, some of the oldest characters created for the Marvel brand. Players got the chance to get familiar with Reed Richards and Sue Storm at launch, with Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm joining the roster through the midseason update, and as one would expect, Marvel’s First Family has added depth to the lore and gameplay of Marvel Rivals – so much so that a dedicated game starring the group seems more appealing than ever.
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Marvel Rivals Proves Just How Special the Fantastic Four Are
As is usually the case with any Fantastic Four adaptation, Mr. Fantastic – both literally and figuratively – has the most flexibility when it comes to his powers. Reed’s stretchiness opens up the opportunity for countless clever attacks, and NetEase takes full advantage of this with his kit, as the super genius can stretch into a shield, become a hulk-sized threat, stretch his arm to pull enemies, and turn into a bouncy ball. Marvel Rivals’ equivalent of Overwatch’s Wrecking Ball in the sense that there is nothing like him in any other hero shooter, Reed Richards is incredibly unique and is someone NetEase should regularly look back on when designing future characters.
As great as Reed is, though, the other members of his team are no slouches. Invisible Woman lives up to her name by cloaking while outside of combat and making designated areas invisible with her ultimate, and her passive team-up ability that grants the other Fantastic Four characters bonus health is extremely useful. Johnny Storm can rain fire from the sky in between bursts of flight, while the Thing can clobber his way to victory with a melee-heavy kit composed largely of punches, slams, and charges. Outside their matching Marvel Rivals costumes, every member of the Fantastic Four is hugely different from one another, which is the key reason that the group getting its own game would be deserved.
What Could a Fantastic Four Game Look Like?
A potential developer of a Fantastic Four game would have a few routes available to it. The first is a four-player co-op experience where each gamer controls a member of the Fantastic Four, though given the response to Marvel’s Avengers, it is hard to imagine a studio being willing to risk comparisons to the failed Crystal Dynamics title. As such, a more likely scenario is a singleplayer game akin to Eidos Montreal’s Guardians of the Galaxy, a critically acclaimed title where players embody Star-Lord and command the rest of the Guardians in combat.
While a game where players swap control between each member of the Fantastic Four freely could work, as well as a title where players occasionally use each member for certain segments (stealth missions with Sue, chases with Johnny, and big monster battles with Ben), there’s no denying that Reed is the most interesting member of the group from a gameplay standpoint. As such, just like with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, players could simply control Reed the entire time and order their allies to carry out environment interactions or engage in team-up attacks. Loyalty missions and dialogue choices where players build their relationships – like embracing a romance with Sue or even raising Franklin and Valeria to act a certain way – could also be featured. Handling skill trees through H.E.R.B.I.E. and getting around larger locations with the Fantasticar are other fun possibilities that could be explored.
While certain elements, like Guardians of the Galaxy’s fictional band, couldn’t carry over, much of its framework would suit another Marvel team well. NetEase may have done a stellar job with its Reed Richards, but a hero shooter like Marvel Rivals can only scratch the surface of what the stretchy super genius can do. Reshaping Reed to complete environmental puzzles, wrapping around basic enemies to stealthily put them to sleep, or turning into a glider to traverse gaps are just some of the possibilities a game could explore. Science-based puzzles like Marvel’s Spider-Man would also be on the table as a way to capitalize on Reed intellect to shake up the gameplay, while the family vibes in conversations could provide hours of joy for fans of the group. Marvel Rivals only gives brief snippets of conversations between the members of the Fantastic Four, which is yet another thing that a dedicated game could offer more of. With Reed positioned as the player character, gamers could lead the group on thrilling adventures through New York, the Negative Zone, and beyond.
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 Roster
Choose 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 Dynamics
With 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 Synergy
Coordinate 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 Destruction
Tear 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 Updates
The 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!
Third-Person Shooter
Action
Multiplayer
- Released
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December 6, 2024
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
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NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
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NetEase Games