Superheroes and villains, you have destiny in your hands, form a select group and try to exterminate the threats that threaten the planet.
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I’m a type of person who plays everything, and I don’t have a particular genre that I prefer. In fact, my preferences lean towards metroidvanias, although that doesn’t mean I’m closed off to other types of experiences. This is where I find a way to keep enjoying all kinds of titles.
Since the 80s, I’ve seen all kinds of adventures, and the ones that beat ’em ups leave us with are some of the most gratifying, as adrenaline takes off with the action shown on screen at every moment. Because it’s non-stop until the end of that level, boss, or challenge we have ahead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcgjIIBnETA&pp=ygUbbWFydmVsIGNvc21pYyBpbnZhc2lvbiB4Ym94
This is how we arrive at the protagonist of this analysis; I’m referring to Marvel Cosmic Invasion, which comes in a triple package: legendary heroes from the Marvel house, with the support of Dotemu, a very committed publisher, and it doesn’t come alone, as it’s accompanied by Tribute Games, experts in games of this style.
Technical Section
Once again, the magicians of beat ’em up games return with a 2D style and pixel art. This is when Tribute Games returns with its talent and passion to leave us a game that overflows with those 80s and 90s touches that delight us so much when playing.
Said that, the technical section is summarized in a visual style with sprites that may seem outdated to many, but that really have a value that appeals to nostalgia and a legacy that can’t be erased from our memories. I’m talking to you, old-school player.
In this sense, the color and art come together again, very much in the style of what they did at the time with TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, bringing back beloved characters, all from the Marvel house, and reminding us of those classic arcade games.
For now, I have no complaints in this section; I haven’t seen errors or crashes in the game. On the contrary, we’re facing a solid title like a rock, which grows in quality as we progress.
There are impressive bosses and enemies that will appear everywhere to make our lives difficult. The action is superb and stable, which translates into great enjoyment for the player. Additionally, the game has local or online co-op, which is very robust.
As for the melodies and music, they’re varied, catchy, and very attached to what we see on screen. There’s an English dub that adds more identity to the adventure, accompanied by well-done Spanish texts.
The Xbox Play Anywhere seal is present again, and this is an important incentive, as I was able to check my games on both PC and console, without any issues and with a perfect transition. Without a doubt, this adds a lot for me as a player, and it’s something that Xbox deserves to be recognized for.
A round and positive balance is what this work leaves us with, continuing the line that Tribute Games and Dotemu have accustomed us to. With this, we can affirm that we’re facing a very satisfying experience.
Gameplay
Beat ’em ups are the kind of experiences that are enjoyed in one way: pounding buttons and making spectacular combinations. That’s the perception many players have, which isn’t incorrect, but there’s always something more to comment on about these games.
Once we start with the initial screen, we’ll have the campaign or story mode and the arcade mode, each with its own advantages and differences. Regardless of which one you choose, the fun is guaranteed.
In campaign mode, we start with a threat that will shake the planet and activate the most popular and beloved heroes of all. This will lead us to choose from a limited number (initially) of characters.
- Captain America
- Nova (Richard Ryder)
- Storm
- Wolverine
- Spider-Man
- Beta Ray Bill
- Black Panther
- Cosmic Ghost Rider (Frank Castle)
- Iron Man
- Rocket Raccoon
- She-Hulk
This will take us through a series of levels and an interconnected story, where we’ll see many protagonists that, depending on the moment, will join our team. The best part is that you can do tag team with two characters.
In this way, and being faithful to what we’ve already seen in Shredder’s Revenge, our characters will level up and improve as we progress. Along with this, we’ll discover secrets that will give us certain crystals that will help us unlock collectibles and more.
Something important that I won’t leave aside is the possibility of playing alone or with company. This adds an extra layer of fun to the game; I mean, it’s not the same to go solo as it is with friends or acquaintances. The experience becomes a mess of overwhelming levels.
The chaos on screen can be overwhelming for inexperienced or novice players. I say this based on my kids: when we were playing with three players on screen, sometimes the harmony of what we were doing got lost. This isn’t bad; it’s just something I noticed, and in my case, it wasn’t an impediment to enjoying it.
Each character has its own repertoire of movements; some can fly, and others have a double jump, which is useful for those enemies that are in the air. The game’s motto is the peaks of fun that can be reached, and this is the game’s hook, something that its creators know how to do very well.
Powers can’t be missing, and the cherry on top comes with combined attacks. That’s one of the game’s novelties, as you can alternate with other characters you’ve chosen. There’s no loss in a game of this type, which presents so many mechanics that seem simple and complement each other correctly.
And as I told you at the beginning, you have options to choose from, either campaign or arcade mode, the latter going straight to the point, without so many interruptions, and immersing us in an experience more similar to the old school, you know, the one from the arcades.
Duration
We’re in an important section, and I say this because many of us like to know how long the fun can last. Although the campaign can last between 3 and 6 hours (depending on your skill with the controller), we believe that its decisive factor is its excellent gameplay.
Whether alone or with company, there’s nothing better than going through the levels and enjoying. Additionally, the game has crossplay and the possibility of playing with other people online, up to four heroes on screen. Highly recommended for a brief and entertaining afternoon.
Said that, we won’t spend few hours seated, fighting each battle, not only to improve our score but to obtain secrets and complete the challenges we’re achieving. Additionally, it’s a way to spend time in a very entertaining way.
Conclusion
A phenomenal year-end, with a title that appeals to the nostalgia of veteran players and the creativity of beginners, who enjoy Marvel heroes. This is how Marvel Cosmic Invasion surprises us pleasantly with this beat ’em up.
The classic elements and retro style continue to have a good reception; regardless of the 2D or pixel art, we’re facing a short but very enjoyable adventure, either alone or accompanied. Either way, the fun is 100% guaranteed.
Perhaps it may feel like a continuation if we compare it to its brother TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, but it brings novelties like team tag and other elements that add to the experience. A round game, recommended, and perfect for spending a healthy and entertaining time, which also debuts on the Xbox service.
Video game, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch enthusiast. Frank is one of the most active video game news writers on the web. He covers absolutely every topic. In terms of games reviewed, as of 2024 he has already passed the 60 mark and his average score, according to Open Critic is 80.
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