After a record-breaking launch,Marvel Rivalshas continued to entertain a massive number of active players. With such a large audience, it can often be a serious challenge to please everyone.Marvel Rivalshas somehow managed to do just that so far, but this kind of smash success often serves to turn the pressure up even higher.
Marvel RivalsSeason 1 has officially begun, and the sheer amount of content it brings with it is nothing short of jaw-dropping. As expected, the new season has come alongside the game’s first major balance update, with these adjustments being well-received across the board. Still, it’s only a matter of time beforeMarvel Rivalsencounters its first major roadblock.
Marvel Rivals May Have Trouble Meeting Fan Expectations with Every Balance Update
Marvel Rivals Developers Seem to Favor a Hands-Off Approach
Marvel Rivalshas used a relatively soft hand when it comes to major balancing adjustments. For example,Marvel Rivals' position on role queuehas been a constant topic of discussion since the game’s launch. This is due to a general perception of unbalanced teams, in which some players simply refuse to try any role other than Duelist.
Despite a great deal of outcry from a portion of the community, developers have explicitly stated that they do not intend to implement role queue as a measure to address this complaint. This might suggest that the game is already working as intended. More importantly, this approach seems to be working so far.Marvel Rivals' Season 0 statsrevealed that Quick Play and Competitive modes are more balanced than one might expect. However, there were still some heroes that fell too far from the center to not be addressed.
Marvel Rivals Season 1 Buffs and Nerfs Explained
True to the pace of development so far, thecharacters being balanced in Season 1are relatively light. Rather than applying sweeping changes across the class, the developer instead honed in on the few characters that needed it the most. Whether they were buffed or nerfed, the characters that received adjustments make it clear that developers have been paying close attention to the community.
For example, the main recipients of nerfs were Hela and Hawkeye. Hela was the most overtuned character in the game by far, and both heroes were capable of some pretty devastating damage. By comparison, Storm had fallen very far behind inMarvel Rivals' Season 0 meta. In Season 1, Storm has received buffs to both attack speed and damage, both of which have made her a much more formidable foe.
Marvel Rivals Has Set a Tough Pace to Match
Marvel RivalsdeveloperNetEase has received praise for both its discretion, and its laser focus on issues within the community. Some have compared the game to its biggest competitors, and have found thatMarvel Rivalshas gained a really solid head start for the sake of its future. However, this glowing reputation right off the bat may make it hard for future updates to measure up.
It’s very difficult to get a balance patch exactly right, let alone every time. AlthoughMarvel Rivalshas built up plenty of goodwill in its first month, this may have only made it harder to meet fan expectations in the future, as now players could be expecting every balancing pass to check all the right boxes. Considering that games likeOverwatch 2still struggle with balancing, despite some characters being around for eight years now, it’s unlikely that the many characters inMarvel Rivalswill stay perfectly fair for its entire life cycle. Still, if NetEase continues to stay on the path it has forged so far when it comes to balancing, perhaps it will continue to rise to the occasion for a long time.
Marvel Rivals
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
