The last few years, Marvel’s been killing it when it comes to single-player games. With all those heroes on hand, it only makes sense to use them for multiplayer, and Marvel Rivals marks the brand’s first major foray into the popular free-to-play and hero shooter spaces. All eyes have been on it ever since its initial reveal back in March, and that interest has grown as noted competitor Overwatch continues to be doing…whatever it’s doing.
Ahead of its release next week, Marvel Games and NetEase released the game’s launch trailer, which provides one final look at the characters in its roster. Alongside previously revealed guys like Magik and Spider-Man, the trailer reveals some fresh new faces, namely Wolverine, Black Widow, Squirrel Girl, Cloak & Dagger, and current Iron Fist Lin Lie. The newcomers are all rocking fresh, updated looks that look instantly striking and cosplayable, and you also get an idea of how they’ll play in the game proper. For the Wolverine fans, having him and Hulk on a team might mean you’ll be able to perform the Fastball Special on an unlucky enemy, a move sadly hasn’t gotten a lot of play in Marvel’s video game catalog.
Story-wise, Marvel Rivals concerns the merging of several universes after a clash between Doctor Doom and his 2099 counterpart. As various characters from those universes, players go head-to-head in 6v6 battles, with the main goal of defeating both Dooms before one can continue their conquest of the multiverse. If you’ve been bit by the multiverse bug, Rivals looks to meet your demand—maps are also from individual alternate realities, like the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, Tokyo 2099, and the Symbiote planet Klyntar. And much like the characters themselves, they look really dang good.
Marvel Rivals hits PC and consoles on Friday, December 6. If the cinematic’s song, “Rivals to the End” from Against the Current frontwoman Chrissy Costanza, sounds like your jam, it’ll hit streaming the same day as the game’s launch.
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