Marvel Rivals Interview – Heroes, Maps, Progression, and More

As a seasoned gamer who has seen the rise and fall of many superhero games, I must say that Marvel Rivals is shaping up to be a game worth watching. The level of detail and thought put into the game’s design, from the narrative integration in maps to the environmental destruction that impacts gameplay, is truly commendable.

Entering the realm of hero shooter games isn’t a walk in the park due to formidable competition from heavyweights like Overwatch and Valorant, making it challenging for emerging games to gain popularity. However, NetEase Games is optimistic that Marvel Rivals, their upcoming free-to-play multiplayer title, might defy expectations. The game’s connection to a renowned licensed property certainly helps, and the sneak peeks we’ve had so far suggest that it could be quite appealing.

In our quest to gain insight into the development process of Marvel Rivals and understand how NetEase Games collaborated with Marvel to create a hero shooter game featuring renowned characters from the Marvel universe, we sent some questions to their development team. The interview follows below.

Marvel Rivals Interview – Heroes, Maps, Progression, and More

Exploring the whole Marvel multiverse for character choices has been a thorough journey. We’ve immersed ourselves in the vast expanse of the Marvel universe, digging into comics, movies, television series, and video games to find inspiration.

Given that we have the whole Marvel multiverse at our disposal, could you explain the process behind selecting which characters become playable? How do you find a fair equilibrium between ensuring game balance and making characters enjoyable and intriguing for gamers to control?

Exploring the entire Marvel multiverse for character selection has been a thorough journey. Our squad dove headfirst into the Marvel universe, examining comics, MCU films, TV series, and video games for ideas. Although our designs are influenced by multiple sources, the main inspiration typically stems from comics, with most characters being developed based on their comic appearances. Working hand-in-hand with Marvel Games has been crucial. We appreciate their expertise in managing the Marvel intellectual property, while they value our game design and manufacturing skills. Marvel Games guarantees the authenticity of the IP, while we focus on the hero concept, design, and production to preserve the game’s quality.

Striking a harmonious blend between the thrill of competition and enjoyment for players is a intricate process, especially given the diverse set of skills possessed by Marvel characters, spanning from the plausible to the extraordinary. Translating these talents into gameplay can be tricky due to concerns about realism and fairness. Yet, our team has taken up this challenge with determination. We’ve painstakingly assessed and refined each skill through thorough internal and external testing to maintain a reasonable balance across different game settings.

In our game design, we strive to preserve a fair competition among players, but we also place great emphasis on accurately representing the characters’ unique skills to create a more immersive gaming environment. For instance, Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring ability allows for quick movement through portals in space, whereas Loki’s skillset includes crafting illusions and clones, creating uncertainty among opponents. His ultimate power lies in assuming another hero’s abilities, thereby enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

It’s quite a task to design the abilities of Marvel characters, given the vast range of powers they possess. How difficult has it been to make each character feel unique and enjoyable to play, considering their differences in capabilities and movement styles?

One of our greatest challenges has been designing and effectively expressing a diverse set of primarily melee-based Super Heroes, such as the Hulk, Venom, Magik, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Thor, and others.

In a team-based combat game, it was challenging to balance the distinct skills of each character while maintaining a focus on close combat, as this could result in shallow, confusing, and less satisfying battle experiences if not managed properly.

Marvel’s characters offered us a wealth of possibilities for investigation and application. For example, we’ve successfully modeled and mimicked the Hulk’s prodigious jumping skill, allowing him to knock down airborne adversaries from the sky, making him an enemy to flying heroes, and introducing a distinctive aspect to his fighting style.

Venom’s symbiote traits now encompass mid-level fighting abilities, which serve as a supportive element to his main melee prowess. Similarly, Spider-Man’s agility is maximized, allowing for fluid combat in both close and distant engagements. This flexibility empowers players to adjust their battle tactics according to the needs of the fight.

This method guarantees every character seems well-rounded with a mechanical depth, providing an immersive gaming adventure.

Marvel Rivals Interview – Heroes, Maps, Progression, and More

One significant hurdle we’ve faced is creating and clearly representing a wide variety of mainly close-combat Super Heroes.

How have you tailored the map creation process for Marvel Rivals, considering it draws from a rich tapestry of cherished Marvel universes and narratives?

When creating the maps for Marvel Rivals, we work closely together as a team, combining the skills of our narrative, level design, and artistic departments.

The storytellers kick off the map creation journey by weaving the map’s tale and establishing its environment, focusing on the struggle among groups and the influence of Chronovium.

Next, we outline essential details and collaborate closely with both level designers and art teams to set up an initial blueprint for the game map. Following this, our primary focus shifts towards embedding various hidden surprises or ‘Easter eggs’ throughout the game. This process includes text placement, unique artwork, model construction, and visual effects, all requiring careful precision to maintain consistency with the original design vision. Ultimately, we aim to deliver a map that immerses players in an engaging narrative experience.

