Marvel's Avengers: The Case for the X-Men to Get a Similar Game
While Marvel’s Avengers has its problems, it is hard to deny that the genre is an excellent fit for a superhero game. Being able to partner up with friends while filling the roles of beloved characters can be a lot of fun, and leveling up heroes to unlock new abilities can prove to be just as enjoyable. With games like Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League taking a similar approach, it seems the Marvel’s Avengers style will continue to be utilized for superhero titles.
While teams like the Fantastic Four and Guardians of the Galaxy would translate well to the Marvel’s Avengers style, no team is a better fit than the X-Men. A wildly popular hero stable full of characters with unique powers, it is easy to think of a game where Mutants are the focus. Further, an extensive lineup of villains and unique locations could allow an X-Men game to thrive in areas where Marvel’s Avengers has struggled, leading to a highly successful release that pleases Marvel fans and casual gamers alike.
For a long time, the X-Men were far more popular than The Avengers. Viewed as the premier hero faction in comics, the characters were the focus of legendary crossover events like House of M. While the MCU changed things, as movies made The Avengers into a more recognizable Marvel grouping, the same thing could propel the X-Men to new heights. With the MCU set to introduce comic-accurate Mutants to a larger audience, the characters could prove more popular than ever before. As such, a game could capitalize on their newfound popularity.
Releasing alongside or shortly after the Mutants movie, a new X-Men game would allow fans to spend more time with its heroes. The X-Men also have a storied comic history to pull from, giving whatever developer takes on the task several storylines to work through. These heroes are also built for a game like Marvel’s Avengers, as they have several powers that can be upgraded. Players could unlock new aspects of Scarlet Witch’s Chaos Magic, for example, while Wolverine’s new heat claws can be earned via skill point specializations.
The intrinsic energy system from Marvel’s Avengers works well with the X-Men, too. Using Wolverine as an example, the intrinsic energy could be user to manage his Berserk Rage. For someone like Nightcrawler, the bar could be a way to balance how much he can teleport, with longer jumps taking away more energy. Leaning into the co-op nature of the game, more complex team-up moves could be utilized, such as Colossus throwing Wolverine via the Fastball Special. While the X-Men have featured in games like Ultimate Alliance, they are more than deserving of their own game on next-gen consoles.
One thing that would be both a challenge and a double-edged sword for an X-Men game is the massive lineup of Mutants to choose from. Like Marvel’s Avengers, prioritizing fans favorites is a must. Similar to that game, though, adding in a few surprises could prove to be worthwhile. For every fan favorite like Wolverine, someone such as Jubilee should appear on the X-Men game’s roster of heroes. If done properly, a strong protagonist like Kamala Khan could tie the story together, with players learning from more experienced heroes along the way.
One area that Marvel’s Avengers excels is its heroes, as characters like Black Widow are as fun to play as Thor and Captain America. A potential X-Men game should take notes here, making sure to give every hero a unique but entertaining moveset. With this in mind, choosing a diverse lineup of Mutants is the right move. While Marvel’s Avengers has managed to make its two Hawkeyes feel unique, an X-Men game should feature characters that are completely different from one another. As such, if Colossus serves as a playable tank, perhaps heroes like Beast should stay on the sidelines.
When it comes to the X-Men roster, there are some must-have characters. Much like Captain America and Iron Man, Cyclops and Wolverine should be playable. With the former being the team's leader and the latter being one of its most popular characters, fans should be able to control these characters whenever they want to. Jean Grey is another must-have given her importance to X-Men lore, while Scarlet Witch would be cool too if she does not appear as Marvel’s Avengers DLC. Gambit and Nightcrawler are also fine choices, while Iceman’s power set would make for fun mechanics. Though he could be tough to make work, the speedy Quicksilver might be a fun addition as well.
If an X-Men game in the Marvel’s Avengers style does happen, it needs to avoid having the same problems. This begins with locations, as the generic cities, deserts, and tundras of the Crystal Dynamics game are letdowns for many fans. While the Future Imperfect Wasteland and the War for Wakanda DLC are working to right the ship, an X-Men game can avoid this problem from the get-go. While the X-Mansion is an obvious choice for a mission, players could also see the dinosaur-filled Savage Land and explore the Sentinel-covered Genosha.
The X-Men universe is also packed with villains, and if a game happens it should avoid Marvel’s Avengers’ lack of unique foes. Several boss fights need to be available from day one, with battles against Magneto, Mister Sinister, Sentinels, and other enemies having a lot of potential. These foes need to have unique factions supporting them too, as Marvel’s Avengers’ overuse of AIM has made it extra stale for some. Mini bosses like Juggernaut and Toad would also be welcome.
Another thing to avoid is hero exclusivity, as the controversy around Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC should serve as a warning of what not to do. While it is easy to picture a popular hero like Deadpool being locked to one platform, this scenario needs to be avoided.
Finally, gear needs to be more rewarding and enjoyable to hunt for, with some missions and spawns guaranteeing a chance for certain items to drop. With Marvel’s Avengers’ gear system being entirely randomized, making a build is a tedious endeavor, and a potential X-Men game needs to avoid that. On top of this, Marvel’s Avengers fans have wanted a gear system like Injustice 2's, with each piece having a different cosmetic look. This way, players can hunt down specific pieces for more than just stat boosts, as they can mix and match items to take on a unique appearance. If it releases at the right time with the right heroes, and fixes the mistakes of Marvel’s Avengers, a co-op game starring the X-Men has tons of potential.
Marvel’s Avengers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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