Summary
A 6v6 hero shooter in a similar vein toOverwatch,Marvel Rivalsreceived some very positive first impressions, and in just a few weeks' time, a wealth of new, eager fans are going to be able to get their hands on the game, with it hosting a Closed Beta in late July. But despite all that,Marvel Rivalsis still surprisingly far away, with its full release still set for sometime in 2025.
A lot can change in a year, and that could be true forMarvel Rivals' roster. In its Alpha phase,Marvel Rivalshad a total of 19 playable heroes, and withVenom and Adam Warlock now confirmedfor the roster, that brings the multiplayer game’s total count to 21. But during its Alpha test, some fans were able to datamineMarvel Rivals, uncovering a further 16 playable heroes allegedly in development. And while this leaked list includes some obvious picks, there are two names that seem a little out of place, at least on the surface.
Marvel Rivals' Leaked Roster Has Two Odd Inclusions
Marvel Rivals' Current Roster Makes Complete Sense
As things stand,Marvel Rivalshas an exceptionally strong day-one roster.Marvel Rivals' 21-person rosterhas a great mix of household names and lesser-known fan-favorites, with heroes like Spider-Man and Iron Man making the cut right alongside Magik and Namor. This ensures thatMarvel Rivalswidens its net as much as possible, capturing both long-term and new Marvel fans with its varied roster.
Gameplay-wise,Marvel Rivals' confirmed roster is also pretty solid, with plenty of heroes being spread fairly evenly across its three distinct classes, though it should be noted that Duelists (Damage) have about double the number ofVanguards and Strategists. From what fans have been able to play so far, it seems as though each character is also balanced quite well, and is equipped with satisfying abilities and attacks. Currently,Marvel Rivals' roster makes a lot of sense.
Marvel Rivals' Leaked Roster Includes Squirrel Girl and Jeff the Land Shark
In the leaked list originally discovered by Miller Ross – the same leaker behind most of theSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguepost-launch character leaks– there are plenty of names that continue the base game’s trend of making complete sense. Heroes like Captain America, Thor, Blade, Wolverine, and even Moon Knight are all well-established characters who’d draw in both veteran and casual Marvel fans. But then there are two names that don’t quite fit this pattern: Squirrel Girl and Jeff the Land Shark.
Created by Steve Ditko and Will Murray, Squirrel Girl made her debut in 1991, yet she’s still a relatively unknown character to a good portion of the Marvel fan base. Over the last decade or so, Squirrel Girl has maintained a bit of a cult status among some fans, with her tongue-in-cheek antics bringing a refreshing tone to the comic universe. A much more recent addition tothe Marvel canon, Jeff the Land Shark was introduced in 2018 as Gwenpool’s adorable sidekick, and much like Squirrel Girl, he’s achieved his own sort of cult status over the years, appearing in a surprising number of comics.
While the concept of adding cult characters likeSquirrel Girl and Jeff the Land SharktoMarvel Rivals' roster is an exciting one, it does bring up the all-important question of how they’ll actually work in the game’s meta. While Squirrel Girl’s enhanced agility, strength, and ability to control Squirrels paves the way for some fun abilities, Jeff the Land Shark doesn’t really have any powers aside from his ability to breathe air and walk on land, which might make him a tricky character forMarvel Rivalsto adapt.
Marvel Rivals
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Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
