Marvel’s Avengers was a 2020 game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix Europe. It featured an original story and a roster of Avengers to play as (the game launched with 6 characters, with 5 more added as free update. If you play on PlayStation, you get Spider-Man as an exclusive as well). The gameplay loop is basically a “looter shooter” in which you run mission in a team of maximum 4 characters and get loots to improve your character.
Let’s just say that the game didn’t perform as well as expected, especially for a property as hot as the Avengers (it was announced at E3 2019, after Endgame’s release and the peak of the MCU popularity). It launched as a very poor game-as-a-service, with repetitive gameplay, bugs and lack of content. The characters play great, with very in-depth combat system, but the missions where you play them weren’t particularly enticing. Also the microtransactions ('nuff said). While it received many substantial updates and expansion, Crystal Dynamics announced they would shutter support and delist the game from digital sale by September 30, 2023.
It is as the game is about to get delisted that I finally decided to give it a chance. As of now, Avengers features a very meaty campaign and 3 major story expansions. Treating it as a single-player, the game has very fun and generally good writings, and is a chance to play an original Avengers story. There are a total of 11 characters (12 on PlayStation), all of whom features distinct and in-depth gameplay (yes, there are dupes like 2 Hawkeye and 2 Thor but even then they play differently enough). In preparation for the delist, all the cosmetic microtransactions have been unlocked and premium currencies reworked into one, so the game is fully playable solo and offline now. I bought the game on sale for basically dirt cheap and have been thoroughly enjoying my time with it. The story is enjoyable, it’s fun to play as an Avenger (my favorite Avenger is Hawkeye, so having 2 of them is a bonus as well), the gameplay is fine enough to have fun, and while I enjoy playing solo, you can still play online with others as well.
While it didn’t live up to its ambition as a long-running GaaS (thank god for that) featuring multiple Avengers (slightly sadder, She-Hulk and Captain Marvel were rumored to be in the work, which were canned after the shutdown), I quite enjoy the game for what it is now: a single-player game with co-op components, multiple characters to choose and play, with fun writings and banters, and no microtransaction. It is a perfect okay-game to waste some time in. If anyone overlooked the game before, consider giving it a chance. The game is currently on sale on Steam and PlayStation for very cheap, and probably will again as we approach the delisting.
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I have tried it, and I can say that from my perspective it was actually worse than the tepid reviews at the time made it out to be.
It was entirely a rickety scaffolding around the mtx. It felt like there just wasn’t a game there. I was instantly bored the moment the game started, and what was there felt almost like an internal prototype to discuss ideals.
I suspect now that everything is free it’s alright-ish, but frankly I refunded it and have 0 intention to look into it again. Companies get one chance, there will be no fool-me-twice.
I felt the same when I played it. It’s just a framework for MTX.
I have the demo for this. I couldn’t even finish it, that’s how much fun it was at the time.
Glad it’s enjoyable now though
I tried the Open Beta. It was fine but not enough to make me fork over cash.
Well, it’s why we’re here anyway, to enjoy fully updated game at a fraction of the cost 🤣
I was thinking “I kind of want to edit that is always good when games are completed and they end up better” and you already hit the nail on the head better than I was going to lol nice
Is this a Square Enix employee fishing for a raise?
Unlikely, given that Crystal Dynamics was sold by Square Enix to Embracer Group last year and had been the publisher since. I do understand the confusion: People being genuinely interested in something without monetary incentive? Unheard of.
I mean, you’re allowed to have the wrong opinion,
Thanks for the write-up and I too bought it before it was delisted (ie: paid < $7.00 for the deluxe edition)… and tbh, I felt I still paid too much.
As you mentioned that campaigns are simple, but I was surprised (and amazingly board ) by how simple the campaigns were. (disclaimer : I did only play for about 2 hours before I got board and never came back). I was hoping for some sort of brawler type game, but the enemies are few but often respawn. I was hoping for something like Shadows of War, but was greatly disappointed. The campaigns were disconnected from each other and the objectives are simply: defeat this enemy, then destroy these targets… there is no real flexible or room for thought, outside of the prepared script you need to follow until the campaign ends.
