Summary
Natasha Romanoff, also known as theBlack Widow, is one of the most iconic characters in the Marvel universe. Ever since she was introduced inTales Of Suspense #52in 1964, the character has had a fascinating history, bouncing from villain to hero to anti-hero as a beloved member of The Avengers in comic books, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and video games.
The super spy has appeared in many games since the start of the twenty-first century, featured as both a playable and non-playable character in action games set in the Marvel universe. She features many of the same skills and abilities, but each game finds different ways of bringing them as well as her personality and story to life to help the games stand out.
The first time Black Widow appeared in a video game was inThe Punisher, a game from 2005. While she is not playable, it was impressive to see Marvel attempt to takea character like the Punisherand fit him into a wider Marvel universe, with Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D., Daredevil, Iron Man, and Black Widow as secondary characters.
Black Widow joins The Punisher in the game’s story briefly and the ties to other Marvel properties combined with Thomas Jane reprising the role of the titular anti-hero add flavor to an already enjoyable game. The Punisher is a brutal third-person shooter game that went unappreciated for years but has since gained a cult following.
Fans were not overly impressed withMarvel Vs. Capcom: Infiniteat first, but there were highlights and one of them was Black Widow. She was one of several characters added as DLC for the game and her arsenal of attacks heavily emphasized tasing enemies via her Widow’s Sting, a common ability in most games.
Black Widow is fast and deadly, which should be no surprise given that is what she is known for in the comics. One of her most effective skills inMarvel Vs. Capcom: Infiniteis her grapple hook, which she can use to return to the ground quickly to avoid an aerial attack or deal damage from above.
There is not much to Black Widow inLEGO Marvel Super Heroesas many characters feel similar aside from one or two abilities or skills. Black Widow has her dual pistols and invisibility to fit her super spy gimmick, which is useful for certain puzzlesthrough the open-world Marvel experience, featuring the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and more.
If any Black Widow fans want to continue the experience afterLEGO Marvel Super Heroes, she plays mostly the same in bothLEGO Marvel’s AvengersandLEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2. The only major changes are the different designs, with some based on the comics and others more inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Disney Infinityhelped define the short-lived Toys-To-Life gimmick that games likeSkylandersandLEGO Dimensionsexperimented with. In the second wave of characters focusing on Marvel heroes and villains, Black Widow was one of the first, and she has unique skills to have fun with in the vast toy box-like world as well as the various stories that can be played.
The lines ofDisney Infinitytoys were discontinued, but thankfully,Disney Infinityand its waves can be purchased digitally asone of the best Disney games. This way, Black Widow can still be experienced, wielding her toy guns, invisibility, and more in not just Marvel adventures, but in various other levels and maps for the ultimate Disney crossover.
For the first time in the beloved series, Black Widow was a playable character inMarvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. In the first two games, she was at bases for players to talk to or receive missions from, but in the third entry ofthe beloved dungeon-crawling franchise, she was not only playable but was given a modern redesign, partially inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
InMarvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Black Widow has her signature stinger bracers, escrima sticks, and firearms that make her a famous agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and an Avenger. Her abilities are fun and Laura Bailey continues to be to Black Widow what Steve Blum is to Wolverine.
As a hero shooter,Marvel Rivalshas many characters similar toOverwatch, but Black Widow is interesting because Widowmaker is already inspired by Black Widow. So, it feels fitting that Natasha is equipped with a trusty grapple hook and sniper rifle, just like Widowmaker.
The similarities do not ruin Black Widow in the PvP shooter, however, with the character still being fun to play as a Strategist class character. With proper precision from a player, Natasha can be one of the deadliest characters inMarvel Rivals, especially when given her Team-Up ability with Hawkeye and her special skills.
WhileMarvel’s Avengerswas not the epic looter RPG Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix were hoping for, the gameplay and performances of the Avengers themselves were the highlights. Black Widow was a fan-favorite for her multifaceted style, mixingvarious forms of martial arts, gadgets, and melee weapons, including a grappling hook that allowed her to zip across the map.
Even in the story mode, Laura Bailey excelled in her performance, as she had already been a go-to voice for Black Widow for years. Natasha proved to be the most loyal Avenger, working behind the scenes to bring all the heroes back together with the help of Ms. Marvel. Fans liked this portrayal so much, that some wished for Laura Bailey to get a spin-off title.
