With Marvel Rival's new heroes featured in the launch trailer showed off the unique charm and mechanics that'll help set them - and the entire game - apart from the established competition.

Games based on Marvel heroes have had a mixed history. While some games have proven themselves to be worthy hits, others have been disappointing misses that failed to resonate with fans of the comics and the wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, as soon as Marvel Rivals was announced, its art design and team-based gameplay quickly gained the attention and anticipation of many players worldwide.

Time with Marvel Rival's closed beta provided hope that it would be a break from the many monotonous hero shooters released to capitalize on the success of games like Overwatch and Valorant. Leading up to Marvel Rivals December 6 release date, new characters like Black Widow, Iron Fist, and Squirrel Girl were announced and made playable to Screen Rant in a final preview before launch. And much like the game's other cast , each new addition feels unique to play with and beneficial to the team in its own way.

New Playable Characters Provide Exactly What Was Missing

Black Widow, Cloak and Dagger, Iron Fist, Squirrel Girl, And Wolverine Were The Final Characters Revealed

Many multiplayer shooters struggle to make each of their playable classes feel different from one another, something that Overwatch and - thankfully - Marvel Rivals excel at. This was made even more apparent with the recent inclusion of characters like Black Widow and Iron Fist. Like the rest of the game's cast, each of their playstyles is radically different and provides a unique utility to the team dynamic necessary to excel in the 6 versus 6 battles.

Matches in Marvel Rivals normally take around ten minutes to complete and include moving a payload or keeping control of a specific point.

The massive 33-character roster that Marvel Heroes will be launching with organizes its cast into three categories: the tanky Vanguards, offense-focused Duelists, and the ive Strategists. While each character can fit into one of those classes, each has its signature weapons and abilities that deal damage and affect the world differently. Spending time as newly announced characters like Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Black Widow, and Iron Fist gives a strong indication that Marvel Rivals is determined to provide an incredible amount of gameplay options with its cast.

Hawkeye and Black Widow help fill a void that Marvel Rivals lacked regarding long-distance Duelists. While each can be devastating from a distance, they also have effective alternatives for close-quarters combat, however far from the level of a character like Iron Fist. Many characters use projectile weapons, which makes the close-quarters-only Iron Fist feel more like a character from an incredible single-player action game. The mythical Martial Artist will likely be a main for players who like to get close to score damage and then quickly get away, a tactic that's not nearly as effective with any other character.

New Maps Feel Wide & Varied With Combat Options

Marvel Rivals Will Launch With Eight Maps

Previous looks at Marvel Rivals showed off two of the destructible locations players will be able to battle: Tokyo 2099 and Yggsgard. Although both featured unique themes, they also included many narrow corridors and occasional open arena sections that could quickly get extraordinarily chaotic and hard to navigate, especially if all twelve players and their colorful abilities clashed in the same area. Thankfully, new maps like the Hydra Base: Hell's Heaven and Klyntar: Symbiotic Surface suffer less from such pitfalls with more unique and stylish environments.

The Hydra Base and Symbiote planet differentiate themselves from previous maps with unique characteristics that should help make them memorable. Sections of the Hydra Base do suffer from resembling other maps with sections of industrial-looking hallways. Still, its open areas contain multiple levels filled with cover points and inventive hiding spots to execute sneaky shots or sly escapes. Then there's Klyntar, covered with pulsating platforms and walls, some of which can be struck, causing them to grow instantly into cover. The maps prove that Marvel Rival's playable characters are not the only ones capable of achieving a unique flair.

Marvel's Heroes And Villains Fight & Defeat Tired Hero Shooter Tropes

Several Events & New Playable Characters Are Planned As Post-Release Content

Like other free-to-play games, Marvel Rivals is jam-packed with alternative character skins and cosmetics, most of which require buying in the shop with in-game currency that can sometimes be earned but most commonly is purchased with real-world money.

During my preview time, it wasn't clear how expensive Marvel Rival skins will be or if they can realistically be earned by playing the game. Still, a peek at what skins will be available showcased stunning outfits and character intros themed from MCU films and shows. Hopefully, Marvel Rivals will avoid expensive skins - something that has pushed players away from similar games.

The sheer variety in gameplay and playstyles the massive rosters include will provide a lot for players to dive into. Along with the varied maps and their destructible sections, Marvel Rivals is well on its way to becoming a refreshing multiplayer experience in a market dominated by titles that have struggled to keep fans engaged. If Marvel Rivals can continue to add refreshing elements that are as charming and enjoyable to play as its most recent reveals, then Marvel may make a considerable impression on the current state of multiplayer gaming.