Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ State of the Game Confirms Slight Kate Bishop Delay

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ State of the Game Confirms Slight Kate Bishop Delay

    Marvel’s Avengers has been a crazy but enjoyable journey. I went into this game knowing full well what it means to start a Games-as-a-Service at launch. They get plagued with bugs at launch due to its online nature. The game is structurally sound, but it has some issues it needs to fight through. Sadly, it lost players fast in the beginning and became an easy target for repeating talking points online.

    Still, Crystal Dynamics has been hard at work trying to fix the bugs and show the players that they care. They initially patched as much as possible early on. We just recently got our first content patch, which was slightly underwhelming but still offered something new to do. This week, we finally got a blog discussing the journey to this point. In it, they did what many avoid, they confessed that the bugs deterred players. It is a big move to confess to something like this. Yet, they aren’t stopping there but are also giving away free resources to thank players for their patience.

    • Credits: 1500
    • Units: 7000
    • Upgrade Modules: 250
    • DNA Keys: 20
    • A Sarah Garza-Inspired Nameplate (Because seriously, you’re the best.)

    Those credits can get anyone a Legendary Skin and a nameplate. They are giving away $15 in value for the credits alone. Plus, the in-joke of the game of Garza repeating her line is just a nice touch. It will be available as of October 22nd. The blog entry also includes some details about new community-driven features that are coming our way, such as a campaign replay option of the game’s story, a unique ping system for multiplayer and more clarity about mission rewards. We have seen a lot of Quality-of-Life improvements in their last update, so these will add a whole new level to the game.

    They also dedicated an entire section to the issues that have been plaguing the game since launch. They also discuss the performance and stability issues, and their dependency on NVIDIA for the PC port. Crystal Dynamics is also looking into ways to optimize matchmaking by rethinking its structure and updating the rewards system. They also highlighted that work is underway to offer a multiplayer alternative to the Mega Hive. This game made was a big discussion point among players, as it is a single-player only mission.

    It would be one thing to just focus on the fixes, but they also teased some new content coming soon. They will be introducing a new mission type called Omega-Level Threats. These are multiplayer-focused challenges for high-level players with unique rewards. In the blog, they also tease an Avengers-worthy fight at the end, which could hopefully include new villains. They also point out this is just the first step. Crystal Dynamics also finally confirmed that the first Omega threat is going to be the A.I.M. Cloning Lab, which will be a weekend-only event. Sadly, they do not include an exact release date but could be in the coming weeks.

    They also confirmed that Kate Bishop is not going to release in October. They state it is a slight delay, so that means it could be at the beginning of the month. I am okay with a later release, as it is for free, and that could mean they are adding more content to it. Their recent patch had many underwhelmed, so they might want to focus on making it deliver on what everyone is expecting. We will know more in November, as they have also confirmed we will finally get a tour next War Table video by then, which most likely will include the long-promised road map. They confirmed Clint will be included and what we can expect from 2021. I do fear that this means Black Panther won’t release this year, as originally predicted.

    I believe this was a necessary and important move by the developer. It is very detailed and honest about the faulty launch. I did not expect a free bundle for early players, but it is a nice gesture. Hopefully, this is the beginning of continuous content drops for the game. I am having a blast with the game and I want to see where they are heading. Kate Bishop’s addition will be our first indicator of what we can expect from the game moving forward, so I am looking forward to that. Yes, the delay isn’t great but it means they are focusing on getting the game where it needs to be. Let’s see where this journey brings us in the near future.

    Source: Play Avengers

  • How the Spider-Slayers Could Play Into ‘Spider-Man 3’s Story

    How the Spider-Slayers Could Play Into ‘Spider-Man 3’s Story

    In Charles’ latest ‘What I Heard This Week‘ he stumbled upon something rather interesting. There is a chance that Spider-Man 3 might add the character, Dr. Spencer Smythe. He is one of Spidey’s oldest villains, who made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man back in 1965. He is the man that created the iconic Spider-Slayers that were designed to hunt and kill Spider-Man. It seems like the perfect addition as the next film will feature Spidey on the run. He was branded as a murderer, and with the Sakovian Accords still in place, he will be a prime target for many. So, let us try to find out how exactly Smythe might fit into the story that might still feature some multidimensional shenanigans.

