Summary
It seems like every studio these days wants to get in on the co-op craze, and superheroes are not safe from that.DC tried to captivate audiences with the likes ofGotham Knightsand the upcomingSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice LeaguewhileMarvelattempted the concept withMarvel’s Avengersand may be trying again with Skydance New Media’s next title. Neither studio has had great luck with the genre yet, but maybe that will change in the future.
IfMarvelwants to beat DC to a captivating co-op then it should be looking to its past for inspiration. The studio already had a great MMO on the market back in 2013 withMarvel Heroes. The game featured one of the largest casts of Marvel characters, had a satisfying gameplay loop, and seemed to be a treat for fans of the IP. Even though it was popular, it ended up closing its doors in 2017, but there has never been a better time to bring it back.
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Marvel Heroes Could Inspire the Future
Marvel Heroeswas a free-to-play MMO that blended ARPG mechanics with the Marvel universe. It was developed by Gazillion Entertainment and would end up launching on PC in 2013. Players wouldtake control of characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Deadpool in a story that saw Doctor Doom obtain the powerful Cosmic Cube. What ensued was a massive adventure filled with some of the most iconic Marvel heroes and locales ripped straight from the pages of a comic book.
The gameplay ofMarvel Heroeswaspretty standard for an ARPG. Each hero had three different skill trees that players could spend points in, and these abilities would make the heroes stronger. Each hero played differently, featured different upgrades, and offered dozens of cosmetics for players to earn. Players would take control of a hero, fight their way through various instances, and obtain all sorts of loot as they saved the world.
Marvel Heroescould be a lot of fun when playing alone, but it was made even better when playing with others.In classic MMO fashion, players could group up and explore the Marvel universe together. The game featured tons of group content including 10-player raids that saw them take on powerful villains from across Marvel Comics. There was so much to do, and the best part was that almost everything could be earned simply by playing the game.
Marvel Heroeswould launch to mixed reviews, but the studio was able to turn it around with the massiveMarvel Heroes 2015relaunch. It would go on to garner strong critical reviews and even be heralded asthe most improved MMOon the market. It would then be expanded even further with theMarvel Heroes 2016andMarvel Heroes Omegarelaunches. At the end of its tenure, the game featured 63 playable characters, hundreds of costumes inspired by Marvel Comics and the MCU, and so much MMO goodness to mess around with.
While the game wasa great treat for Marvel fans, Disney and Gazillion Entertainment would end up ending their relationship. The game would get shut down at the end of 2017 and Gazillion would close its doors after Disney pulled the Marvel license. What was once one of the largest and most interesting Marvel games faded into relative obscurity as its final days came to a close.
Since the closure ofMarvel Heroes,Marvelhas not really had a game like it. It has tried, but nothing has been able to captivate audiences the wayMarvel Heroescould. With the recent failure ofMarvel’s Avengers, maybe it is time for the studio to look at this ARPG for inspiration. While the game may never be able to return, perhaps it can influence a future superhero MMO that actually has some staying power.
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