There has been much excitement surrounding the impending release of the platform fighting game MultiVersus since its announcement back in 2021. This was added to even further by a closed alpha release, made available to limit audiences towards the end of May 2022.
This closed alpha helped to answer many questions that people have had since its previous announcements, but it also raised new questions. These will have to be tackled either in the upcoming beta or upon MultiVersus's official launch. Regardless, the alpha has been tried and tested by numerous fans and players, naturally being judged against the dominant player in this genre, Super Smash Bros.
10 What We Learned: It Is A Considerable Step Above Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
Super Smash Bros. has certainly established itself as the main player when it comes to video games in the platform fighting genre. While this cannot truly be disputed, it has inspired a wave of various games that have introduced similar concepts with varying combinations of popular characters.
Nickleodeon All-Star Brawl was one of the more notable attempts upon its release in 2021. However, it failed to meet several criteria that would help it move forward through the imposing shadow of Smash Bros. The closed alpha of MultiVersus has shown early signs of it learning from these mistakes, instead producing a game that is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
9 Still To Be Answered: How Much Of The Finalized Product Was In The Alpha?
A closed alpha is a perfect way to get feedback from players who are actually interested in the game and its future direction. The issue that developers are often faced with, however, is considering how much of the final product should be showcased in this early stage. There needs to be a balance between showcasing all of the exciting new concepts without fully showing their hand and revealing everything.
At this stage, it isn't entirely clear where MultiVersus places in this regard. What has been shown through the alpha has been received favorably, but is there anything that has been kept a secret that could alter the balance, one way or another?
8 What We Learned: It Is Clear That Time & Care Have Been Invested In The Co-op Mechanics
No matter the future direction of MultiVersus's content, one thing that is clear is how much care has been put into making this a platform fighter that favors co-op battling. The official first look reveal back in November 2021 introduced Tony Huynh from Player First Games, who perfectly presented and showcased this passion project.
Every playable character has multiple moves that can be both a hindrance to opponents and helpful to a teammate. This looked great from the trailers and is given even more life with actually trying the alpha. With the numerous potential combinations also comes collaborative voice acting, with each character having lines that talk to or about every other character. There may well be single-player options, but cooperative play is certainly the main focus of MultiVersus and the alpha has shown its potential.
7 Still To Be Answered: Will They Introduce New Levels Or Modes?
The intrigue surrounding how much of MultiVersus was revealed during the alpha carries on to what may or may not be introduced to the game in the future. The levels available in the alpha rarely took attention away from the characters and gameplay. This is certainly a good thing, but for a game to have longevity it needs to introduce several variations, and not just in terms of the character roster.
The modes showcased in the alpha covered 2v2, 1v1, and free-for-all, with the options to include bots and or human players in proceedings. This could easily be the full extent of their direction with the platform fighter genre, but the innovation already shown would imply that this may not be the case.
6 What We Learned: Player & Character Progression Are Good Additions
In MultiVersus, leveling up a character gives players the opportunity to improve their experience through perseverance and investing playtime. Unlockables include emotes, perks, and numerous other additions that can make for a complete package for those characters that are raised to a higher level.
When preparing for a fight, each player can assign three ordinary perks to their character, as well as one signature perk. Getting the right loadout combination can often be crucial in accentuating certain features and ultimately picking up a victory. In addition to character progression, daily and seasonal objectives allow players to obtain other rewards through the Battle Pass system. This adds even more depth to the overall experience.
5 Still To Be Answered: How Will The Limits Of Each Character Be Changed & Improved Upon?
Character progression within the realms of the MultiVersus alpha gave players rewards up until they reached level 15 with a specific character. They could level up well beyond this, but with no further unlockables being attained.
This emptiness after reaching a certain level would seem like a missed opportunity if it isn't built upon in the main game. It could give the game even more life to have even more potential variations, whethers it's perks or general cosmetics.
4 What We Learned: Characters Have Familiar Voice Actors & Gimmicks Added To Their Movesets For Added Authenticity
The MultiVersus character roster has already satisfied players with the various intriguing combinations available. This has been heightened further with assurances of various actors providing their iconic voices to certain roles, from Maisie Williams' Arya Stark to Jim Cummings' Taz.
The characters have been bolstered beyond this with the inclusion of certain gimmicks, references, and inside jokes in their dialogue and movesets. Scooby-Doo's Velma running around collecting clues in order to unlock a cop car is one of several entertaining examples of this.
3 Still To Be Answered: How Far Will The Roster Be Pushed?
The Smash Bros. roster of characters is gradually getting closer to the 100 mark, but it hasn't always been that way. A platform fighting game needs an initial cast that is built upon as the game grows in popularity, as progress naturally requires fresh additions.
With MultiVersus being published by Warner Bros., there is a vast library of properties and characters that could potentially be added in the future. The alpha saw 15 playable characters introduced, with The Iron Giant being revealed but not yet playable. It remains to be seen how far this roster will be able to grow, but the potential is certainly there.
2 What We Learned: The Game Is Free But Shouldn't Be Ruined By Its Microtransactions
MultiVersus is being billed as a free-to-play game, which automatically gives it considerable accessibility. Its alpha impressed enough people that a price being slapped on it wouldn't necessarily be too surprising, under different circumstances.
This free game will have microtransactions, but there has been a general insistence that it won't be a pay-to-win experience. The alpha has shown how its in-game currency can be used to not only purchase locked characters, but also additional perks. MultiVersus being free, should give it more of a chance for overall longevity and effectiveness.
1 Still To Be Answered: Can It Truly Compete With Super Smash Bros?
For all of its positive reviews regarding concepts, characters, and application, there is still no concrete evidence that MultiVersus will get close to Super Smash Bros. Fans of platform fighters are always hoping for a non-Nintendo game to rival Smash Bros., and there is certainly still that potential.
However, it all comes down to the general direction that the game moves towards. Its free-to-play label helps with accessibility and it certainly has exciting potential with its future roster members. All eyes will now be on Player First Games and Warner Bros. to build on this alpha, learn from it and make MultiVersus a long-term success.