I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always thought of arcade beat-em-ups cut from the same cloth asStreets of Rage and Double Dragon to be pretty dime-a-dozen. I’ve always been in the camp of ‘if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.’ It’s reductive, but there hadn’t really been a game that came along to shake up that point of view.
However, there’s one publisher that has threatened to do just that in recent years, and that’s Dotemu, a developer and publisher that truly understands what makes a great arcade-style beat-em-up and knows how to innovate within that space without losing that familiar nostalgia factor that fans crave.
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge was a game that made me stop and take notice, offering gameplay that actually felt fresh in this paint-by-numbers genre. But, having sat down toplay MARVEL: Cosmic Invasion at SGF, I think that this one might just be the title that truly puts the classic beat-em-up back on the map among the gaming masses.
It Takes Two To Tango
The standout feature of MARVEL: Cosmic Invasion is, without a doubt, the seamless tag-in, tag-out system that players can make use of as they deal hammer blows and perform crazy combat feats in each stage.
Players will be obligated tochoose two Marvel iconsto control, and at any point, the player will be able to either call upon their partner to enter the stage and briefly cause havoc, or switch to them on the fly to make use of their unique moveset.
It’s a system that feels akin to a classic tag-tournament fighting game, but in this case, it’s more of a tool to deal with the environment around you, or maybe break up a stun-lock that’s melting your HP.
One moment, you might want to get up close and personal by using Wolverine’s adamantium claws to slice and dice foes, but in an instant, you might want to swap to Storm as a bunch of flying enemies enter the stage, allowing you to meet them on their level.
This ability to react to your situation in the moment is excellent, and it’s a ton of fun to pick new partnerships and test out their synergies. You might get some dud partnerships, such as Venom and Spider-Man, that largely play the same, but most of the time, these team-up experiments open up new combat options and combos you couldn’t have fathomed before.
Pow, Zap, Blam!
What also needs to be commended about Cosmic Invasion is how visually appealing the game is. Yes, it adheres to the typical 16-bit meets modern style that many of these games attempt to emulate. But it’s the finer details that really make this game shine.
There’s a clear love and understanding of each comic book hero that the devs have added to the game, with some truly masterful sprite work and animations that feel authentic and true to each character in question.
Wolverine jumps on foes and stabs them like a maniacal man possessed. Venom’s attacks walk that fine line between grotesque and comedic, and Captain America’s shield animations are equal parts eye-catching as they are functional.
Every attack feels like it has genuine weight, and equally, every attack looks and feels distinct. Which is great, because there’s a lot going on from one moment to the next, so being able to see what your methodical button mashing is doing is a must.
Veterans And Casuals, Unite!
I’ve seen over the years that many games in this niche tend to cater to the hardcore fans, because, after all, they are the fans that have kept this genre relevant, alive, and kicking for decades now.
However, Cosmic Invasion truly feels like a game that caters to both sides of the coin. From the developer’s own mouth, they told me that this game is built with a focus on making sure that everyone and anyone could pick up and play.
Even if you have a little kid that just loves Spider-Man pushing buttons at random, they’ll be contributing to the madness on screen and kicking some villain butt in the process. However, for veteran beat-em-up fans, there are modes that offer more challenge and refined, nuanced playstyles with each character that encourage multiple playthroughs.
It’s yet another game under the Dotemu umbrella that understands and nails that classic arcade feel, but there’s the lovely caveat that, if you do fall victim to one of our hero’s nemeses, you don’t need to pump another quarter into the machine to keep on fighting.
Closing Comments:
MARVEL: Cosmic Invasion feels like a step up from Dotemu’s TMNT outing, offering a tag-team format that is cathartic, chaotic on screen, and accessible to players of all skill sets. This comic book combat-fest looks incredible while retaining that classic arcade machine feel, and offers a depth in abundance for veteran players that will keep them fighting villains for hours on end. It’s a genuine blast to play alone or with friends, and the fact that the game also offers an interesting story is a welcome bonus. I’m not the biggest fan of beat-em-ups of this nature, but I genuinely can’t wait to see more charcaters revealed for this already stacked line-up, and can’t wait to save the cosmos through aggressively button mashing my controller into oblivion.
