With the Avengers franchise as big as it is, it is no surprise that Marvel has expanded into the medium of video games. As the largest entertainment medium in the world, an Avengers video game title would be perfect to entertain current fans and bring in new ones. However, this has never gone as smoothly as one would want.
While some games under the Avengers title have succeeded, many have failed because they either lack the core values of what makes the iconic superhero team so popular, or they decide to add in certain systems or gameplay mechanics that hinder the enjoyment of players.
10 Their Power Levels Are All The Same
Despite the Avengers being a team of superheroes that work together, they are not all on the same power level. For example, while Captain America is stronger than the average human, both Hulk and Thor would be far stronger. However, many games including the recent Square Enix title Marvel’s Avengers made the decision to make all the characters at the same power level for balancing concerns.
But this makes powerhouses such as the incredible Hulk seem weak, and with slower attack animations he becomes one of the weakest characters in the game.
9 Not Everyone Knows Everything About Comics
When a AAA game title is made for a new generation of consoles, its goal should be to garner a general audience. However, the issue with some comic titles is that the game expects the player to already know everything about the comic. This can leave new players without any kind of attachment to the title as terms, characters, and concepts are thrown around like they’re common knowledge.
For example, Marvel’s Avengers introduces the concept of Kree Sentries without any prior mention of any alien life in the last minute of the game’s story.
8 Leveling Systems Distract From The Main Portion Of The Game
These kinds of leveling systems affect all types of games. Loot systems and stats seem to be a given in most AAA titles, regardless of the genre. While an Avengers game may be filled with hack and slash combat, the player is then assaulted by numerous tiers of gear with percentages, numbers, resistances, and stats that feel like they belong in an entirely different game.
Characters that are known for being powerful need to be leveled up to be useable. The cast of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 introduces characters like Captain Marvel, Hulk, and Thor in the early game, but none of them are of any use without taking the time to repeat the same levels over and over again to increase their character levels.
7 There Are Always Too Many Characters
A problem primarily in the Lego and Ultimate Alliance games is that, in the goal of including as many characters as possible, to save time and resources, they all have the same mechanics, just with slightly different effects. With each character being fitted into an archetype to solve puzzles.
The games would need to focus on a much smaller core cast of characters so that more thought can be put into their mechanics to accurately represent the characters. When each character plays the same, they no longer feel unique.
6 There Are Also Too Many Villains
Though a large cast of villains can be a fun concept for a game, very few Marvel titles have managed to pull it off. If the player is encountering a new villain on every level with no reason behind it, they can all blend together and become boring.
The first Marvel Ultimate Alliance title would have unique dialogue for villains depending on which hero was in your party. However, subsequent titles would focus less and less on this. Other series such as the Lego games, or Marvel’s Avengers did not include this mechanic.
5 They Should Take More From The Comics & Movies
The MCU is a great adaptation of the comics for the general audience. It introduces characters and concepts but affixes them to real-world rules, so those who don’t read comics and understand every aspect of the timeline and the multiverse can follow along with the stories. Many of these games try to create their own setting for the game’s story with their own original story.
Whereas the comics and films are filled with great and engaging stories. Using the films as a foundation would also help to introduce more casual fans to the game.
4 The Hulk Isn't Always An Ally
One of the key aspects of the Hulk’s character is that he isn’t always the best teammate. His unpredictable outbursts are often the subject of a story arc. However, many games will have the Hulk not only under control but consistently acting under orders despite how much he is hit.
While he is a member of the team, he is unlikely to be used on missions that take place within cities because he is simply too dangerous to have around civilians. Yet, many games will include him on missions without him causing any form of trouble.
3 The Characters Don't Feel Engaging
Unfortunately, many developers think that simply including comic book characters can create an engaging experience. However, the characters don’t have much development or personality to speak of beyond one-liners. What has made the characters so iconic for so many has been their human aspect.
The films especially have created a cast of engaging and well-developed characters that the audience can connect with. Though the characters are known for their high-octane action scenes, it is their human sides that made them staples of the comic book industry.
2 Original Characters Break The Immersion
There are some situations where the developers will create an original character or set of original characters to create a new story for the Marvel heroes. Such is the case for Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects.
However, fans of the comics have no attachment to these original characters, and they can often pull attention away from the characters that people want to see. It is a strange decision to take the time to create new characters when there are a plethora to choose from already.
1 The Avengers Can't Beat Every Threat By Punching It
Not every threat in the Marvel universe is beaten by punching it. Often in the comics, the Avengers encounter a threat that can’t be fought, and it is their intelligence, or humanity that solves the problem. Villains such as Galactus and Thanos can’t be fought by Earth-based characters.
In fact, in the original comic where Thanos assembled the Infinity Gems, despite having an army of heroes, Thanos easily killed them all. What makes the Avengers fun characters is not that they punch people, but that they can creatively solve problems.