    Originally, Smythe was financially backed by J. Jonah Jameson. We were introduced to the iconic character at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home. It would make sense to follow the comics but it doesn’t seem fitting for him to do such a thing. Yes, he is the one to call Spider-Man a menace but there is no reason for him to hire anyone to take him down. He probably makes more money as long as Spidey is on the run. My best guess is that Jameson will create a bounty on Spidey’s head that could play on their original connection. It also would give an initiative for other enemies that have been teased to make an appearance.

    Still, it is also possible Smythe works for the government. As far as we know, the Sokovia Accords could still be active. They might have a vested interest in capturing Spidey. He was involved with the big airplane fight alongside Iron Man, so who knows if he technically signed them. Plus, Thunderbolt Ross will be featured in Black Widow, so they might have some bigger plans for him in Phase 4. So, the government is funding Smythe’s Spider-Slayer program but in reality, he is using this opportunity to get his hands on the bounty. Perhaps they will introduce his son Alistair, who was played by BJ Novak in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, as his main motivation. This could potentially also set-up for future appearances.

    Smythe’s inclusion would definitely lead to the slayers being the ones chasing down Spidey. It would be a fun idea of seeing him constantly having to upgrade them as Spidey takes them down. Now that the bounty is up, a group of bad guys is hunting him through New York City. Add to his frustration, the multiverse starts playing tricks and Spidey is barely able to keep up. Somehow, he manages to stay afloat throughout the journey. He has to handle a multitude

    Smythe doesn’t defeat the web-head, he does manage to get some DNA off of him. His lab assistant Miles Warren offers to take care of it. Little does Smythe know, his assisstant has other plans. Spidey uses the chance to take down the Spider-Slayers, but finds a dead Smythe. His son, Alistair, finds the scene of the crime and blames the web-head for it starting his own path. Peter can only watch from the distance not realizing what he may have unleashed. He also is unaware that someone else was cooking up something that will come back to haunt him in the future.

  • ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Introduces New Spider-Cat Companion

    ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Introduces New Spider-Cat Companion

    Some might not know this, but I am a proud owner of a rather energetic cat. As such, I tend to have a soft spot for anything cat-related, especially in Marvel media. Goose was a personal highlight in Captain Marvel, especially with how realistic it depitced owning a cat can be. Looks like one more hero is getting a feline addition. Game Informer offered an exclusive video for Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which seems to include a litlte side mission where you save a cat named, what else, Spider-Man. He was briefly teased in a tweet a whilie back, but looks like there is more to this little feline. It is an adorable little video that also showcases how far the game has come with the upcoming next-gen upgrade in Mile’s own unique story.

    That ending is rather suprising isn’t it? Not only did someone give the adorable cat a Spider-Man mask but it also looks like he will offer some unique takedown animations. This reveal opens up a lot of questions, as this could mean that every unique suit may include its own takedown animation. Spider-Cat is a great addition to the game, as this could also give you an incentive to try out different costumes besides their unique abilities. Gameplay-wise, the game looks fantastic as always with many unique flairs to the familiar UI designs. It also seems to be running extremely smoothly as Miles webs his way threw the city or takes out badguys. I am a big fan of his toxic punch ability, which adds an amazing visual flair to the game’s combat. As I said, I have a soft spot for this kind of stuff so I cannot wait to try it out when the game launches next week.

    Source: Game Informer

  • ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Gameplay Reveals Miles First Boss Fight

    ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Gameplay Reveals Miles First Boss Fight

    We are only a month away from the next generation of consoles releasing. It is crazy to think that 2020 is already nearing its end. Still, we have a lot to look forward to as Spider-Man: Miles Morales will finally release in November. The game takes place one year after the events of 2018’s Spider-Man and focuses on our young protagonist growing into his role as the iconic character. We’ve already gotten our first full look at the gameplay a month ago. We’ve got a lot of teases on what we can expect from a big next-generation console. Miles Morales already looks promising with recent images showcasing the potential of where the gaming industry is heading. Now, Game Informer has given us some more exclusive gameplay to showcase what awaits us next month.

    Looks like Miles Morales is going to face a familiar foe, as Rhino is confirmed as the first boss encounter for the game. It is great to see that they are also bringing back some familiar foes. The gameplay also highlights Miles’ unique venom attacks that will give him an advantage over stronger enemies. This short sequence sitll includes Peter, so it is uncertain how long he will be in the game. Hopefully, this means we will see some of the other villains from 2018’s game make an appearance as well once the game releases next month.

