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Tag: Xbox

  • Taking on ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Omega Level-Threat and the Super-Adaptoid

    Taking on ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ First Omega Level-Threat and the Super-Adaptoid

    We’ve been covering Marvel’s Avengers for quite some time now. Ever since the beta was released, we have been taking a closer look at the stories surrounding the controversial game. It had a rough release with a plethora of content getting delayed as it tried to fight through California wildfires and the pandemic on top of everything. After around eleven months, the first Omega-Level Threat has finally arrived alongside quite a few new and returning additions to fill out the summer. It isn’t the initially promised Cloning Labs but the second introduced OLT, Family Reunion. It’s a reworked version of a mission released with Kate Bishop’s DLC in December. After its initial release, I had the chance to tackle the OLT with friends to see if it keeps its promise of the game’s most challenging content.

     

    Marvel's Avengers gets first Omega Level Threat and multiplayer Mega Hives | EGM

     

    Crystal Dynamics has openly discussed that this OLT will feel “old” to the latest Villain Sector focused on AIM’s Monica Rappaccini. It is mainly a reworked version of the original mission that premiered in December with some tweaks. The new modifiers offer a different level of challenge as you face the Tachyon timer, which was never a big deal. Enemies are spawned very frequently with unflinching armors that sadly restrict you from making full use of your character’s juggling capabilities. On the flip side, you also make it difficult to just one-shot the various AIM bots and Keepers. It’s not a perfect solution, but it did force me to communicate closely with my teammates to ensure I don’t die or we run out of time.

    The true challenge is two-fold. The giant AIM mech is way faster than before and quite difficult to take down. It was a pleasant surprise and was a blast coordinating with others to take out its different weak spots. Then comes the true challenge of the game, the new Super-Adaptoid fight. At first, you can take a good chunk of damage off of it, but then it splits into multiple clones, and chaos ensues. We’ve probably got wiped around six times in the Super-Adaptoid fight, as we slowly adjust to the new moves. Even knowing what was coming didn’t make it any easier. My Thor had no chance and got knocked out frequently, as I have casually just looked for gear that I felt gave me good stats. It was a blast playing with my team and taking on the mission in a new way, as I mostly played solo until today.

     

    Marvel's Avengers Kate Bishop DLC content cut in new delay | Metro News

     

    Yet, the loss was exhilarating as we’ve kept getting closer and closer to beating the Adaptoid. Few shared their frustration with the mission, but I believe it does what it promised. It’s not perfect, as it does feel strange to remake an older level instead of adding something new, especially after a long delay. It’s even the small things such as reusing the old visual icon on the War Table rather than making it stick out as a unique mechanic. It truly feels like an element of an earlier era for the game, as it was still finding its footing as a service offering.

    The one thing I want to commend both the OLT and the Cosmic Cube Villain Sector, they’ve changed the way I played the game. I no longer use whatever random gear I get but sit down and go through each piece. As a more casual player, these new additions put me in a situation where gear matters. Yes, the gear doesn’t stick out as it could in the game, but the latest additions did make me sit down and think about what I want to do with my gear. So, I want to praise the game for pushing me to rethink my approach to it even 200 hours into my overall run.

     

    Marvel's Avengers Warbot Boss Mission Agony And The Ant Hill | Marvel avengers, Avengers images, Adventure video game

     

    Overall, I think the OLT was a great addition. It certailny isn’t perfect, as it could’ve benefitted from some surprises, and it’s time to test out new elements on how to add challenges besides through specific modifiers. They teased that future content will be closer to Cosmic Cube, which took me quite a few tries before I was able to finish it. It was a lot of fun coming together with friends online and take on this mission. If this is just a taste, I am hopeful and excited to see what the future holds for the game. I still hope that we get more randomization that can add to the challenge and even catch players off-guard. Here’s hoping Black Panther’s War for Wakanda update adds some new modes to extend the endgame in the future. Still, it’s a great first step, and it’s a great warm-up ahead of what they described as their biggest content drop to date.

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’: First Details for July’s OLT Update Teases Super-Adaptoid’s Return

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’: First Details for July’s OLT Update Teases Super-Adaptoid’s Return

    It’s been a long wait but the first Omega-Level Threat is getting released next week. Marvel’s Avengers has been teasing the endgame content since it was released. Sadly, the pandemic and a rough release had other plans and it continued to get pushed back. While the original Cloning Labs are still in limbo, Kate Bishop’s long-promised OLT got a release date. Now titled “Family Reunion,” we’ll return to the iconic mission with a brand new level of challenge. Crystal Dynamics shared a new blog post with more insight into what we can expect alongside the new trailer.

