WhileMarvel Rivalsmight be seen as an Overwatch clone by some, that opinion should be swayed the moment you play a few games, as each hero’s kit suits their character well. Sure, some abilities are clearly inspired by Overwatch, but the majority of them feel unique.
There’s no 1:1 copy of an Overwatch character, which is impressive, and each ability makes sense as to why that character has it. As it turns out, the developers at NetEase spent a lot of time making sure each character had the right kit.
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NetEase Was Mindful Of Player Expectations When It Comes To Authenticity
Speaking to theUnreal Engine website(viaPC Gamer), Lead Technical Designer Ruan Weikang explained how they managed to capture the essence of each character.
“For each character, we conduct exhaustive research across all source material, particularly comics, to distill their fundamental essence. This might manifest as the source of their powers (such as Hulk’s gamma radiation) or defining personality traits (like Loki’s characteristic cunning as the God of Mischief). These core elements inform our gameplay design, ensuring each hero’s most distinctive qualities are faithfully translated into interactive mechanics,” Weikang shared.
Weikang also revealed that each character undergoes a thorough check by Marvel’s veteran team before they are inserted in the game. “Our development process maintains continuous collaboration with Marvel’s veteran team. Each character undergoes thorough review through multiple weekly discussions, ensuring designs honor Marvel’s legacy while introducing innovative gameplay elements. Marvel’s team, leveraging their deep understanding of the IP and professional insight, provides invaluable guidance in exploring and amplifying each hero’s unique appeal.”
“This collaborative approach has enabled us to not only capture the essence of Marvel’s heroes and villains but also infuse them with distinctive gameplay identities in Marvel Rivals, delivering an authentic Marvel combat experience,” Weikang concludes.
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Another thing NetEase has done so well are the Team-Ups. This is an entirely new game mechanic not present in Overwatch. While some are better than others, the fact that this is in the game and somehow doesn’t break game balance is a testament to the studio’s playtesting.
Looking ahead for Marvel Rivals, we are getting The Thing and Human Torch as part of Season 1. This is just the start, as NetEase saidthey are looing to add heroes on a regular basis.
Let’s hope the developers' next heroes for the game have the same level of detail and authenticity to them.
Marvel Rivals is available now as a free-to-play game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
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