Revamped Marvel Superheroes Series Reignites Excitement
Marvel Cosmic Invasion, developed by Tribute Games Inc., is a 2D beat-em-up that offers a unique twist on the genre, while staying true to its roots. Unlike Absolum's genre-bending mix of beat-em-up with roguelike elements, Cosmic Invasion focuses on showcasing the powers and attacks of its heroes in a simple and comfortable structure.
The game's animation features crisp, colourful pixel-art that emulates the personalities of each hero with the stretchy exuberance of a Saturday morning cartoon. Characters like Rocket Raccoon leap around wildly, Venom drags himself along with distorted arms, and Storm spins herself into whirlwind drill attacks.
Each character in Cosmic Invasion has a set of moves, including an attack, a special, a defend, a super move, and air and dashing variants. For instance, Captain America is a master of defense and controlling the fight, with long-range shield throws for crowd control. Spider-Man, on the other hand, has a far-reaching dodge and a web-swing that allows him to out-maneuver enemies.
One of the standout features of Cosmic Invasion is its "Cosmic Swap" system. This mechanic allows players to control two heroes per player and switch between them in real-time during combat. This system is more complex and integral than simple character switching—players can also call in their secondary character to perform assist moves during combos without fully swapping, enabling highly strategic, fluid, and extended combo chains akin to fighting games like Marvel Vs. Capcom.
The roster of 15 diverse Marvel heroes includes cosmic characters like Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill, allowing for varied play styles from fast, agile fighters to heavy hitters. The tag team system, which allows players to choose up to four characters and swap between them at will, enhances the gameplay by allowing for tactical combinations. For example, using Spider-Man to deal with shield enemies and Phyla-Vell to clear a horde of lesser foes.
Each hero in Cosmic Invasion has unique abilities. Wolverine can stab enemies, She-Hulk can snatch and choke enemies, and Nova is a master of keep-away, firing long-range laserbeams, flying above foes' heads, and raining down on key targets with a divekick.
The game's core beat-em-up formula is very familiar, similar to Shredder's Revenge, with the player walking from left to right, beating up bad guys, reaching bosses, and moving on to the next level. However, the focus resource system, where players build focus by landing hits to unleash screen-clearing special moves, adds an extra layer of strategy.
Cosmic Invasion also features unique boss mechanics, requiring players to learn patterns and utilize tactics like disabling shields to deal damage. Cooperative multiplayer supporting up to four players simultaneously enhances the classic arcade feel.
In conclusion, Marvel Cosmic Invasion stands out among modern superhero games by embracing old-school beat-em-up simplicity enriched with a nuanced tag-team combat system. While the game's familiar structure might not convert those not already on board with the beat-em-up genre, it provides a simple and comfortable experience that allows players to enjoy the unique abilities and powers of each hero.
- Players can control two heroes in real-time during combat, thanks to the game's 'Cosmic Swap' system, a feature more complex than simple character switching.
- Unlike other Marvel characters, Captain America is a master of defense and controlling the fight, using long-range shield throws for crowd control.
- In Cosmic Invasion, players can choose up to four Marvel heroes and swap between them at will, which enhances the gameplay by allowing for tactical combinations.
- Movies-and-TV enthusiasts will find the animation in Cosmic Invasion reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, with characters like Rocket Raccoon having stretchy exuberance.
- Despite its familiar beat-em-up structure similar to Shredder's Revenge, Cosmic Invasion adds an extra layer of strategy with its focus resource system, where players build focus by landing hits to unleash screen-clearing special moves.
