In recent weeks, Crystal Dynamics have dropped new details on the combat abilities of the likes of Captain America, Black Widow, and Thor– but it looks like all of them are old hat now. Recently, they revealed Ms. Marvel as the game’s sixth (and main) playable character, and now, taking to Twitter, they’ve dropped a ton of new details on how she functions during gameplay.
Ms. Marvel is, according to the game’s lead combat designer Vince Napoli, the most effective character as far as pure melee abilities are concerned- and considering the fact that you also play as the Incredible Hulk in this game, that’s saying something.
Boasting of “some of the most dynamic attack arcs imaginable” thanks to her abilities, she’s supposed to be a formidable mid-range melee fighter, with each of her attacks focusing on “a particular hit shape, enemy reaction, or attack power.” Making use of her dodge, sprinting, combos, and charged attacks seems to be key during combat – more so than any of the other characters, apparently – and mastery over all her abilities lets player exert “complete control over the battlefield in a way that no other hero can match.”
“Her unique abilities allow her to fling enemies high into the air, toss them over her head, or direct them into other enemies, all from a great a distance,” Napoli describes. “But really mastering Ms. Marvel all comes down to not just exercising precise control over what attacks are used and when, but making use of her iconic Embiggen ability, which can be activated at any time.
“Lovingly dubbed ‘mini-Embiggen,’ this ability allows Ms. Marvel to automatically dodge incoming attacks, counter enemy attacks w/precision timing, & seamlessly increase her attack reach & impact at any time, all without interrupting her current attack!”
Marvel’s Avengers received a lot of flak when it was revealed for looking like a cheap, low-budget knock-off of the MCU, but now, it’s starting to feel like the game is forming its own identity. It’s putting Ms. Marvel front and centre, and not only does she play completely differently from all the other heroes, she’s also a Marvel character that hasn’t been seen in media adaptations too much, which makes her presence all the more interesting.
Marvel’s Avengers is out on May 15, 2020 for the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia. Though the game’s main story will only be 10-12 hours long, Crystal Dynamics wants to make sure players never run out of interesting things to do in the game even after they’ve seen the credits.