Marvel’s Avengers : Game Review
Following up 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man PS4, which received critical acclaim – including topping many Game of the Year lists – was never going to be an easy feat. Insomniac Games must have breathed a sigh of relief then when the long-awaited Avengers title, developed by Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix, was next up on the superhero AAA release schedule rather than their Miles Morales spin-off.
After several war table livestreams, first looks and even a beta, many fans seemed unsure of what to make of the game with excitement being lukewarm and nowhere near the level of hype and fanfare that surrounds most Marvel properties. But for all its clunky combat, repetitive enemy types and lacklustre level design, Marvel’s Avengers is actually not a bad game and nowhere near the disaster that some feared it would be.
Kicking things off at “A-Day” as shown in the gameplay reveal and the beta, a terrorist attack by Taskmaster results in the Golden Gate Bridge and much of San Francisco being destroyed. Captain America is also presumed dead and a mysterious gas spreads through the city turning many people into Inhumans. Blamed for the tragedy, The Avengers disband and the stage for the story is set as told through the eyes of Kamala Khan, also known as Ms Marvel.
It’s a shame then that Kamala Khan is an underwhelming protagonist. It’s easy to see what the developers were trying to do though, channelling the excitement and energy of a fan into the character as we play along through the story. This does work to some extent and she does grow on you over time, but as soon as you’re able to play as one of the main Avengers she’s more than likely going to be put on the backburner. After all, it’s the big guns that we all came for.
There’s no better feeling than barrel-rolling through the air with repulsors at the ready as Iron Man or smashing enemies as Hulk. Even super-spy Black Widow is surprisingly fun to play with and with more heroes still to be released including Doctor Strange, Winter Soldier, Black Panther and more, there’s hours of fun to be had well after the main story campaign is over.
The characters are dutifully voice acted with an all-star cast including Troy Baker, Nolan North and Laura Bailey (to name a few), while the writers have definitely studied their material, capturing each character’s idiosyncrasies and the complex dynamics between the group – including their team banter. Providing us with an original story, credit has to be given to the developers for not opting for one of the more popular mainstream villains we may have encountered in the MCU, but instead delving into the comic book lore and producing a long-time fan favourite for their big bad. But the story treads familiar ground and hits story beats we’ve all seen before at some point in the last decade due to the popularity of the movies.
Combat lacks the fluidity that has been made trademark by the Arkham games but is understandable due to the range of different characters on show at any one time with varying abilities and play styles. However, even with that caveat, boss battles are still generally bland and repetitive while mission designs are unimaginative at best. The team sequence towards the end of the game is probably the most entertaining boss battle but it says a lot that it takes getting to the final boss battle to be rewarded with a fight worthy of The Avengers in a game dedicated to them.
This bad taste in the mouth isn’t helped by the intrusive nature of the loot grinds. The gameplay upgrades from the loot are virtually invisible, while getting cosmetic upgrades is due to take a while unless you’re willing to pay. It is a needless, money-grabbing inclusion. The main draw of the game is to play with your friends (or alternatively with random players online) and with new characters, missions and worlds scheduled to be released for at least the next four years, die-hard Marvel fans are more than set.
From data-mined leaks (which remain unconfirmed), to the Spider-Man exclusive for PS4 players, the lead up to Marvel’s Avengers has not been without its share of controversy. And while the game doesn’t necessarily add anything new or fresh to the Avengers mythos, it does provide a story filled with spirit and heart that lays the foundation for further world building, fine tuning and fun through the host of characters and stories promised for the future. If you can put aside the loot grind and take the game at face value, there’s definitely enough there to enjoy at launch. I mean come on, you get to be The Avengers! If you’re on the fence about buying though, I would suggest waiting for the first few updates so there are more mission locations and characters that can make up for where the gameplay lacks, justifying your spending of £50.
RATING 5/10