     

     

    Alongside a new Omega Exotic gear, the mission will provide players with weekly rewards when finished. It is multiplayer only and also includes the Multiplayer Mega Hives that include new Hivemind gear. The big takeaway from the OLT is that this is simply a template to introduce more challenging versions of content. It’s the same mission as Family Reunion that is more challenging. The big changes lie in the fight against the Super-Adaptoid who will feature new abilities. Some modifiers add to the challenge and you’ll face a Tachyon Rift timing.

    CD teases that this is merely a glimpse into what is coming with the future. Wakanda will get an OLT that features unique challenges and even enemies that push the story further. So, we should just see this as the beginning of that new direction. The update will go live on July 27th and there is still time to get a group of friends together to prepare for what is promised as the game’s biggest challenge. The game will also be free-to-ply from July 29th until August 1st on PlayStation 4, PS5, Stadia, and Steam. Xbox players will get it at a later date.

    Source: Play Avengers, YouTube, Twitter

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’: First Hints at Black Panther’s Backstory Ahead of ‘War for Wakanda’ Expansion

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’: First Hints at Black Panther’s Backstory Ahead of ‘War for Wakanda’ Expansion

    The latest Marvel’s Avengers dev stream was quite an event. Not only did we get to chat with Christopher Judge on his approach to bringing Black Panther to life, but also some insight into the story by Evan Narcisse and Hannah MacLeod. They offered some interesting details on how they approached the story and the relevance of clearly defining this worlds’ Wakanda alongside its history. Here are some of the highlights from the dev stream:

    • Narcisse worked as a narrative consultant on the project. His work was to find the combination between the story and its game mechanics. He ensures that they satisfyingly inform each other and everything is told holistically.
    • Their focus was to follow an older version of T’Challa. In comparison to other versions, they wanted to dive deeper into his intellectual and scientific side. He likes to think things through before jumping into danger.
    • There was a lot of pressure following the films’ well-established version of Black Panther and Wakanda.

     

    Marvel's Avengers on Twitter: "One more day until #SquareEnixPresents! Here's a screenshot to whet your appetite.… "

     

    • CD was inspired by the concept of a superpowered state that was the main focus of the Enemy of the State comic storyline. When a nation is highly advanced, diplomacy might never be such a simple answer. Wakanda will face its biggest threat in the upcoming expansion and that will further explore the aftermath in a nation that believed it was untouchable.
    • T’Challa isn’t just a king. He is the living embodiment of Wakanda’s symbol. The Black Panther is a heavy burden to carry and it will inform his character. Plus, he’s been carrying this weight for some time. His worldview also puts him in conflict with Shuri. An event has shaped a crater in their relationship, which will get explored in the story.
    • He’s much more of an isolationist and is carrying some anger. He is still in control of his emotions, but it’s only a question of time before he hits his limit.

     

    Avengers Game: Black Panther Release Date Revealed With Free DLC

     

    • Klaue is also a unique adaptation in the game. He isn’t a mercenary or would-be colonizer. While his obsession with Vibranum remains, this version of the character is a scientist. He built his technology and is using AIM’s gear to his advantage.
    • They’ve explored the Dora Milaje history to inform their relationship with him in the game. In the comics, they were not only warriors but also concubines. So, Okoye has some traits from the films, but they tried to balance her respect towards her king in a curious way.
    • McLeod and Narcisse shared their experience tackling this ever-expanding story and confirmed that many stories get mapped out simultaneously. Their team works together on each operation, and it helps to put together how the story continues to evolve.

    It sounds very promising what Crystal Dynamics cooked up in their writing team. They teased more insight in the following weeks ahead of his release. We’ll get a gameplay showcase and even some hints on what to expect with the War for Wakanda expansion. The unique approach to the character is promising, and it feels like we’re about to enter a new era for Marvel’s Avengers.

    Source: Twitch

  • Christopher Judge Talks Voicing ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther

    Christopher Judge Talks Voicing ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther

    A few days ago, we finally got the confirmation Christopher Judge is voicing Black Panther in Marvel’s Avengers. The actor has been in various projects ranging from Stargate SG-1, The Dark Knight Rises to The Mentalist. He also has a history of voicing video game characters. 2018’s God of War is a stand-out performance and reminded everyone of the power of his voice.

