You should give Marvel's Avengers (2020) a try
You should give Marvel's Avengers (2020) a try
Marvel's Avengers was a 2020 game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix Europe. It featured an original story and a roster of Avengers to play as (the game launched with 6 characters, with 5 more added as free update. If you play on PlayStation, you get Spider-Man as an exclusive as well). The gameplay loop is basically a "looter shooter" in which you run mission in a team of maximum 4 characters and get loots to improve your character.
Let's just say that the game didn't perform as well as expected, especially for a property as hot as the Avengers (it was announced at E3 2019, after Endgame's release and the peak of the MCU popularity). It launched as a very poor game-as-a-service, with repetitive gameplay, bugs and lack of content. The characters play great, with very in-depth combat system, but the missions where you play them weren't particularly enticing. Also the microtransactions ('nuff said). While it received many substantial updates and expansion, Crystal Dynamics announced they would shutter support and delist the game from digital sale by September 30, 2023.
It is as the game is about to get delisted that I finally decided to give it a chance. As of now, Avengers features a very meaty campaign and 3 major story expansions. Treating it as a single-player, the game has very fun and generally good writings, and is a chance to play an original Avengers story. There are a total of 11 characters (12 on PlayStation), all of whom features distinct and in-depth gameplay (yes, there are dupes like 2 Hawkeye and 2 Thor but even then they play differently enough). In preparation for the delist, all the cosmetic microtransactions have been unlocked and premium currencies reworked into one, so the game is fully playable solo and offline now. I bought the game on sale for basically dirt cheap and have been thoroughly enjoying my time with it. The story is enjoyable, it's fun to play as an Avenger (my favorite Avenger is Hawkeye, so having 2 of them is a bonus as well), the gameplay is fine enough to have fun, and while I enjoy playing solo, you can still play online with others as well.
While it didn't live up to its ambition as a long-running GaaS (thank god for that) featuring multiple Avengers (slightly sadder, She-Hulk and Captain Marvel were rumored to be in the work, which were canned after the shutdown), I quite enjoy the game for what it is now: a single-player game with co-op components, multiple characters to choose and play, with fun writings and banters, and no microtransaction. It is a perfect okay-game to waste some time in. If anyone overlooked the game before, consider giving it a chance. The game is currently on sale on Steam and PlayStation for very cheap, and probably will again as we approach the delisting.
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Thanks for the write-up and I too bought it before it was delisted (ie: paid < $7.00 for the deluxe edition)... and tbh, I felt I still paid too much.
As you mentioned that campaigns are simple, but I was surprised (and amazingly board ) by how simple the campaigns were. (disclaimer : I did only play for about 2 hours before I got board and never came back). I was hoping for some sort of brawler type game, but the enemies are few but often respawn. I was hoping for something like Shadows of War, but was greatly disappointed. The campaigns were disconnected from each other and the objectives are simply: defeat this enemy, then destroy these targets... there is no real flexible or room for thought, outside of the prepared script you need to follow until the campaign ends.
... and the controls, I found, are quite janky. I was iron man and I found that the movement never really "flowed" into each other, there was always a delay between animation... I really didn't find it fun. It wasn't a brawler, it really was a Pay-to-Win platform... even with all the pay gates removed.
People often mention that Guardians of the Galaxy is better... and it is on my wish list, but I'm really suspicious (I hope they improved the controls).
I've played both. Guardians is 100% worth it. Avengers was trash.
GotG plays completely differently. You control Star-Lord, and as leader of the Guardians, issue commands to the others. It's akin to a team-based RPG (I made the comparison in another comment, think FFXV). It has role-playing element in storytelling, the level are well-designed corridors instead of Avengers' semi-open playbox. Coming out near and from the same publisher as Avengers really hampered GotG's perception but it is a worthy experience.
Cool, I'll keep it on my wishlist then.
I'm releaved I'm not the only one worried that GotG might pull too much from their Avengers "formula".
You mentioned it's more of an RPG. Does this mean it's more turn-based combat? Is the game long like Final Fantasy?
I'd be content having either a good story or a fun brawler/hack n' slash... but (as I mentioned) Avengers failed on both fronts.
Star-Lord plays like a third-person shooter, with special abilities. In battle, the other Guardians auto-battle, but you can issue commands to them to activate special skills. It's more strategic in that nature.
In exploration and story, there are also decision-making moments that lightly alter the game.