Despite neither having a release date nor an official gameplay reveal yet, EA’s Black Panther already shows a lot of promise based on leaked information. The game is rumored to be an open-world experience that will allow players to explore Wakanda and possibly other locations outside the fictional African nation. Probably the most interesting are the reports that players will allegedly choose who the next titular hero of EA’s Black Panther will be.
According to reports about the leaked feature, EA’s Black Panther will have a lineup of characters who could take up the helm, which is rumored to include T’Challa, Shuri, Killmonger, Azari, and M’Baku. This would be interesting because the chosen protagonist could have different skill sets and might even have implications for the story. For example, Shuri could add more gadgets to her arsenal, and well-known Black Panther antagonist Killmonger could open up the possibility of an evil route. While it’s easy to imagine how these iconic characters would operate as Black Panthers, M’Baku would also be a fresh and interesting choice.
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M’Baku Could Be the Muscle of EA’s Black Panther
M’Baku is considered one of Wakanda’s greatest warriors, second only to T’Challa, and is often depicted as a tall and intimidating man. In the comics, he is known as Man-Ape because he gained his strength from killing a white gorilla and eating its flesh. He’s also classified as a supervillain because of his rivalry with Black Panther and his alliance with evil factions, such as Lethal Legion and Villains For Hire. However, in the Black Panther movie, M’Baku (played by Winston Duke) is the leader of the J’Abari, a mountain tribe that shuns the use of vibranium and worships the gorilla god Hanuman. Similar to the comics, he is depicted as a great warrior, and although he was initially against the leadership of T’Challa, he becomes a trusted ally of Black Panther.
M’Baku is the current King of Wakanda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) following the death of T’Challa (played by the late Chadwick Boseman) and the departure of Shuri (played by Letitia Wright) to travel the world.
As mentioned, M’Baku is one of the rumored protagonist choices in EA’s Black Panther. This is interesting because he is the only character on the list who never became Black Panther, and it’s still unclear if he also consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb before becoming King of Wakanda at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. At the same time, this opens up the possibility for EA to take advantage of M’Baku’s imposing presence to potentially create a tanky Black Panther that prioritizes heavy damage and durability in battle.
Plus, M’Baku isn’t known for using vibranium, so it’s also possible that he’ll prefer using his tribe’s garb and weapons, which would be a unique take on Black Panther’s presentation and fighting style. Likewise, M’Baku’s movements could be different from other Black Panthers because of his gorilla-like qualities, which could be a cool addition to his move set. Overall, M’Baku could have the same feel as Diablo‘s Barbarian class because of the potential strong strikes and armor builds.
How an M’Baku Black Panther Could Affect the Story
As for the possible story route, it would depend on whether Black Panther will lean into M’Baku’s portrayal in the comics or the MCU. If it is the former, then he could be the second character with an evil or antihero route. But if this version of M’Baku were similar to the MCU’s J’Abari Tribe leader, the game could play up his alliance and friendly rivalry with T’Challa, and how they could work together in defeating a common enemy.
Black Panther is just one of many Marvel games that are in development, which will explore different superhero stories through immersive gameplay. If the rumors about Black Panther‘s mechanics are true, then players could finally get the Wakandan experience they’ve always wanted in a Marvel game.