Instead of just telling a fixed tale, we take it a step further. We adopt a “Comprehensive Intellectual Property Integration” approach, which means that the storyline is seamlessly woven into the gameplay across various elements such as loading screens, character selection, entrances and battles, and final outcomes.

In Yggsgard, the introductory screen shows Loki seizing the throne and tapping Yggdrasill for sap, establishing the storyline for the map. The process of picking heroes and their entrance animations create a more engaging experience, where the attacking group selects characters at Heimdall’s Observatory before traversing the Bifrost Bridge to enter the map, whereas the defenders choose their heroes under the vigilant gaze of a raven. Players who pay close attention might notice that this is the same crow seen on Loki’s shoulder in the loading screen animation.

While engaged in play, the offensive team safeguards Thor’s chariot, housing Jarnbjorn – a powerful battle axe from his youth. As the attacking force advances towards Yggdrasill, the radiance of Yggsgard starts to dim, indicating a wane in Loki’s enchantments.

In a win, it’s Jarnbjorn who demolishes Loki’s resin-tapping apparatus, but if Loki prevails, it’s Jarnbjorn who gets squashed by him instead.

The story of Tokyo 2099 is even more intriguing. The spawn point in Shin-Shibuya is the laboratory of Spider-Zero, where players can interact and hear her pleas for help.

As the offensive team nears their destination, they discover Spider-Zero imprisoned within a pen. Upon reaching Budokan, every digital advertisement screen in Shin-Shibuya flashes a message from the Master Weaver, cautioning Spider-Zero against proceeding further.

Upon victory, Spider-Zero is transported from Budokan to Spider-Islands.

In the tale of Spider-Islands, as detailed in the Combat Book, the attacking force must persistently guard Spider-Zero and guide him to the Temple of the Spinner. If the attackers triumph, spectators will observe Spider-Zero mending the tears in the sky above Tokyo 2099; if the defenders prevail, it will be the Grand Weaver who restores the sky instead.

This narrative and gameplay integration is reflected in each of our maps, aiming to provide a distinctive experience alongside fast-paced combat!

In many games, there’s a promise of environmental devastation, but the number of titles that truly make this destruction matter to gameplay is quite limited. So, what should we anticipate regarding environmental impact in Marvel Rivals? How much variation and real-time change will the destructible environments bring to the battles within the game?

In Marvel Rivals, players can use environmental destruction to create a strategic advantage.

Instead of merely focusing on global destruction (which remains entertaining), this feature revolves around manipulating the battlefield terrain to influence the course of combat. Gamers have the ability to demolish walls for surprise attacks from unexpected angles, shatter glass ceilings for aerial assaults on unsuspecting foes, and many other tactical options.

This modification significantly alters the game’s flow and offers chances for thrilling comebacks, transforming losses into victories. For instance, if your squad seems to be retreating at the frontline, you might demolish a wall, launch an ambush from an unforeseen direction, deploy your ultimate move, and wipe out the opposition in one fell swoop.

Marvel Rivals Interview – Heroes, Maps, Progression, and More

When designing the maps for Marvel Rivals, we work closely with the storytelling, layout, and visual art teams.

In Marvel Rivals, what kinds of progress can players anticipate outside of battles? What specific objectives will they be focusing on to gain rewards such as unlocks, cosmetics, and more?

In our game, players will encounter an assortment of missions designed to cater to various playstyles, ensuring fun as well as rewards. No matter if a player prefers competition, leisurely gameplay, or collecting items, our game offers paths for every type of player to achieve their own satisfaction and goals.

Previously, it was established that Marvel Rivals will adopt a seasonal approach for its post-release content. However, could you clarify the extent of these updates? Will each update introduce new characters, game modes, or similar features, or is there a plan to distribute such additions according to the game’s requirements at different times?

After launching Marvel Rivals, we plan to release new content seasonally, which includes engaging storylines, events, fresh maps, characters, and more. Our goal is to maintain high-quality gameplay and foster lasting relationships with all our players by taking their feedback into account regularly, thus continually improving the gaming experience for everyone playing Marvel Rivals, ensuring a rewarding and immersive gameplay journey.

Season Maps: Each season will feature a themed map, complete with a season story and plot development, offering players a fresh experience within the Marvel Universe.
New Heroes: New heroes will join the battle lineup based on the season story and plot progression, bringing with them new Team-Up Abilities that will alter the battle environment, adding more fun and challenge.
New Modes: New gameplay will be introduced, exploring the unlimited possibilities of the Marvel Universe with different combat and winning rules. Of course, before integrating these new modes into competitive gameplay, thorough balance and play tests will be conducted to ensure a high-quality gaming experience.

2024-11-25 13:41

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