As is the case with every modern hero shooter,Marvel Rivalshas already been compared toOverwatch 2countless times in the last few months, with those comparisons only growing louder the longer its Beta period went on. In all fairness, some ofMarvel Rivals’Overwatchcomparisons are pretty inarguable, with multiple abilities having been clearly inspired byBlizzard’s hero shooter, both from a mechanical and visual standpoint.
ButMarvel Rivalshas plenty of unique tricks up its sleeve. While its Marvel branding is its most obvious selling point,Marvel Rivalsalso features a third-person perspective and some fully destructible environments, both of which help to separate it from the competition. But more defining than all of that isMarvel Rivals' team-up mechanic, which acts as a shining beacon of the game’s individuality. That being said, it’d be better for everyone ifOverwatchwas allowed its turn to borrow this team-up mechanic fromMarvel Rivals.
Overwatch 2 Needs to Borrow Marvel Rivals' Team-Up Abilities
Why Marvel Rivals' Team-Up Abilities Should Come To Overwatch
When selecting a hero or villain to play as inMarvel Rivals, players will notice a small icon at the bottom of the screen that shows portraits of several characters. These specific characters combine to unlock one ofMarvel Rivals' team-up abilities, some kind of powerful buff or special attack that those characters can all use during the match. By the end of its last Beta,Marvel Rivalshad added 10 unique team-up abilities to the roster, many of which are based on iconic character synergies fromMarvel comics.
One of the best team-up abilities currently inMarvel Rivalsis theSymbiote Bond ability that ties together Venom, Spider-Man, and Peni Parker, granting the latter two the ability to explode in a mesmerizing array of high-damaging black Symbiote tentacles.
Another simple but effective team-up ability inMarvel Rivalsis Rocket Raccoon and Groot’s Planet X Pals ability, which allows Rocket to jump on Groot’s shoulders, granting them both a 50% damage reduction. Not only do these team-up abilities giveMarvel Rivalsa unique selling point, but the feature itself is often genuinely satisfying to use.
Though most ofMarvel Rivals' team-up abilitiesare simple but efficient, there are a handful that require a bit more communication and strategy to use properly, and these can be incredibly rewarding to pull off, often turning the tide of battle in a split-second. These team-up abilities also encourage players to use a wide range of heroes, and to use heroes from each class, thus rewarding more balanced teams. These are all thingsOverwatch 2could use.
Overwatch 2 Already Has The Lore for Team-Up Abilities
Thankfully, implementingMarvel Rivals' team-up abilities intoOverwatch 2would be relatively simple, at least from a lore standpoint. Through various cinematics, in-game lines of dialog, comics, and novels,Overwatchfans have a pretty thorough understanding of which characters relate to one another in terms of lore. Naturally, it’s these closely-knit characters who would make for the best team-up abilities.
Hanzo, Genji, and Kiriko’s loreare all tied together, with Hanzo and Genji being brothers, and Kiriko having trained alongside them under her mother. While all three heroes already have the same Passive climbing ability, it would be fun to seeOverwatch 2add a proper team-up ability for the extended Shimada family, perhaps adding an ability to all three that lets a spirit fox or dragon briefly assist them in combat. Ana and Pharah would be another obvious pairing, as would Torbjorn and Brigitte, Solider 76 and Reaper, and Tracer and Winston.
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!