    Source: Game Informer

  • New ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Stills Showcase Next-Gen Graphics & New Costumes

    New ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Stills Showcase Next-Gen Graphics & New Costumes

    We are only a few weeks away before Spider-Man: Miles Morales releases for the next-generation of consoles. I am still on the fence if I should jump on early in the new console’s life cycle but the visuals promised are quite promising. We got our first real look at the game’s gameplay just over a month ago. It showed us what unique abilities that Miles brings as the titular character with some staple classics from the 2018 game still remaining. At one point, the Remaster of the original Spider-Man game stole the spotlight, as they revealed a new design for Peter. Finally, we are getting a closer look at what the game has to offer in Game Informer’s exclusive coverage of the game. They kickstarted the coverage with a beautiful new cover for the magazine showing Miles patrolling during the game’s winter setting.

    That is not all, the digital edition has also found its way online with many sharing the beautiful in-game visuals featuring our titular hero in all his glory. These images are from Game Informer but provided by YouTuber @GameRiotArmy on Twitter.

    The next-generation of consoles is certainly promising. These are some amazing visuals from the game. This game will also give us a very unique version of the Tinkerer, who you can see in her purple high-tech outfit in the second tweet. It is a new take on the character, as she will also be more hands-on rather than just tinkering away at new technology. Also, this image confirms that Peter Parker will make an appearance at one point in the game’s story. Of course, it is to be expected but so far Insomniac has been very good at letting Miles shine with his own game. There is one more image that gives us a really interesting new costume design in the game.

    This might be the most unique Spider-Man costume we’ve seen so far. I am a huge Daft Punk fan so the helmet is a great touch. I cannot wait to see this costume design in action once the game releases next month. Game Informer is also teasing new gameplay, which hopefully we will get our hands on soon.

    Source: Game Informer (Cover), Twitter, Twitter (suit)

  • Black Panther May Have Been ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First DLC Character

    Black Panther May Have Been ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First DLC Character

    Marvel’s Avengers players are starving for content. So far, we only got the Mega Hive as post-launch addition with more on the way. Just recently, the community manager took to Reddit to share that they are taking current concerns seriously. It was a necessary touch to give players some reassurance. They did confirm we would receive a confirmation for the timings by next week. To build up to that moment, I’ve been rewatching old War Table videos. My goal was to get a feeling for what the plans may have been for the game. As such, I just felt like playing around with a theory as we wait for the official reveal of future content by the developer Crystal Dynamics.

    The game’s release kicked off with quite a few bugs, so a delay is part of the course in the Games-as-a-Service model. Yet, we wouldn’t get our first real addition until the end of October with Kate Bishop. The reveal trailer at the time included a brief tribute to Chadwick Boseman with the info that Black Panther would not be included as originally planned. I started wondering when they planned to reveal him, as we haven’t heard anything about the character in over a month. I was rewatching the War Table that gave us our first DLC reveal, and something caught my eye while going through the initial reveal for Hawkeye. His symbol was the second among the four.

    Every Avenger has a unique symbol in the game, which is used in the character select menu. It seemed like initially, they were planning to reveal four characters at one point. Optimistically speaking, maybe they planned on four DLC characters for 2020. There is no confirmation for that, but it could’ve been a monthly release once the game was made available. Still, what we are focusing on is the placement of Hawkeye’s symbol.

    This visual would confirm he was always going to be the second addition. A month later, we learned Kate Bishop would be our first official post-launch character. As mentioned previously, Black Panther seemed to have a larger role in that War Table’s reveal until he was delayed. Both Bishop and Hawkeye’s operations are confirmed as a double feature so he may have been the third DLC character. Yet, something doesn’t quite add up once you take a closer look at later showcases of the video. If you rewatch the brief tease of Bishop’s operation, you’ll notice a similarity between hers and Clint Barton’s. The unique symbol is identical to the one we saw during Hawkeye’s reveal.

    The initial reveal video showed something more akin to the Fraction comic’s bullseye logo. Even early leaks seemed to reveal a unique logo for potential echo characters like War Machine. So, it would’ve made sense for her bullseye visual to be Kate Bishop’s unique design. Even if the Hawkeye stories are a double-feature, why give characters one-of-a-kind visuals if they aren’t the operations? In reality, we never actually saw her symbol transition into an in-game design. It was just a visual flair during the video to call back to the comics. It also opens up the question of how character selection would include both characters. Crystal Dynamics might be giving you the option to chose Hawkeye with an additional choice between the variations. If this is the case, why is Hawkeye’s symbol the second one if both characters share it in-game?

