Summary
The hero shooter genre has grown increasingly crowded over the last several years, with popular titles likeOverwatch,Apex Legends, andValorantall dominating the stage with their elaborate performances. Each game in the genre has a unique flair, which often comes down to interesting characters, diverse playstyles, and innovative mechanics, but they nonetheless crowd one another and make it even harder fornew hero shootersto noticeably enter the scene. However, Netease Games’Marvel Rivalshas arrived in an effort to do just that, with unique features of its own — namely, destructible environments.
Destructible environments inMarvel Rivalsgo far beyond making things look more cinematic. Instead, they serve as a dynamic way for players to show off the impressive power of the hero, villain, or anti-hero they choose to enter the arena with, as well as an opportunity for strategy on one of the most chaotic battlefields in the hero shooter genre. From smashing through walls to hurling debris at enemies, these unique mechanics are just one of the many that allowMarvel Rivalsto distinguish itself in the ever-growing library of games in the genre it calls home, and it ultimately culminates in creating larger-than-life battles that reflect the raw power of the heroes and villains on its expansive roster.
Marvel Rivals' Destructible Environments Reinforce Its Characters
Marvel Rivals' Destructible Environments Are a Key Part of Its Unique Identity
Unlike traditional hero shooters, which typically feature static, unbreakable maps,Marvel Rival’s maps have destructible environments seamlessly integrated into them. Most hero shooters rely solely on the skills and weapons of their playable characters, and while that is indeed a significant emphasis ofMarvel Rivals' gameplay, it leverages its destructible environments to add a level of strategic depth that other hero shooters might conjure using other features. With destructible environments, players can manipulate terrain to trap opponents, create cover, or simply put a kink in enemy plans, shifting focus from just aiming and shooting to engaging with the world itself.
Not everything is destructible on a map inMarvel Rivals, but the structures that are can change the tide of any match.
Marvel Rivals' Destructible Environments Make Its Characters Look and Feel Powerful
At the end of the day, the most obvious impact ofMarvel Rivals' inclusion of destructible environments is that it makes its characters look and feel as powerful as they are meant to. The ability ofMarvel Rivals' playable charactersto smash through walls ties it directly into the superhero fantasy, where iconic locations like New York or Wakanda crumble under the weight of superhuman powers with ease. Ultimately, this feature allowsMarvel Rivalsto live up to its franchise label, which implies massive forces of nature and the supernatural clashing in epic battles the likes of which can be felt across massive landscapes.
Unlike traditional hero shooters, which typically feature static, unbreakable maps,Marvel Rival’s maps have destructible environments seamlessly integrated into them.
With the rise in popularity ofMarvel’s Cinematic Universeover the last decade, the cinematic feel created byMarvel Rivals' destructible environments helps connect fans to the universe they’ve become fond of. At the end of the day, a feature such as destructible environments in a hero shooter increases its immersion potential, which is arguably even more necessary in a Marvel game, where the characters and worlds are likely far too familiar to the public to prefer originality to safety. It effectively makes its heroes and villains look and feel like the supers that they are.
As thehero shooter genrebecomes increasingly saturated with games, standing out in the crowd requires a lot more than polished gameplay and memorable characters. Fortunately forMarvel Rivals, it rises to that challenge with destructible environments that reflect the power of its playable characters, not just for a better look, but for a better and more immersive experience.Marvel Rivalsmay have plenty of room left to grow, but a feature like this is a great sign, not just of what is to come for itself, but also the potential of the hero shooter genre as a whole.
