Marvel's Cosmic Invasion carries a noticeable DNA strand from the Marvel vs. Capcom series.
Want to give an old-school beat-em-up a modern twist? That's been a challenge for Dotemu, known for hitting it big with throwback brawlers like Streets of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. But their latest project, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, manages to do just that.
At this year's Summer Game Fest, I got my hands on the latest from Streets of Rage 4 developer Tribute Games. It's another classic brawler with nostalgic pixel art and a packed roster of heroes, but this time around, there's more to it than meets the eye.
The deciding factor? A tag system inspired by fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom. Instead of picking a single character, you choose two. In my demo, I opted for Venom and Wolverine - choosing two characters was the first clue that Cosmic Invasion isn't playing by the traditional beat-em-up rules.
With a press of a button, I could swap between my two characters mid-fight - a game-changer when it comes to taking down the bad guys. With one character, I could use close-range attacks, while another could launch long-range projectiles or block incoming attacks. It's a system that lets you create unique combos, keeping the action dynamic and engaging.
And it doesn't stop there. By holding down the tag button, I could call in my second hero for a quick attack, extending my combos and creating chaotic, high-flying fights. The mechanics feel reminiscent of Mortal Kombat 1 and Invincible Vs, but they've been tailored for a beat-em-up experience - making them intuitive and easy to pick up.
The result? Action-packed battles that are both easily accessible and strategically rich. With enemies flying through the air and combos extending for what seemed like eternity, Marvel Cosmic Invasion brings a fresh feel to the classic beat-em-up formula.
With a runtime similar to that of Shredder's Revenge, this game is shaping up to be a tight, one or two-sitting affair that encourages players to experiment with new combos and team-ups. I can't wait to see how much damage I can dish out with a full team of friends controlling eight heroes at once!
Marvel Cosmic Invasion launches this fall on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping nostalgia trip!
Fun Fighting Facts:Marvel Cosmic Invasion introduces a touch of fighting games into the beat-em-up genre, boasting combat mechanics that are fast-paced and based on skillful movement, like chargeable special moves and powerful combos. Play cooperatively with friends to create synchronized super moves for maximum damage!
The tag system in Marvel Cosmic Invasion, drawing inspiration from fighting games, allows players to choose and switch between two characters during gameplay, blurring the lines between traditional beat-em-ups and fighting games. The game's combat mechanics, with charged special moves and synchronized super moves, make it a unique blend of technology and gadgets, offering a modern twist on the classic beat-em-up genre.