    It seemed that Black Panther was going to be an aspect of the first character reveal. At one point, he may have been the first DLC in the game. It may also explain why Kate’s DLC release is delayed until the end of October. There is also the addition of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Substation Zero operation will lead to Kate’s storyline. It will introduce us to the Tachyon Rifts that will play an important role in the Avengers Initiative campaign. So, if Black Panther was going to be the first released, his story may have built up towards these rifts. The delay also could mean that some parts of the story had to be rewritten or adapted, which added to the current content delays.

    Keep in mind, this is nothing more than a theory but it is an interesting one with the information that was originally given by the developers. In some way, maybe the lack of a release date for Kate Bishop may also be caused by the upcoming Disney+ show. Marvel Studios confirmed her inclusion in Hawkeye, so they were forced to wait for the official reveal of the actress to build upon that hype. The synergy between Marvel’s ventures is great for the shows but may have also added to the issues that plagued the game’s release. No matter what may have been the reason, it is interesting how these things come together.

    Source: Reddit, YouTube

  • Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow’: Who is Rick Mason?

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow’: Who is Rick Mason?

    As Marvel Studios has once again postponed Black Widow‘s release, it gives us some time to brush up on our comic history. The film will focus on Natasha Romanoff’s history with the Red Room. It is a top-secret Soviet institute that turned young women into elite assassins. Of course, Natasha was once a member before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. at an unknown point. The upcoming film will dive deep into the various characters from her past who all may have deep ties with the secret organization. So, let’s use this opportunity to dive deep into the various characters in 400 words or less.

    Rick Mason is a mercenary who specialized in non-lethal combat against superhumans. His father was the criminal inventor Phineas Mason, who is better known as the Tinkerer. He was briefly part of S.H.I.E.L.D., MI-6, and even the Russian intelligence. Mason’s freelance work is under the codename The Agent, where he works for the highest bidder. We first got introduced to the character in Marvel Graphic Novel #57 back in 1990. Since, he was hired to kill a CIA mole, take on renegade China agents, and even took out a quintet of powered mercenaries. Mason even took on The Corporation as his father was forced to work for them. This job led to him fighting alongside Luke Cage and another agent, Dakota North, who was sent by his own father to take down the organization. In reality, he sent them to save his son.

    The character will have a role in the upcoming Black Widow film, who seems to have a romantic interest in her. He will be played by O-T Fagbenle and is currently the frontrunner to be Taskmaster’s secret identity. Mason might be the furthest departure from the comics. We saw the Tinkerer in Spider-Man: Homecoming, so he won’t be his son in this incarnation. He was mentioned as an agent, who has some history as part of S.H.I.E.L.D., which would fit the depiction of Taskmaster in various media. He was a member of the spy organization in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series and the recently released Marvel’s Avengers. There is also a good chance that these loose connections are a red herring to keep us guessing on who the iconic villain may turn out to be. He hasn’t been featured in trailers so far, so anything is possible.

  • ‘WandaVision’ BTS Images Could Tease a Musical Number

    ‘WandaVision’ BTS Images Could Tease a Musical Number

    The first Disney+ show to finally be released will be WandaVision. There sadly is still no official release date. A recent datamine may have revealed that it is heading towards a Thanksgiving release, or at least in December. The show is still in production, as they still have some episodes to shoot after production was halted during the pandemic. Now, some pictures were released by @eobrmidias that give us a good look at the cast getting ready for an upcoming shot. The first set of pictures features Elizabeth Olsen in a rather interesting outfit.

    https://twitter.com/eobrmidias/status/1314962819448741889

    There are also pictures featuring the rest of the cast Paul Bettany, Teyonah Parris, Kathryn Hahn, and Paul Bettany.

    https://twitter.com/eobrmidias/status/1314971754792660992

    Paul Bettany seems to be wearing a suit of some kind. This is just a theory, but it looks like Wanda may be part of some show or dance number. At first, her outfit seemed like a colorful swimsuit but her stockings would hint at this being an outfit for a show. The only confusion would be Parris and Hahn‘s outfits. If this is from the same day on set, their costumes are very varied that wouldn’t make sense in the same scene. It could be that while they are talking, Wanda and Vision break out into a musical number. Many shows have included musical episodes like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, How I Met Your Mother, Community, and many more. The sitcom inspiration opens up so many possibilities so it wouldn’t be unlikely. It would be very interesting if they break out in song while the warped reality breaks apart around them.

