Since launch, Marvel's Avengers has been digging itself a deeper and deeper hole, earning a not-so-great reputation online for its failures. However, the trouble started well before the game launched, when a disappointing reveal trailer showed off janky-looking character models that were changed after fan outcry. On a surface level, the game has a lot of struggles it needs to overcome if it ever hopes to be great, but it gets more right than many assume.
That's not to say that Marvel's Avengers is a perfect game, in fact it's far from it. As it stands, however, Crystal Dynamic's crack at a live service title seems primed to suffer the same fate as Anthem, even though it's already in far better shape than Anthem ever was. And while Marvel's Avengers is currently accurately described as a mediocre title, there are some core elements that could redeem it if overhauled.
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It's easy to define what would make the perfect Avengers game. With the MCU being one of, if not the, biggest entertainment franchises to ever have existed, the blueprint for success is readily apparent. Fans want to explore each character's motivation and identity in solo outings, then watch each personality come together for massive, pulse-pounding fights. It's an investment, but one that the groundwork already exists for.
Look at the build-up to the first Avengers film. It took four years, starting from the release of Iron Man, to reach the full-fledged crossover project that was 2012's Avengers. Obviously, Marvel's Avengers can't replicate that timeline, and its story has already come and gone for the core set of heroes, but if Crystal Dynamics is looking to make a better impression, it could replicate the individual stories coming together for a major narrative crossover with its DLC characters, much like the MCU did when introducing new characters in Phase 2 and 3.
Players have gotten a taste of what the Marvel's Avengers DLC formula will be like with Kate Bishop, Hawkeye's protege. Hawkeye himself is slated to launch on March 18, alongside the next-gen enhancements, and while keeping him distinct from Kate Bishop is a concern, DLC heroes in the pipeline is a good thing. Kate Bishop's DLC, Taking AIM, didn't quite nail the Avengers feel, but it did introduce the most interesting character in the game. If Crystal Dynamics can blend good characters with better storytelling, there's a recipe for success there.
The central aspect of Marvel's Avengers is its combat, the core feature by which most games are judged. Luckily, Avengers' combat works well, and heroes feel distinct from one another thanks to their suites of abilities. While many of the combos are the same, Crystal Dynamics has done an excellent job of respecting what makes each character feel unique, using that to make a roster of super-heroes that feels diverse despite having relatively few choices.
Plus, the game is astoundingly well-acted for a live service title, boasting the likes of Nolan North, Troy Baker, Laura Bailey, Sandra Saad, and Travis Cunningham. It's an impressive list, decorated with some of the most acclaimed voice actors currently active in the medium. Those accolades shine through, too, as the banter between characters, while not always wonderfully written, is as well delivered as one could hope for.
If Marvel's Avengers is able to capitalize on what it's doing well – delivering distinct characters and tight combat – and expand on the individual characters contained within, it could right many of the wrongs that it's currently guilty of. The issue is it's unclear if Crystal Dynamics is aware that it needs to be pulled in that direction, or if it has its heart set on a different game entirely.
The problem right now is that Crystal Dynamic doesn't seem to be doing much that players are after. While the developer has elaborated a bit more on its decision to raise level requirements, fans are still concerned that the content isn't worth multiple playthroughs, which is a major issue for a game that hinges on replayability. That, coupled with the fact that loot isn't that interesting, makes the decision for Marvel's Avengers to be a full-fledged live service game somewhat befuddling.
It comes down to a lack of communication from the developer. Part of what makes Destiny 2 worth sticking to is detailed communication periodically released by Bungie, with fans given clear timeframes for new content to be added to the game. Marvel's Avengers has no such roadmap, leading to fans with no clue when new content will be coming, especially high-profile content like the PlayStation-exclusive Spider-Man DLC.
It's a frustrating scenario, and one that makes moves that appear anti-player all the more painful. It's no secret that Marvel's Avengers has under-performed in the time since launch, and if Crystal Dynamics continues down this path, it's headed for a disastrous end. Fans have seen examples of games imploding even with massive backing, so it's not too far out there to imagine that Avengers could suffer the same fate as other failed live service games.
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Live service games are the most difficult type of game to make. Destiny is one of the few titles to have fully figured it out, with The Division being the second closest. Even those games have a habit of upsetting fans with changes, highlighting the delicate balance it takes to keep players coming back for more, a balance that Marvel's Avengers hsa struggled with since it launched.
To rectify this, Marvel's Avengers needs to not only look at what highly regarded live service games are doing, but also see what other games, like the now-canceled Anthem, failed to do. For the most part, that means rewarding loot and consistent, fresh content worth replaying. With many more heroes on the horizon, there's still plenty of time for Marvel's Avengers to figure things out, but if it isn't careful, there may not be players around by the time that formula has been pinned down. For now, it needs to lean into its best elements and communicate with its fans.
Marvel's Avengers is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One. Ps5 and Xbox Series X versions are in development.