Summary
It’s been a pretty incredible few months forMarvel Rivals. After its March announcement stirred up a great deal of intrigue,Marvel Rivalsreleased its first closed test in May. Opinions were almost universally positive followingMarvel Rivals' first test, and fans eagerly awaited the next chance to play the 6v6 hero shooter. Many lucky fans finally got their opportunity to playMarvel Rivalsa few weeks ago, when it released its limited-time closed Beta.
The reception surroundingMarvel Rivals' closed Betapaints the game in an even better light than its Alpha, with many fans agreeing that there’s something really special about the comic-themed multiplayer game. One of the defining moments ofMarvel Rivals' Beta was the introduction of two new characters halfway through its duration. While Thor was another solid Vanguard hero, fans were mostly drawn to Jeff the Land Shark, a bizarre healer that even some die-hard Marvel fans weren’t aware of. Jeff quickly became a highlight ofMarvel Rivals' roster, and it proves that developer NetEase shouldn’t be afraid to add some of Marvel’s stranger heroes.
Marvel Rivals Should Shoot for the Moon With Unconventional Character Designs
Jeff the Land Shark Proves Anything Can Work in Marvel Rivals
Making his debut inWest Coast Avengersback in 2018,Jeff the Land Sharkhas popped up in various Marvel comics over the last few years, often appearing alongside Gwenpool, Deadpool, and Kate Bishop. Though he has a bit of a cult following among Marvel comic readers, Jeff the Land Shark is an incredibly obscure character overall, and one that doesn’t immediately make sense for a hero shooter likeMarvel Rivals. But somehow, it works.
Thanks to its heavily stylized aesthetic, a chunky shark that walks on four legs blends in surprisingly well with the rest ofMarvel Rivals' roster. Jeff the Land Shark’s adorable character-specific animations and sound effects also play a major role in the hero’s newfound popularity and help to make him feel like part of the team. It also helps that Jeff’s in-game mechanics feel just as substantial and thought-out as the rest of the roster’s, with the hero offering an efficient and unique method of healing.
Adding alesser-known hero like Jeff the Land SharktoMarvel Rivals' roster gives NetEase a bit more freedom in putting its own unique spin on the character and their abilities, while also bringing more attention to the character. Adding more distinct characters like Jeff is also a great way forMarvel Rivalsto keep distinguishing itself from the competition, as the more unique its roster is, the less likely comparisons to its competition are going to be.
Marvel Rivals Has Plenty of Strange Source Material to Draw Inspiration From
It’s a good idea forMarvel Rivalsto add a few more lesser-known, more bizarre characters to its roster when it eventually launches, and thankfully, there are plenty of absurd comic book heroes and villains just waiting for another chance in the spotlight. Some of the more obvious choices for bizarre Marvel heroes are fellow anthropomorphic animals like Jeff.Howard the Duckwould be a great pick, with his talent for Quack-Fu making him an ideal melee-focused hero. Spider-Ham would be another good choice, especially after his iconic appearance inSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Hit-Monkey would be just as great, offering a more agile playstyle.
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!