    There might be one more picture from the set back in February that could give it away. In the backlots for both Loki and WandaVision, a huge tent was seen before they had to shut down. It looked like a circus tent, which could mean that Wanda is wearing an outfit for a trapeze artist. Bettany‘s smoking could mean he is the circus director. It only opens up the question why they are in these roles to begin with.

    It will be interesting to see how this comes together. They may be wrapping up production so they can get the effects to work done before the show launches. Aa they are still filming, this could be the reason that no specific date has been set so they don’t run into an early deadline. Here’s hoping we get some kind of reveal soon.

    Source: Twitter, Instagram

  • Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow’: Who is Yelena Belova?

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow’: Who is Yelena Belova?

    As Marvel Studios has once again postponed Black Widow‘s release, it gives us some time to brush up on our comic history. The film will focus on Natasha Romanoff’s history with the Red Room. It is a top-secret Soviet institute that turned young women into elite assassins. Of course, Natasha was once a member before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. at an unknown point. The upcoming film will dive deep into the various characters from her past who all may have deep ties with the secret organization. So, let’s use this opportunity to dive deep into the various characters in 400 words or less.

    Yelena is the youngest addition to the comics. She appeared in 1999’s Inhumans Vol. 2 #5. You read that right, she made her debut while Earth and Attilan were at war with each other. She also trained in the Red Room Academy, where she even believes she surpassed Natasha Romanoff. When we first meet her, she is sent to deliver a device that could help Attilan win the invasion. She ended up failing her mission against her bittered rival but learned a valuable lesson. At one point, she was captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. and swapped faces with Nathasha’s. Of course, she was not too happy with this and left the spy life behind her. She made a career as a lingerie model before being dragged back into her old life when she gets wrapped up in the export of stolen medical supplies. She would turn back to her original life which would lead to many confrontations with the Avengers. She would later take on the Black Widow mantle and temporarily join the Thunderbolts.

    Marvel Studios managed to get Florence Pugh in the role of Yelena for Black Widow. There were teases that Natasha would potentially pass on the mantle to her before facing her fate in Avengers: Endgame. In the family dynamic teased through the trailers, she is the younger sister. She is very independent and quite confident in her ability. Of course, she was also trained in the Red Room and seems to know quite a bit about Taskmaster. We also get glimpses of her going through a procedure that could pull her towards the evil side. Pugh is a fantastic addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who hopefully will be around for more future projects.

  • Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow’: Who is Melina Vostokoff?

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow’: Who is Melina Vostokoff?

    As Marvel Studios has once again postponed Black Widow‘s release, it gives us some time to brush up on our comic history. The film will focus on Natasha Romanoff’s history with the Red Room. It is a top-secret Soviet institute that turned young women into elite assassins. Of course, Natasha was once a member before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. at an unknown point. The upcoming film will dive deep into the various characters from her past who all may have deep ties with the secret organization. So, let’s use this opportunity to dive deep into the various characters in 400 words or less.

    Melina Vostokoff is more famous as the assassin Iron Maiden. She made her initial appearance in Marvel Fanfare #11 in 1983. Her name is due to her flexible metal costume that covers her entire body. She was a Russian agent who lived in the shadow of Black Widow during her time working for the government. At one point, she broke off from Russia to work as a freelancer. In one mission, she had the chance to assassinate her once hated rival. She worked alongside others but was the only one able to keep with Natasha only to get interrupted by a S.H.I.E.L.D. team. She would often return to take on the Avengers multiple times. At one point, she joined the female super-criminal army Femizons. Melina also was captured by Thunderbolt’s Joystick during the Superhuman Registration Act.

    Rachel Weisz will portray the character in the upcoming Black Widow film. This version of the character will have close ties to the Red Room. She acts as a mother-figure to Natasha alongside David Harbour‘s Alexei Shostakov. It is unsure what her role in the story would be. The character’s villainous nature could point to her betraying the family at some point in the story. It sadly would be a rather dramatic turn given how much Natasha seems to be focusing on reuniting them. There could also be ties to Taskmaster, who currently has taken over control of the Red Room. Sadly, we won’t see her iconic Iron Maid outfit, but maybe they’ll add a tribute to her comic design.