While Marvel RivalsPlayer count was a cause for concern before Daredevil's debut, Man Without Fear did a good job of bringing players back to the hero shooter, and the recent batch of well-received content should keep players hooked for a bit longer. Overwatch 2on the other hand, has hyped its 20th season as a game changer, with Hero 45 and other big additions just around the corner. However, Season 19 feels like a bit of a “filler” season. Its big addition is a new Halloween LTM, with some earned rewards also attached to this mode. But when you compare both the rewards and the playable content side by side, it's hard not to see Marvel Rivals as one step ahead right now.
Marvel Rivals free cosmetics remain unmatched
One of Marvel RivalsThe most consistently impressive elements are its free unlocks. While Overwatch 2 events rarely reward new skins for free (and when they do, they come in the form of simple recolors for existing skins like Lucio's Summer Games outfit), there's almost always a cosmetic to grind for in Marvel Rivals. Most of these skins are also highly sought after, whether it's Ultron's wasteland look that players have been working to get throughout Season 4 or the outstanding Symbiote Thing look in Season 3. The Halloween freebie doesn't disappoint either, as players can get a skin for Blade that many would probably have been willing to pay for.
The Blade Knight skin features Blade as an agent of Khonshu, with the outfit directly based on Blade's appearance from the animated series Marvel Zombies. As a replacement for Marc Spector, Blade has all of his usual daywalker abilities in addition to the powers provided by Khonshu, making him the ideal survivor for a world full of undead. Players will be able to unlock this skin and its associated cosmetics just by progressing through a digital board game, continue Marvel Rivalsa range of amazing event rewards. When comparing this to Overwatch 2s Haunted Masquerade event rewards, the difference is night and day. Sure, the cardboard mask charms are sweet unlocks that both reference the LTM and allow players to rep their favorite heroes on their weapons, but there's nothing bigger than the Blade skin to earn.
Marvel Rivals also wins the Halloween LTM contest
Marvel Rivals' Cool new Blade skin will be at home in the PvE Marvel Zombies mode, as he's one of five characters players can choose from to battle the hordes (Thor, Jeff the Land Shark, Magik and Punisher round out the cast). When the mode got its first teaser, fans weren't all that impressed, with many expecting it to be a rushed attempt at a co-op mode added purely to tick the PvE box. However, the full trailer received more positive feedback, with the hero upgrades and difficulty levels showing real promise. With the mode live now, positive feedback is pouring in, with praise for the heroes' boss battles and unique playstyles offsetting some issues involving bugs and stability.
For a first attempt at PvE, Marvel Rivals' The Zombies mode is promising, and there's room for it to grow into something even more special over time. It may lack the replayability of something similar Call of Duty Zombies, as it has a mission structure more comparable to something similar Overwatch 2's Wrath of the Bride, but adding a few extra boss fights and playable heroes can make a world of difference. If the mode proves to be a long-term hit and not just in the first few days, it could get more maps, or at least inspire additional PvE content. If this happens, Marvel Rivals could eventually offer a healthy number of co-op and multiplayer experiences. Even in its current form, Marvel Zombies has a lot of depth and some satisfying gameplay, even if players only go through the mission once or twice.
Marvel Rivals Developer NetEase has described Marvel Zombies as its “first” PvE mode, suggesting that more co-op experiences are already planned for the game.
When it comes to Overwatch 2it's been a long time since the game received new PvE content, and Season 19 has done nothing to fill that void. Sure, players can replay Junkenstein's Revenge again, but this tower defense-like experience is one that players have had for nearly a decade. Those who only care about PvP may be perfectly happy with Haunted Masquerade, but that seems unlikely, as the mode has been met with a largely negative response due to overpowered synergies, dropouts, and technical issues. Not only does the refreshing Marvel Zombies mode win over the aging Junkenstein's Revenge, but it also outclasses Overwatch 2s new PvP-focused LTM. Combined with the free Blade Knight skin, it's clear as day Marvel Rivals is the better hero shooter to play this Halloween.
- Released
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December 6, 2024
- ESRB
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T for Teens // Violence
- Developer
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NetEase Games
- Publisher
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NetEase Games
