Warning!! The following contains spoilers for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, available now.
Following the release of Marvel’s Avengers, the last thing anyone expected was yet another Marvel video game to release less than a year later. Square Enix and Eidos-Montréal had other plans when they announced the release of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Though not much was known at the time, it was confirmed that players would only be playing as Star-Lord rather than controlling the whole team like Marvel’s Avengers. The game would also follow a different gameplay formula that focuses on a single-player adventure rather than multiplayer.
Since its release, the game has become a surprise hit amongst gamers and Marvel fans. The success has primarily been due to how the game has been developed from the ground up and the surprising amount of Easter eggs hidden within. But for newer players to the characters or the genre, is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy worth the $60?
How is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s Gameplay?
Marvel-based video games have had a lot of different gameplay styles. Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s gameplay mixes third-person exploration and varied combat, where Marvel’s Avengers is focused on team-based objectives and exploration combined with combat unique to each character. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy takes pages from both of these games to create something entirely new. When not in combat, players can explore new and exciting worlds that hold secrets containing loot, collectibles and Easter eggs. Depending on the planet, players can interact with its residents or fellow guardians to make the game feel alive, like Spider-Man interacting with civilians.
From a combat perspective, battles take place organically within the story. After every combat instance, players are given XP for their performance, which rewards speed and creativity above all else. Players can control Star-Lord and the many variations of his element gun against enemies that vary in how they can be defeated. When the battles get more intense, players can also command the other guardians to attack specific enemies with fully upgradeable moves. Peter can also call a huddle where the Guardians will speak their minds, and the player has to choose a fitting speech. When the correct one is selected, the team will go out into battle with a power boost as music plays from Peter’s walkman.
How Does The Title Stand Out From Other Marvel Games
Narratively Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is something that no other Marvel game has tackled. In Marvel’s Spider-Man, players exist in a world where the story is impacting the player. As a result, there’s not a lot of room to affect the narrative directly. In Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the developers created a world where players interact with each choice. As they explore the various planets and listen to the many conversations, players can make leadership calls that affect the relationships between teammates.
The interactive storytelling also allows for more ties to the larger Marvel universe to emerge. As Peter explores his ship and other locations, some Easter eggs will surprise die-hard fans. One exciting addition is when Peter finds particular artifacts and takes them back to the ship. Once onboard, interacting with these items will open a dialogue between specific Guardians. These small additions add a sense of community and make the Guardians feel more like a family than a team.
Is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Worth It?
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is unlike any game that has come before. It has engaging action and a detailed story that begs to be explored more than once. Fans unsure wouldn’t be missing anything if they waited for a sale, but after purchasing it, they may find it more entertaining than previously expected. Die-hard fans, however, wouldn’t regret picking up a copy at full price as the game makes every cent count. Whether or not Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is bought at full price, players will undoubtedly feel like a part of the family.
Developed by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
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