Marvel’s Rivals Achieve a Victory That’s Both Subtle and Significant

Once Marvel Rivals hit the scene, people couldn’t help but compare it to Overwatch. Once released, the similarities between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 became undeniable, and NetEase wasn’t hiding from it. Characters like Black Widow, Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Loki are reminiscent of Overwatch favorites such as Widowmaker, Hanzo, Genji, and Echo, to name just a few.

Both games, though seemingly competitors, offer plenty to enjoy. Despite the likenesses, Overwatch and Marvel Rivals each provide distinct gameplay experiences with characters that have varying skill levels, rewarding players who dedicate their time. However, there’s one area where Rivals developers have clearly outpaced Blizzard: hero balancing.

Though Marvel Rivals is relatively new, the team at NetEase has already introduced five additional heroes, with a sixth, Ultron, due in May. This brisk pace of character releases is rare in hero shooters, especially when compared to Overwatch’s three-month interval. Yet, what stands out even more is how balanced these newly released heroes are.

Characters like Emma Frost, The Thing, the Human Torch, the Invisible Woman, and Mister Fantastic launched without being overly powerful game-changers. Instead, they carved unique niches and enriched team compositions. This contrasts sharply with Overwatch, where heroes like Sojourn, Ana, Echo, and especially Brigitte, dominated upon release, often sparking game balance issues.

NetEase benefits from hindsight in avoiding Overwatch’s past mistakes. Having observed Overwatch’s journey—its peaks, valleys, and especially its missteps—has helped NetEase steer clear of similar pitfalls.

Blizzard faced its challenges balancing Overwatch heroes, despite having experience with games like Starcraft and World of Warcraft. The hero shooter genre represented uncharted territory. Marvel Rivals, though new, enjoys the foresight afforded by learning from Overwatch’s lifecycle.

Maintaining this standard won’t be easy. NetEase plans to release a new hero monthly. Ensuring these characters remain balanced at launch is no small feat. With Ultron’s abilities rumored to promise formidable power, proper balancing will be crucial.

So far, this streak of well-balanced releases has fueled excitement for Marvel Rivals. New heroes keep the game lively and engaging, encouraging players to stick around. Consistently balancing these new characters is vital for the game’s success, and here’s hoping this trend continues without a hitch.