The release of Marvel's Avengers by Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics was met with both great excitement and even greater criticism. It's launch day had players struggling with endless bugs and connection issues that have forced all updates to be put on the back burner. It's now been about four months since release, and it's safe to say that the Avengers deserves another shot.
The live service game can be seen as repetitive or occasionally tedious with its combat on the surface. While this is relatively accurate at times, its character updates really bring much-needed variety to the game. With Kate Bishop, an entire story was brought in with her and gave fans a taste of what this game is meant to be like.
One thing that the game offers to players is the chance to experience some amazing action pieces. Its locations can include giant spider robots deep in the forest or armies of AIM soldiers patrolling New York's streets. The entertainment comes when players assemble their team and use their skills to take them out. To this day, it is still the only game that gives a chance to reenact some of the best action scenes from the movies.
The game may feature Earth's Mightiest Heroes; however, it also makes sure the player can create a personal version of that. Its customization doesn't visually change gear pieces like most RPGs, but it does give some great costume and player card options that let any online player know how their Captain America is different. There are promises of further customization updates coming that will be more gear focused and offer even more personalization.
The intricacies of each character's gameplay is something that deserves a larger spotlight, as well. Through all of the criticisms that the game has, there has not been enough emphasis on how well crafted each combat system is. Much like the Batman: Arkham series, this game can truly make a player feel like an Avenger. The Marvel video game universe is missing a lot of solo titles based on these characters, but Marvel's Avengers does its best to make each character feel like the star of their own game.
Speaking of characters, Marvel's Avengers spared no expense in making sure the best voices in gaming brought some of the most iconic characters to life. A couple of shining examples include Nolan North's Tony Stark and Troy Baker's Bruce Banner. Baker gives a layered performance of the character that has never been seen on screen. Its story makes sure to bring the best out of everyone in a way that only Marvel can. Characters like Bruce and newcomer Kamala Khan take center stage and are forced into commanding roles for a good chunk of the story.
The overarching story of the game continues to unfold with each new update. There are countless missions and villains to face that feature their own small storylines to help push the story forward until those updates arrive. The journey to get more powerful rarely feels like a struggle. Villains like the Abomination and Taskmaster act as tests to see how far the player has really come. The best moments come when players get to fight with their friends and create amazing moments like Iron Man, reflecting his repulsors off of Captain America's shield.
The second Hawkeye is here and brought with her the promise of great things on the horizon. Marvel's Avengers' potential is incredibly high, and only time will help bring other players to that conclusion. The journey has been filled with peaks and valleys so far, but it's the next DLC with Clint Barton that looks to continue with its peaks. Marvel's Avengers is a bit of a messy game on the surface, but it deserves a second chance from many players. It offers an unparalleled experience as the Earth's Mightiest Heroes and shows no signs of slowing down. Live service games always have a rocky start, but if there is one that deserves more attention, it's Marvel's Avengers.