Summary
With the successful launch ofMarvel Rivals, comic book fans and gamers are introduced to their favorite Marvel characters in a new way. Not only is it a hero shooter in the same vein asOverwatchandRogue Company, but it adapts famous Marvel heroes and villains in their defining visual style.
In some cases, the characters match their comic book counterparts, or some are radically different, but in a good way. The visuals are the first thing that hooks a player into the characters and NetEase Games have provided the community with a plethora of instantly memorable default costumes to do just that and helpMarvel Rivalsstand out from other games.
10The Punisher
Frank Castle Would Fit In Other Third-Person Shooters
Frank Castle has had many looks over the years asThe Punisher, from a simple t-shirt and pants with the skull logo to resembling a spec ops operative.Marvel Rivalsleans more to the latter, with armor from top to bottom, but more fantastical in design combined with white skull warpaint on his face and ridiculously large proportions.
As a result of NetEase Games' redesign, The Punisher can be compared to charactersfrom theGears Of Warfranchise, but in a good way. It matches the tone of Punisher in the game with his ultra-edgy disposition while wielding an assault rifle, shotgun, machine gun turret, and exo-suit used to mow through enemies.
9Jeff The Land Shark
The Cutest Shark That Has Ever Lived
Characters like Yoshi from the Mario Universe show that cuteness can enhance a great character even further, and that is the case withJeff The Land Shark. Likely, few expected the dog-like shark with legs to be a part of a hero shooter like this, but he quickly won over players' hearts with his big eyes, innocence, and puppy-like demeanor that made him look like a living plushie doll.
The overall design for Jeff The Land Shark is effectively adorable, but Jon Bailey’s high-pitched vocalizations for the character make him even more enjoyable. Add in animations like swimming on his back to go backward and eating a fish to refresh his attacks. Even the fact that he shoots bubbles and jet streams to heal teammates is cute in concept and in gameplay.
8Magik
The Ultimate Goth Warrior Of Limbo
In the comics,Magikis known for her combination of black outfits and bits of armor, to help deliver a mix ofan urban gothic aestheticand a little bit of punk.Marvel Rivalstakes that concept and amps it up, with Magik having more extravagant armor pieces to make her even more warrior-like, akin to an emo-punkWarCraftcharacter.
The attention to detail is to be commended, with her shirt and leggings being tattered to not only show off the character’s nonchalant personality but also enhance her punk aesthetic. Adding in her massive sword and the game’s unique visual style are just icing on top of the cake, which is a top-tier Magik design.
7Cloak & Dagger
Two Exquisitely Designed Characters For The Price Of One
NetEase Games showed their commitment to characters' lore while creating distinct gameplay styles, such as withCloak & Dagger. They are two characters in one and the player is forced to swap between them for different abilities: damage or healing. Just the visual of them swapping is dynamic and never stops the flow of matches, which is worthy of praise already.
However, Cloak & Dagger both feature their own unique details, with Cloak appearing as a ghostly void that floats around while Dagger runs with distinct animations as well as abilities. On top of it all, their light and dark appearances are like opposites, yet complement each other enough to give them an iconic look as a duo.
6Thor
The God Of Thunder Aged Like Fine Wine
Rather than the typical youthfulThorthat fans are used to,Marvel Rivalshas an older Thor with graying hair, a longer beard, and more mature features. He also wears a less ornate uniform, with runic armor, pelts, and a red shirt with rugged gauntlets that are clearly references to his Unworthy era in the comics.
It fits his lore within the game as a Thor who was banished by Loki from the timeline andmakes him look like a Viking warriorcloser to his father, Odin All-Father. Compared to most Marvel Rivals characters, Thor is a bit more grounded, which could have made him not fit in with everyone else, but instead, the older Thor stands out in the best way.
5Psylocke
Her New Japanese Origins Gave Her An Iconic Look
The developers use a lot of Eastern influence inMarvel RivalsandPsylockeis a prime example of that. Taking influence fromDemon Days: X-Men, Psylocke has her purple hair, a scarf, and overall aesthetic that fans expect from the character, but updated just enough to match the developers' vision of a demon-slaying warrior from Japan.
Psylocke still has her signature blade and psionic powers, but they are expanded upon in the best way possible. Now Psylocke looks, sounds, and feelslike a character found in an anime, showcasing that change from the comics is not inherently a bad thing.
4Hawkeye
Culmination Of Clint Barton’s Costumes And Careers
Over the many years of beinga member of the Avengers,Hawkeyehas been seen in various costumes across movies, video games, and animation, with some remaining iconic. Hawkeye’s costume inMarvel Rivalsfeels like the developers took bits and pieces of them all and fused them.
One of the better ideas NetEase Games implemented was having pieces of Clint Barton’s other vigilante persona, the Ronin. He wields a Japanese blade, mask, and scarf that elevate his purple superhero costume to resemble a shinobi, while also granting him some of Ronin’s abilities in-game.
3Storm
An Instant Classic That Shows Love To Ororo’s Comic Book History
Stormis known for her regality and elegance combined with a fierce intensity as a leader of the X-Men and her costume is meant to enhance that. NetEase Games seemed to understand that, creating a suit that fits the fantastical aesthetics ofMarvel Rivalswhile still maintaining the blueprint of Storm that gives her a queen-like appearance.
Additionally, Storm features a reference from the comics: her hair derives from her famous mohawk look from the 1980s. Little details go a long way with fans, showing respect for the source material while making a fresh yet familiar suit to stand out with theMarvel Rivalsvisuals and gameplay.
2Venom
Sticking To The Basics Works For The Lethal Protector
Developers seem to lovebringingVenomto life in video games, given how often the character is seen,Marvel Rivalsincluded. Venom’s costume is as classic of a Venom as one can get. He’s a massive, sharp-toothed, slimy alien monster with a long tongue and a white spider emblem sprawling across his chest but executed just right to make Venom look stellar.
Sometimes there is no need to fix what isn’t broken, but that’s not to say NetEase Games didn’t put any flair on Venom. TheMarvel Rivalsversion has Venom with a constant swirl of symbiote matter swimming through his body and top-heavy proportions. The visual style ofMarvel Rivalsgives the lethal protector so much expression and personality in his movements.
1Moon Knight
The Fist Of Vengeance’s Armor Shines Like The Moon
WhileMoon Knightis not new tothe world of Marvel video gaming, he has rarely had an iconic appearance. Thankfully,Marvel Rivalsgoes all out with him, mixing ancient Egyptian mythology, styles, and culture with a healthy blend of modernized superhero elements that are used just enough to make Moon Knight stand out.
The armor fittingly makes him look like a knight to a god without looking too busy, but Moon Knight also sports design aspects meant to reference the god he serves: Khonshu. For example, his hood resembles the bird skull that Khonshu takes the form of in the comics. Other pieces of the costume, such as the cape becoming a crescent and the Ankh symbols are nice bonuses.