    So, he’s been a fan-favorite to take on the iconic mantle since the character got first announced. In today’s Crystal Dynamics stream, viewers had the chance to ask questions to the actor to find out his approach to bringing the character to life. Here are some of the highlights from that stream:

    • Yes, he got to say Wakanda Forever! He even rocked a shirt with it during the stream. He revealed he was hiding his Black Panther outfits so no one would realize he got the role.
    • Black Panther is a character that Judge always wanted to play but never thought he’d get the chance. He only takes roles he 100% believes in, which was his prerequisite before taking it. 
    • The actor highlighted his love for the character and his social relevance being an integral part of tackling the character. It was a humbling experience, especially getting to work alongside Evan Narcisse was a highlight. They geeked out for a bit on stream.

     

    God of War's Kratos Voices Black Panther In Marvel's Avengers New DLC - Game Informer

     

    • He confessed he’s a nerd and has been collecting comics since the 60s. So, he had some insight into the character.
    • His main goal was to make the role his own. He worked with Beth Maguire, who was the dialect coach on the Marvel Studios film.
    • She offered insight into how he can approach the accent and its history as she traveled through Africa to experience the Native languages first-hand. She was very strict on his accent and made sure he stayed true to it.
    • As he usually plays bulky and muscular characters, he lost around 32 pounds to “feel” like T’Challa. He’s a more athletic character, and the actor wanted to get into the right headspace.

     

    Black Panther is coming to 'Marvel's Avengers' later this year | Engadget

     

    • His biggest challenge was recording everything from home in isolation. He couldn’t play off the other actors. So, he had to do a lot of prep-work on the characters, their interactions, and relations. It was sadly a restriction due to the pandemic.
    • Working with Crystal Dynamics was not only a great experience but also an emotional anchor during the pandemic. Their shared belief and passion for the character helped him get through the rough times.
    • Judge confirmed he’s been working on the character for a year-and-a-half.

    His passion for the project is infectious. In the Entertainment Weekly article, he did hint that he was hesitant to tackle the role after Chadwick Boseman‘s tragic passing. He highlights how they are trying to make this a very unique take on the character. They want to carry on the legacy. This version of T’Challa has been in his role for some time. So, we can expect a way more experienced Black Panther once the War for Wakanda expansion releases in August.

    Source: Twitch, Entertainment Weekly

  • New ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Concept Art Teases Black Panther’s ‘War for Wakanda’ Expansion

    New ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Concept Art Teases Black Panther’s ‘War for Wakanda’ Expansion

    Marvel’s Avengers has some major updates heading our way with August’s Black Panther expansion being a highlight. Currently, the Red Room is back to celebrate the release of Black Widow, but all eyes are on the upcoming Omega-Level Threat that finally releases after getting teased since the release of Kate Bishop. Sadly, we’re still waiting for the secretive Cloning Labs but it’s even more exciting to think we can tackle it with Black Panther once he releases August. We’re still a month away but Crystal Dynamics shared a glimpse at the upcoming expansion. Let’s start with some key visuals offering a glimpse at

     

     

    They’ve offered some details on the game, especially that they reworked every asset to fit the Wakandan-theme. So, you can expect some classic items adapting to the new environment, which will make it stand out from the AIM theme we have had throughout the year. We’ll also see the blending of modern Wakandan technology with some traditional elements, which is highlighted in the temple that we got a brief glimpse of in the latest trailer.

     

     

    We’ve also got a look at their approach to the new environment. they’ve promised explorable caves with various secrets hidden within. We got a brief glimpse of Vibranium-infused glyphs. They even showcased an in-game screenshot to showcase there will be more verticality with this new biome. So, the traversal will be more dangerous, as they are trying to make the environments more engaging.

     

     

    There was also a tease of the new Outpost, which will be in the capital of Wakanda. Overall, the concept art is very promising and truly feels like it could be part of its own game. Crystal Dynamics teased a special guest for next week, which might finally be the reveal of the character’s voice actor, who has been heavily rumored to be Christopher Judge. Hopefully, we’ll also get some gameplay soon as a new trailer and War Table video got teased for the near future. We’re only a few weeks away before we finally visit Wakanda.