… and the controls, I found, are quite janky. I was iron man and I found that the movement never really “flowed” into each other, there was always a delay between animation… I really didn’t find it fun. It wasn’t a brawler, it really was a Pay-to-Win platform… even with all the pay gates removed.
People often mention that Guardians of the Galaxy is better… and it is on my wish list, but I’m really suspicious (I hope they improved the controls).
I’ve played both. Guardians is 100% worth it. Avengers was trash.
GotG plays completely differently. You control Star-Lord, and as leader of the Guardians, issue commands to the others. It’s akin to a team-based RPG (I made the comparison in another comment, think FFXV). It has role-playing element in storytelling, the level are well-designed corridors instead of Avengers’ semi-open playbox. Coming out near and from the same publisher as Avengers really hampered GotG’s perception but it is a worthy experience.
Cool, I’ll keep it on my wishlist then.
I’m releaved I’m not the only one worried that GotG might pull too much from their Avengers “formula”.
You mentioned it’s more of an RPG. Does this mean it’s more turn-based combat? Is the game long like Final Fantasy?
I’d be content having either a good story or a fun brawler/hack n’ slash… but (as I mentioned) Avengers failed on both fronts.
Star-Lord plays like a third-person shooter, with special abilities. In battle, the other Guardians auto-battle, but you can issue commands to them to activate special skills. It’s more strategic in that nature.
In exploration and story, there are also decision-making moments that lightly alter the game.
Good to hear they finally polished the game up and added more to it. I played it the first week it came out and it was wet hot shit. The story and environment were absolutely fantastic, but the repetition got really old fast. I found myself getting bored of the side missions less than halfway through and continuing just for the story. I’m so glad to hear it got much better! I might revisit it just to try all the additions!
Best part is that those additions are free so you cost nothing
Extra: Marvel’s Avengers lack of success led to less than stellar initial reception to another Marvel game of Square Enix, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021). The devs had to spend time before release clarifying that GotG is purely single-player, with no microtransaction whatsoever.
GotG is a fantastic game that was inspired by the MCU but still offers a distinct experience due to its heavy comic roots (Drax the Destroyer instead of Drax the Dadjoke, for example). If you want a more focused Marvel experience, GotG is the game for you.
I second this recommendation. That game was quite a fun little experience. I easily got a good 20-30 hours worth of solid fun out of it! It definitely wasn’t worth full price, but it’s easily worth a discount.
GotG and its combat system gives me the same feeling as FF15. For a party gameplay, it’s a good system to develop the bonds between characters.
Maybe dumb question, but if I bought it I get everything that was in the store, even after delisting? Are there any risks this will become unplayable later?
It’s fully playable offline now. All cosmetics DLC are unlocked from the start as well.
wish i could play as spider-man. damn sony
You’re better off playing the two Spider-Man games, seriously, Spider-Man in this game sucks
wish i could play those games. damn sony
at least i still have spider-man 2 on the original xbox
I assumed you are on PC, oops 😅 both Spider-Man games are available there
my laptop can maybe run the main menu screen at 10 fps 😂 ive never had a good pc to game on
You can get a ps5 now for the price of a decent video card.
I remember checking out this game and decided it’s not for me because of the microtransactions. Now that the microtransaction stuff is gone, this changes everything.
I played it on Game Pass when it was available there and found the campaign to be an worthwhile experience with some nice set-pieces. I agree with OP that treating it as single-player is the best way to enjoy this game.
The endgame grind grew tedious real quick and I stopped playing after a couple of hours of that.
I grinded the endgame for the trophies. Thank god there are 12 different characters to cycle through or I’d have died of boredom. But the campaigns were fun, so I got my 5$ worth.
