Marvel’s Avengersreleased over one month ago to a somewhat mixed reaction. While some players seemed to enjoy the game for its combat systems and heroic campaign, other players found it hard to get past the game’s live service elements and bugs. In fact there were so many bugs inMarvel’s Avengersat launch that it neededa patch two weeks after release that fixed over 1,000 issues.
WhileMarvel’s Avengersinitially released with a level of enthusiasm from Marvel fans, it seems like support for the gamehas dwindled significantly. Within the past week, it was reported that the PC version ofMarvel’s Avengershad a concurrent audience of below 1,000 players, which is leading to significant matchmaking issues on the platform. Whether this is due to frustration with the gameplay loop, irritation with the game’s many bugs, or more players being interested in the PS4 version since it will feature exclusive heroes, it’s hard to say. However, sinceMarvel’s Avengers' launch, another live service game has entered the fray, with many of its players still singing its praises weeks after launch.
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Developer miHoYo released the open world RPGGenshin Impactjust over two weeks ago, and it has taken the world and gaming community by storm. Not only does the game featurea vast map comparable in size toTheLegend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but it is a free-to-play game with a robust, colorful cast of characters that fill various roles on a team. And while there are many things thatGenshin ImpactandMarvel’s Avengersshare in common, there is one feature thatGenshinhas that could improve overall gameplay for Avengers’players.
Party/Character Management
InMarvel’s Avengers, players can engage in the world by selecting one of the game’s many Marvel heroes. The player’s party is then filled with other AI-controlled superheroes from the roster likeThe Hulk or Iron Manto assist them as they take on various missions. While this may be fine for players that are fans of only one hero like Captain America, the way these parties are set up could cause some issues in unexpected ways.
As one example,Marvel’s Avengerswon’t allow players to have duplicate characters when playing with friends. Say two friends decide they would like to play together in the game and they’ve both been spending their time leveling up Thor. One of these players will have to switch to another hero they likely haven’t spent as much time playing, thus giving the players a much rougher experience while playing together.
Another complication that is presented by runningMarvel’s Avengers' parties this way arethe AI-controlled teammates. Unfortunately, the teammates often have moments where they are more of a nuisance than helpful by getting in the way. While this is likely due to one of the many bugs found within the game, this probably won’t help players have an enjoyable experience.
This is whereGenshin Impact’s party systemcould improve things for Earth’s mightiest heroes. Rather than having to deal with three AI teammates,Genshin Impactplayers can “hotswap” between their party members at will, seamlessly switching between the four characters that make up their squad. This swapping mechanic allows players to become more comfortable with multiple characters, rather than just one or two.
This system also give players the opportunity to feel more in control of the flow of combat as a whole. By allowingGenshin Impactplayers to rapidly change between their characters, they don’t need to worry if their AI teammates will be focused on the wrong enemy or the wrong objective. Instead, players can wield their character roster to their advantage, allowing them to pull off powerful combos throughElemental Reactions.
So whileMarvel’s Avengerscould certainly take thorough notes onhow well miHoYo monetizesGenshin Impact, Square Enix’s focus might be better utilized by observing its party system. By implementingGenshin’s hotswapping mechanics,Avengersplayers will likely become more familiar with the various heroes, not have to worry about buggy AI, and get back to saving the world from the likes of MODOK and Taskmaster.
Marvel’s Avengersis available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
