Marvel Rivals Vs. Overwatch: What’s the Difference?
Marvel Legends is officially launching and gamers are already comparing the game to the first hero shooter, Overwatch. Do their claims hold any merit? Or is Marvel Rivals going to stand out? Let’s look at Marvel Rivals and Overwatch to see if they’re the same or two fantastic games that each hold their own.
Table of Contents
Characters
Let’s begin with the characters. Overwatch has 42 Heroes from both the first and second renditions of the game, with each being part of the game’s main story and lore. The characters are divided into Tank, Damage, and Support.
Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals has 33 playable characters at launch, compared to the 22 Overwatch had, with more being added in future updates. The characters are all from the Marvel franchise, ranging from the popular Avengers to even the underrated characters in the comics, like Cloak and Dagger. Not only that, but the game features both heroes and villains alike, with each divided into three roles: Vanguard (Tanks), Duelist (Damage Dealers), and Strategist (Support).
Gameplay
When it comes to gameplay, the games do share some similarities. Overwatch used to have 6v6 FPS but now focuses on 5v5 modes. The game also has 6 standard game modes: Control, Escort, Flashpoint, Hybrid, Push, and Clash, which are all available for Quick Play and Competitive Play.
Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals focuses on 6v6 matches from a third-person perspective. It has 4 game modes available: Domination, Convoy, Convergence, and Conquest. In Domination, players take hold of the Mission Area, similar to Control in Overwatch. On the other hand, Convoy, where one team escorts a moving vehicle to the end of the map while the other team tries to stop them, acts as a counterpart to Escort. Convergence is similar to Convoy, but the attacking team needs to rescue the vehicle from the defending team before escorting it. Conquest is the last game mode where players get kills to earn points, and the first team to reach the score limit wins the game. It’s the typical team deathmatch game mode.
Both games have a variety of game modes to choose from, providing players with diversity and preventing them from getting bored. Overwatch, being the older game among the two, has more game modes to choose from. On the other hand, Marvel Rivals is just starting and will probably release future game modes as updates come out.
Player Experience
When it comes to player experience, the games do have their differences. With Overwatch being a long-running game, it’s had the time to polish and fix problems players have encountered. They’ve also buffed and nerfed heroes who may have broken the game’s balance. It was fun to play back when the game had 6v6, but having two Tanks on the team also made the game unplayable. Luckily, Overwatch 2 resolved the issue by making the game a 5v5. However, with this change, players have said that the game has become less competitive and relies too much on cosmetics. Gamers have also been complaining about the prices of premium content from the game.
On the other hand, Marvel Rivals has been gaining traction since its alpha testing period. With players praising it for its refreshing take on the hero shooter genre. Its variety of unique mechanics for the heroes and villains in the roster makes players want to try the different characters. The content, such as the battle pass, is available for all players. Their monetization is very consumer-friendly too, as only cosmetics need to be bought using premium currency. Competitive play like e-sports is possible, given its fast-paced gameplay.
Both games share similar mechanics but differ in their player experience, which is essential to the consumers who play them.
Verdict
Overall, both games stand out on their own. Despite being in the same hero shooter genre, they have different audiences. Overwatch will remain one of the most popular and influential hero shooters, while Marvel Rivals is the new kid on the block that has shown itself to be remarkable and is quickly gaining popularity. Praising one game and calling the other a rip-off is a disservice to both games. Gamers tend to hate on the old game when a new one comes out, so the naysayers online shouldn’t be surprising. However, both games absolutely deserve their own recognition in the genre.
The launch of Marvel Rivals should bring competition with Overwatch. But, both games will improve themselves and provide a path to progress. Marvel Rivals isn’t going to take Overwatch’s crown. And, hopefully, it’s going to stand side by side and bring a new future to the hero shooter genre.
