Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel’s Avengers

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Deep Dive Finally Offers Closer Look at Hawkeye

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Deep Dive Finally Offers Closer Look at Hawkeye

    It has been some time since we last got a major update for Marvel’s Avengers. The last few weeks, we’ve been building up to the big reveal of the game’s second major DLC character, Clint Barton. It is our second archer addition and many were anticipating how the original Hawkeye would stand out from his protégé. In the latest War Table Deep Dive, Crystal Dynamics gave us a closer look at his moves, heroics and so much more. Without further ado, let’s jump right into the latest video from the developer:

    They started the trailer with a tease of Lucky the Pizza Dog, which is the perfect way to get our attention. It seems he will also have a larger role in the story and hang around. Sadly, it looks like the wait will be a bit longer, as Hawkeye won’t be playable until March 18th. He will release alongside the next-gen version of the game. It will continue where Kate Bishop’s operation left off, which will throw the archer into the future against Maestro. They confirm in the video that it continues its first season into its second chapter, so this story arc has just begun. The trailer also reveals Old Man Hawkeye will have a role in the story, which might also explain how the archer ended up collapsing t the end of the last storyline. The wait might still take some time, but I cannot wait to play as the archer.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Valentine’s Tweet Reveals Matt Fraction’s Inspirations and First Civilians

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Valentine’s Tweet Reveals Matt Fraction’s Inspirations and First Civilians

    I hope everyone is enjoying their Valentine’s Day so far. As usual, many official Twitter accounts are sharing their excitement in a small tweet. Marvel’s Avengers is no exception to that rule. Not just that, they also used their latest tweet to celebrate the holiday and build up some hype for next week’s reveal of Hawkeye. So, they showcased a brand new emote of Clint Barton shooting an arrow with a heart symbol. It also gives us our first official look at the in-game design that got teased early on when he was confirmed as one of the first DLC characters. At first, it seems like a nice little gesture until you noticed something in the background.

    Yes, it looks like the game will finally get some civilians. It may sound strange, but it has been something that players have requested for some time. The current maps have no real NPCs besides the various AIM beekeepers and bots. So, it will add some more life to the game. Now that I take a closer look, this could also be a reference to the iconic apartment from Matt Fraction‘s run My Life as a Weapon.

    So far, the only thing we knew about the upcoming DLC is that it would focus on a brand new biome called The Wasteland. It looks like they are also going to add some new elements to the Eastern Seabord location. Hopefully, we’ll get some cameos from some famous inhabitants, such as Grills or an actual cameo by Lucky, the PIzza-Dog. We are only two days away from the Deep Dive that will tease the future expansion of this game, so we’ll get more insight by then.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Data Miner Teases Black Panther’s Wakanda Raid

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Data Miner Teases Black Panther’s Wakanda Raid

    We just got our first official content update for Marvel’s Avengers. It was a bit underwhelming, but we did hype it up a lot more than we probably should’ve. Their State of the Game blog confirmed that we are facing some delays with Kate postponed. We still will get some minor updates to tide us over until then, such as the A.I.M. Cloning Lab. I still firmly believe that the game has faced some challenges that made its release a much more harrowing experience for both developers and players. Games-as-a-Service have plagued with Day One issues, so this experience was nothing new for veterans.

    Their latest blog also confirmed that they were hit pretty hard by the ongoing pandemic and the California wildfires. It is crazy to think about how much they were able to get out within the given timeframe with such hurdles. It doesn’t excuse the game’s launch issues, but it puts everything into perspective. This genre is all about the community and ongoing developments. The Twitter user @mmmmmmmmiller has been very active in sharing what he found through data mines. Now, he also appeared in a podcast on the game by Assembly Podcast, where he teases some future developments. If you want to hear the entire thing be sure to check out the podcast below but you’ll find a summary of the biggest insights below.

    Keep in mind, Miller does not work for Crystal Dynamics, so he doesn’t have the insight into what happened. He purely can base his assumptions on the data he has uncovered through the game’s code. Still, it gives a somewhat feeling of how exactly the original plans looked like when the game initially launched. The recent release of the SHIELD Substation Zero alongside the Tachyon Rifts seemed to have planned for September. Even the first major event the AIM Cloning Lab was going to release during that time. It is possible that the bug fixing, the current conditions, and some internal meddling due to the reception have created a chaotic environment. In my opinion, CD’s focus on fixing bugs was the right move though current updates feel a bit lackluster.

    There is one aspect that Miller gets into more detail on, and that is the Omega Threats. He kind of grounds our expectations for the AIM Cloning Lab. This new mission type was probably part of the original operation for that addition. We now know they changed that to ensure that expectations for Kate Bishop’s story wouldn’t be affected, as she will have an actual storyline that is set-up by the Tachyon rifts. I do hope we will see more new mission types that add more reasons to return to the game.

    While discussing it, Miller does tease how expansive the Wakandan’ event will be. He teases a crazy boss fight, which he leaked to be Ulysses Klaue a long time ago. Black Panther is a popular character, and the addition of endgame content could get people back into the game. He described it as a potential to “soft launch” the game, which seems possible. He also confirms that Shuri, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje will have a role in this event. So, we will see how large this raid will end up being with hopefully a tease in the upcoming November War Table. He also says that it should be something to look forward to once it releases, which they believe could be the beginning of 2021.

    This reveal doesn’t downplay the upcoming operations, as we still get new playable characters with unique missions. Kate Bishop’s delay was a bit disheartening for some, but with the release being the end of October and the wording, it seems realistic to expect her early November. In CD’s first stream, they confirmed it won’t release during Thanksgiving, which is towards the end of the month. The chat did reveal that we will get some unique arrows with Kate that will add some fun alongside her teleporting skill. Miller does state that Clint was the one to utilize unique status effects, so he was surprised with this reveal. He does, however, confirm that these two characters will play different from each other, which is a good sign for future additions. He describes Kate as a Ranger while Clint is a Hunter. Kate has a drone that she uses in the fight while her former mentor can utilize traps.

    We are facing a delay for now. These small glimpses into what the game will offer us in the future showcase that Crystal Dynamics truly has a plan. Yes, the player base, especially on Steam is low right now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t grow again. We have seen support since the first day, so this isn’t another Anthem scenario. It is easy to make comparisons, but sadly, the negative press has not been helping. I do believe that a lot of it is connected to the general discomfort with the AAA GaaS standards. Marvel’s Avengers has a very popular that just put it into the spotlight. Hopefully, as Miller pointed out, the Black Panther release could be the change this game needs in the public eye.

    Source: State of the Game, Assemble Podcast, Twitch