Overwatch Should Be Worried as Fans Agree the Marvel Rivals Beta Far Betters Its Competitor
With a closed beta test currently going strong, NetEase Games' superhero shooter is gradually coming for the crown.
Currently in its closed beta phase with no final launch date in sight, Marvel Rivals is proving to be a bigger success than NetEase Games might have initially expected. The hero shooter video game is not having much trouble creating its own space in the realm of live-service gaming, as having an expansive roster of Marvel Comics characters at its disposal provides it with the edge it needs over all of the competition.
However, that is not all that NetEase’s latest title has to offer, and with the player reception quite positive in its early stages, the superhero-themed game is already being praised over every live-service shooter’s natural nemesis: Overwatch.
Marvel Rivals Set out to Take Overwatch’s Throne, and It May Actually Succeed
Although some might argue that comparing a third-person video game with a first-person one does not seem fair, the comparisons between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 were inevitable considering their similar live-service hero shooter cores.
Of course, that is also because of how much impact Blizzard Entertainment has had on the gaming industry as a whole with its 2016 title and its 2023 sequel, but after witnessing the amazing beta test of NetEase’s upcoming effort, players may have found their next favorite hero shooter even though the developer has not shared an official release date for the complete game.
One Marvel Rivals player took to the game’s subreddit to ask the community about its thoughts on how it finds NetEase’s take on hero shooters and, naturally, if it likes the new title better than Overwatch.
Interestingly, despite the game having some basic issues due to it still taking its baby steps, which are aspects that the developer will most likely fix after listening to community feedback during the closed beta test, it seems like NetEase Games has already garnered quite the fanbase.
Some players, like the one above, have shared that they find Marvel Rivals to be a much more rewarding experience than its Blizzard counterpart since “enemies can actually die,” which seems like an essential element to ensure a game’s overall longevity.
Move Aside, Blizzard Entertainment; NetEase Games Is Already Garnering a Following
Perhaps Marvel Rivals‘ greatest asset is the wide variety of Marvel Comics characters that it can present to its player base, but NetEase Games has also ensured that each character plays differently than the rest of the roster, even if they belong to the same class.
That includes the varied special powers that come with each superhero in the hero shooter video game, so the individual character move set never feels redundant or dull, keeping the experience fresh during every match.
Players are also appreciating the sense of urgency that comes with each battle in Marvel Rivals, always keeping the community on its toes thanks to fast-paced combat and team-focused mechanics.
It definitely looks like NetEase Games is on the right track with its upcoming hero shooter, and if it keeps the quality up while actually paying close attention to player feedback, Marvel Rivals seems to have the potential to surpass live-service behemoths like Overwatch.
