In December 2024, Marvel fans were given quite a treat when Marvel Rivals was released on the PlayStation 5. The best part about the game is that it is free to play, meaning you don’t have to pay anything if you want to play the game.
The game has picked up a lot of hype worldwide ever since it was released. I’ve been playing it for a month now to see whether the game is worth all the hype. Here are some things about the game that caught my attention:
It Has an Engaging Storyline
Marvel Rivals revolves around the idea of the multiverse, which allows you to play many characters. These characters include both superheroes and supervillains. There is a huge conflict between heroes and villains in the game because of two versions of Doctor Doom, regular Doctor Doom and Doom 2099. Both of these variants started a brawl that tore through the fabric of reality.
Random teams of Marvel characters now join forces so that they can put a stop to both versions of Doctor Doom. However, this game isn’t very narrative-forward, but dedicated players get lore snippets that reveal character backstories.
It Gives off Overwatch-esque Vibe
If you’ve played Overwatch and liked it, you’ll love Marvel Rivals. Every player gets to pick a hero that has dedicated special abilities. Then, you join a team of five players so that you can capture a point on the map or escort/defend a payload while it travels from one end of the map to the other.
The game doesn’t necessarily require you to run-and-gun players as you move, but you have to be smart about how you play the game. You have to develop an effective strategy so that you and your teammates can win the game. Be sure to use your abilities strategically so that you can win swiftly.
It’s Free to Play!
I know I mentioned this earlier, but I was taken aback when I found out this game was for free! You only need a PS5 to run the game and an internet connection to download, install, and play it. The faster and more reliable your internet service is, the better your gameplay will be.
Pro Tip: You can get an internet connection at a discounted rate if you look into Xfinity Internet plans! So be sure to take a look at the plans and see which one suits your budget the most.
Besides the free game, you can access all the characters for free! They didn’t add the characters as DLCs (downloadable content), so you don’t have to pay for additional characters. This is something that I found very intriguing about the game.
It Has a Wide Array of Characters
Currently, there are 33 characters that you can play as. These characters include Adam Warlock, Black Panther, Black Widow, Captain America, Cloak and Dagger, Doctor Strange, Groot, Hawkeye, Hela, Hulk, Iron Fist, Iron Man, Jeff the Land Shark, Loki, Luna Snow, Magik, Magneto, Mantis, Moon Knight, Namor, Peni Parker, Psylocke, The Punisher, Rocket Racoon, Scarlet Witch, Squirrel Girl, Spider-Man, Star-Lord, Storm, Thor, Venom, Winter Soldier, and Wolverine.
The best part about the character roster is that you can access all the characters for free. Not only that but there are also a lot of upcoming characters, something for you to look forward to. The upcoming confirmed characters include Human Torch and Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, and The Thing.
It Boasts Amazing Gameplay
At first, the gameplay confused me, but once I understood it, I was absolutely hooked. Every character in the game has one of three roles: Vanguard, Duelist, or strategist.
The Vanguards have a surplus of health and can soak up most of the damage in the game, this allows them to act as shields for the other teammates. The Duelists make up most of the character roster with 18 characters. They are your typical “point-and-shoot” option and dedicated to dealing damage to the opposing team. The Strategists are the team’s healers; they support all the other teammates and must keep them alive during crucial moments.
It is up to you to see which role suits you the best. However, you must be vigilant in all three of the roles so that you can make the most out of your matches.
Improving Your Game Strategies
To improve your skills and increase your odds of winning your matches, you should test out all the characters to see which one you play best with. Go through all 33 characters and see which one resonates with you the most. Then, you can play with that character every time and improve your skills with it!
