Marvel's Avengers: When Disney's MCU Spoils Your Game

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 15:18

Not only the lack of revealed gameplay was a big disappointment for many. In particular, the design of the heroes seemed like a generic, replica version of the Marvel heroes from Disney's MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) to some.

The character models, like the faces of the superheroes, are pale, emotionless and generally interchangeable. The men in the party look like any rugged video game character and especially Black Widow, with her very angular haircut, is often criticized for her “too masculine” appearance. They all seem monotonous and, unlike Marvel, very dark. And that's the problem.

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Curse and blessing at the same time

Known for his joke, the creative settings and the characters we love, Disney's Marvel Universe has established itself as one of the most successful and profitable franchises on our planet. It is not surprising that Square Enix wants to cut off a piece of the cake with Marvel's Avengers. Even though the developers don't have the license to use the faces of the well-known actors, the character design looks very much inspired by that of the MCU. The similarity is not to be overlooked and yet it looks different than we know it - and love it.

The humor in Marvel's Avengers is also rather flat. While interactions between Tony Stark and Thor make you laugh in the movies, the in-game joke triggers nothing more than a puzzled nosebleed. Marvel's Avengers doesn't necessarily have to be a humorous game, but if the whole concept looks like a pale imitation of the original, it should be pulled through completely.

According to creative director Shaun Escayg, there were no other plans to change the character design. But after the community complained loudly online about the appearance of the heroes and "luckily" the game was still in the pre-alpha phase at this point, they will be optimized until the release. Creative Director Bill Roseman (from Marvel Games) told GameSpot that the criticism from the fans had been received and noticed and that it would be passed on to the developers.

The Avengers go face-lifting

In September, the freshly polished faces of the characters were presented in character profile videos. Even if no drastic changes have taken place, the result has a very positive effect on many. Thor and Black Widow in particular experienced one of their greatest make-over.

Instead of looking like an unkempt vagrant, a full-bearded Nordic god is now waiting for us. The hair is tied behind the head, the beard is well groomed and the look is more like that of a heroic warrior. Reddit users celebrate this change with comments like "He's sooo hot!" To "He looks like a GOD. I love it.".

The transformation of Black Widow was also gratefully accepted on Reddit. The changed hairstyle and the more detailed expression on the face make negative comments less and less.

The rest of the Avengers also received a character video, but since their previous design did not make such negative waves, they tended to take a back seat.

These Marvel games had it easier

A game that stepped out of the shadow of the MCU and was able to develop its own identity despite familiar characters was Sony's Spider-Man. They managed to combine the unique feature of the well-known costume with their own ideas. The representation of Peter Parker did not detract from the actual gameplay. One reason for the positive reactions from fans could be that they have already seen many versions of the cult character in films and video games.

Marvel's Avengers was not so lucky because the audience (with the exception of the comic book readers) has only known and loved one version of the Avengers.

Another game that has made it even easier is the February 28 Iron Man VR from Sony. The focus here is not on Tony Stark's face, but on the experience of becoming one. Your own interface appears before his eyes, you can fly and shoot, you just feel like Iron Man yourself. With these features, a childhood dream comes true for many.

After a decade of MCU, it is not surprising that many feel a certain attachment to the characters and find it difficult to accept other versions of their beloved characters. But when they develop unusual stories and characters with their own identities, they manage to escape from this bubble.

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Pre-order Marvel's Avengers on Amazon now

Marvel's Avengers will be released on May 15, 2020 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Stadia. At the end you will see how the cinema-free story will work with single-player and co-op gameplay. Now it's time to wait.