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We recently had a Nintendo Direct on the 2nd to last week of March. This is to ramp up hype for Switch 2, which is predicted to release this summer. Nintendo Directs are usually small presentations, lasting about 30 minutes to 1 full hour, of announcements, release dates, and any other substantial info about what Nintendo as a company is focusing on.
They announced about 28 total games. As of this article, they are confirmed to be playable on the Switch 1, but will have forward compatibility for Switch 2. Out of all of these games that were announced, one particular game caught my eye, and I will be covering my thoughts about it in this article.
Game: Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Near the end of the conference, there was one game that popped up that immediately had me wanting to dig up more about it. It was Marvel Cosmic Invasion. It is made by the same team that did the excellent beat’em up game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Because of the team’s past track record, it did give me optimism they would take care of the Marvel IP.
First Thoughts:
Could this game be argued as a reskin of their previous beat’em up games? The truth is, yes. But will I play it anyway? Yes, I’ll give it a chance. Tribute, the company that is handling this IP, has proven to me and many other fans they know how to take care critical IPs, like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Streets of Rage 4, Metal Slug Tactics, and the upcoming Ninja Gaiden Rangebound. Their bread and butter are either Beat’em up games or side scrolling metroidvanias.
Right off the bat, I love the art style. The game resonates that clean 32-bit style that is a throwback from Shredder’s revenge. Not only that, but it looks like an easy pick up and play game where friends can jump in at any time. They only revealed part of the roster of characters to play as, but each of them looks different enough to have different playthroughs. Some examples of the characters I saw were Captain America, Captain Marvel, Venom, Hulk, Spiderman, and some others. I am sure there will be more and I only paid attention to a handful of heroes, but there will be plenty more in DLC form or for when the game gets closer to release, a full roster reveal.
The game also reported that it will release this holiday season of 2025, and is playable up to 4 players. Both things are something to look forward to. This game is also reported to be multiplatform, so Xbox, PC, and PS5 will be able to get in on the heroic battles. Crossplay would be a fun aspect to implement in this game, but only time will tell if they include it or not.
Final Thoughts:
Utilizing well established Ips like Marvel or DC can be a tricky thing to execute, but if you get the right team with fresh ideas behind it, you have a strong foundation for a great franchise. Although it is not Marvel Ultimate Alliance 4 that many of us have wanted for years, or another X-Men Legends game, I am happy that Marvel is still giving new creators a chance to see what they can come up with in different media and genres of games. For the older fans of the beat’em up games of the past, we are experiencing a renaissance of all these IPs being modernized for modern platforms. For new fans, they get to enjoy something that connects us together, as well as creating lasting memories that hopefully revive the spirit of couch coop again. Consider me on board for this game and here is to a brighter future of focusing on the fun factor again in games. Cosmic Invasion sets a good example that you don’t need a big name in the industry or ultra-high graphics to present a good idea. A beat’em up game with friends is all you need to remember why we play games, to build memories, and ultimately enjoy ourselves.
Charle Subketkaew is a passionate gamer, storyteller, and daydreamer. When he's not immersed in a fresh new video game, he also enjoys creating art, graphic design, spending time with friends, watching movies or anime, listening to a podcast or custom playlist, writing, collecting, working out, and scouting out his next weekend adventure.
He runs a design page and website, Fortis Ideas. This is an evolution of his design and media career over the span of a decade. He works with different creators in different disciplines on a multitude of projects to push himself to create new ideas.
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