PLAY
Marvel Rivals
Despite its many undeniable similarities to Overwatch, NetEase’s Marvel Rivals does not lack ambition. Offering a selection of 33 characters at launch, and a sprinkling of original ideas, there’s a superheroic determination here to hit the ground running. It’s unfortunate, then, that this ambition is often misdirected. At launch, this is a pale reflection of Blizzard’s hero shooter, distorted into an imperfect image of the Marvel Universe.
Rivals’
six-a-side battles take place in locations stripped from the world of Marvel (Wakanda, Tokyo 2099, a Hydra base), yet often feel eerily familiar. The design is practical enough – vantage points are carefully placed, convoy routes weave through maps in a manner that ensures attackers never feel completely safe – but at various points will give
Overwatch
players déjà vu. Even the rhythm of play is recognisable, including lengthy respawn delays that render unexpectedly swift deaths doubly frustrating. Still, the rare pleasure of seeing your KO streak go from five to ten and perhaps even 20 is equally capable of plastering a grin on your face.