Introduction

Let me apologize in advance. You might forget that I’m reviewing Marvel Rising and not Overwatch. It’s nearly impossible to review NetEase Games’ Marvel Rivals without comparing it to Overwatch because it’s so similar in so many ways. If you dislike Overwatch, Marvel Rivals won’t change your mind about the 6v6 PvP gameplay. However, if you love Overwatch and Marvel, this review is for you. As someone who enjoys both Marvel and Overwatch (I’ve spent a lot of time on both versions, console and PC), Marvel Rivals surprised me with how fun it was despite several issues. Let’s dive into our Marvel Rivals review for the PC!

Watch the Official Trailer

Gameplay

For those new to 6v6 games, let me simplify it for you. Players choose one of 33 characters (yes, 33), each belonging to a different class, then enter a stage to capture a main point or escort an item from one end of the map to another. Simple enough, right? If you’ve played Overwatch or the short-lived Gundam Evolution (RIP), you know the real challenge isn’t picking a character, but coordinating with your team to pick the right one. The game divides characters into three categories—Duelist, Vanguard, and Strategist (or DPS, Tank, and Support for simplicity)—and a team without a solid mix is doomed from the start. A good team might have three duelists, one or more vanguards, and one or more strategists. A bad team would consist of all duelists or too many strategists and no vanguard. Beyond that, Marvel Rivals offers the foundation of a solid 6v6 game, and it works well.

Marvel Rivals is a third-person shooter, and this is where you need to decide if it hits or misses. The good news is that the gameplay is top-notch. Whether swinging Thor’s hammer or taking aim with Hawkeye’s bow, Marvel Rivals offers excellent third-person action. I’ve only experimented with half the roster, typically favoring characters like Winter Soldier, Star-Lord, Moon Knight, or Jeff the Shark, but I see the appeal of every character. Those who love being upfront and dealing with damage will likely prefer Hulk or Venom, while those who enjoy blasting targets from the air will gravitate toward Iron Man or Hela. I highly recommend playing the training mode to get a feel for each character and learn how to best use them in a team.

Now, here’s why I mentioned Overwatch so many times (and I’ll mention it more). Every game I played in Marvel Rivals made me think, “Oh, this is just like Overwatch.” Take Hulk: his gameplay is a copy of D.Va’s, where he’s in Hulk mode until his HP depletes, then he turns into Bruce Banner and becomes vulnerable. Hawkeye plays similarly to Hanzo. Star-Lord behaves like Reaper, even using a few moves that seem directly lifted from Overwatch. Every hero or villain in Marvel Rivals can be compared to an Overwatch character, and this is where many will see the major flaw in Rivals—its lack of originality.

From escorting a payload to capturing a main point, Marvel Rivals mirrors Overwatch almost exactly. Yes, this works since Overwatch did it so well, but it becomes a bit ridiculous when almost every element feels like a copy. This might explain my lower final score, even though I love both games. While it’s fine that Marvel Rivals borrowed ideas from Overwatch, the question is whether it can maintain the same longevity. Gundam Evolution, Concord, and other games have tried and failed, with Concord barely lasting two weeks. I’m confident Rivals will last longer thanks to its fan base, but only time will tell.

Graphics

The visuals in Marvel Rivals stand out as one of my favorite aspects of the game. It blends anime and comic book aesthetics, and it’s as cool as it sounds. The characters are highly detailed, and even though they’re familiar faces from movies, comics, and other games, Marvel Rivals gives them a unique look. Psylocke appears very anime-inspired, and Captain America looks tougher than usual. I love the character designs, though I’m sure some fans might have different opinions about their favorite heroes and villains in new outfits. Luckily, there’s always a variety of costumes to purchase if you’re willing to spend extra.

The battlegrounds are also worth mentioning. While most maps are straightforward and lack the variety I’d like in a 6v6 game, the developers deserve praise for creating visually appealing and unique maps. Locations like Neo Tokyo 2099 and versions of Thor’s home, Asgard, look fantastic. On consoles, Marvel Rivals looks great, but on PC, the experience may vary depending on your settings. Mine could only run on high settings without performance issues, but I’m sure higher-end rigs will showcase the game’s full beauty.

Sound

Marvel Rivals excels in sound, thanks to its solid music and superb voice acting. While the music occasionally gets drowned out by gunfire, punches, and screams, the voice acting is consistently enjoyable. Many of the characters have different voice actors than you’re used to (though some choices won’t surprise you), but I didn’t hear a single voice I didn’t like. Considering there are dozens of characters, this is quite an achievement.

Story

Doctor Doom has outdone himself. His present and future selves are working together to create a revolution the world has never seen. This time-bending phenomenon has caused multiple worlds and universes to collide, leaving heroes and villains at odds. These unlikely groups must join forces to battle alternate versions of themselves to stop the two Doctor Dooms and prevent a universe-ending event.

Like Overwatch (yes, I’ve said it again), Marvel Rivals focuses more on multiplayer gameplay than on its story. While there’s some lore to discover for Marvel fans, I had to look up most of the story elements to understand the main theme. The deeper lore is there for those who want to explore it, but it’s not essential to enjoying the game. I do enjoy the in-game banter between characters, though—hearing heroes and villains forced to work together leads to some funny moments.

Overall Impression

It’s easy to nitpick a game like Marvel Rivals, but those issues don’t ruin the experience. Playing with friends is a treat, and even playing solo is enjoyable. Yet, every game I played made me think, “Wow, this is just like Overwatch.” From character gameplay to battle strategies, the experience felt identical.

Conclusion

Marvel Rivals will be tested by its longevity. If it doesn’t continue to improve by adding maps or new characters, it could become the next Gundam Evolution. I hope that doesn’t happen because I’m still enjoying the game and play it often. Hopefully, NetEase will dive deep and make Marvel Rivals the game I hope it can be as a fan of both Overwatch and the Marvel universe.

—Aaron