    Source: Twitch

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Adds New ‘Black Widow’ Inspired MCU Skin

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Adds New ‘Black Widow’ Inspired MCU Skin

    Marvel’s Avengers has been busy preparing for its big August update that will see Black Panther finally join the game. Until then, we have this month’s release of the first Multiplayer-focused endgame content in the form of Omega-Level Threats and the return of their Black Widow tie-in event, the Red Room Takeover. It originally came out back in May when the film was originally set to release but will make a return alongside the film’s premiere. Luckily, it seems that wasn’t the only tie-in they planned as their official Twitter channel just shared the first look at a brand new MCU-inspired skin from the upcoming film.

     

     

    The film eased quite a few different suits but it makes sense they went with the iconic white suit that’s been heavily advertised. It’s a great touch to use the Red Room visuals in the background, which added a unique flair to the HARM room challenges we’ve been playing since the game launched last year. It’s great that the game is doing film tie-ins and makes you wonder if we’ll see some more stuff in the future.

    Sadly, Shang-Chi isn’t playable but with rumors pointing to a late 2021 release for Spider-Man, we could potentially get some of his iconic suits from Spider-Man: No Way Home in the game. Either Way, July is going to be an exciting month for the game as we get closer and closer to Black Panther’s release. Here’s hoping he gets his Captain America: Civil War suit.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man Eyeing an End of 2021 Release

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man Eyeing an End of 2021 Release

    Marvel’s Avengers set out to accomplish an interesting goal. Through the Games-as-a-Service model, we would get a continuous expansion of its core roster. We’ve already gotten our hands on Kate Bishop and Clint Barton with Black Panther to release next month. There was also the open question about when we can expect the PlayStation exclusive Spider-Man. In the FKNA podcast, lead animator Anthony Garttmeyer from Crystal Dynamics offered some insight into the game’s development, which included the following line:

    Spider-Man is the End of the Year. That is all I can say.

    We have to take into account that the lead animator is not involved directly with the approval process. So, we shouldn’t take this as an official confirmation. We’ll most likely get a clearer picture once the Year 2 Roadmap drops this or next month, which could potentially include the character. He is also exclusive for one console. So, it’s uncertain how large his content drop will be and if we might see him get added alongside other content. At one point, PlayStation’s official magazine confirmed a March release but that didn’t pan out as planned.

    Garrtmeyer also discusses the details on how long heroes take to get developed, such as around four to eight months until the animation is finished. We have to also keep in mind that early data mines showed that a lot of prep work has been accomplished for the game, which is rather common for the GaaS genre. So, they might have done a lot of prep work to keep a tight timing for the releases. Of course, the pandemic and launch bugs have delayed the game’s initial roadmap. A potential December release would align with Spider-Man: No Way Home, but we’ll have to wait for an official word

    Source: Twitch, YouTube

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Confirms Red Room Takeover Returns Next Week

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Confirms Red Room Takeover Returns Next Week

    Marvel’s Avengers once again got a brand new dev stream that offered some tiny insights into what the future holds. It was a rather short one as we are still in the middle of the Cosmic Cube event, but there was a nice major reveal. It looks like May’s Red Room Takeover event is making a grand return. It’ll run from July 8th up until the 22nd. We’ll also get a brand new nameplate and they confirmed the issues from last time were fixed. It is also a reason why it is making a return, as they wanted to offer those that missed out on it. Of course, that was not all, as we also got some updates on current bug fixes and what they are working on.

    • They confirmed that a minor patch is heading our way that’ll fix a variety of issues, which includes Captain America’s MCU shield, where his star was pointing the wrong direction, Monica shrinking and falling to her death in the Beating the Odds mission when using Hank Pym, and some other minor issues.
    • The bigger fix is regarding the Mega Hives and Last Avengers Standing, where enemies wouldn’t spawn on specific floors. This is still being looked into, but they found a fix that could help with various other issues. It does not require a patch and will be updated directly in the game.

     

    Marvel's Avengers' Red Room Takeover Is Now Live | Marvel

     

    • Hulk’s combat abilities were indeed nerfed, but only because he was overpowered due to a bug. His Thunderclap ability added 50% to melee damage rather than 25%.
    • They confirmed that up to eight different takedowns can get equipped once War for Wakanda drops.
    • Crystal Dynamics is looking into adding Twitch drops and other community offerings soon. It just sadly takes time due to many people being involved to make it a reality, but it is something to look forward to.
    • We also got a look at some brand new animated skins that feature magma running down their clothes. Luckily, @PlayAvenger was able to grab a video showcasing this effect for Thor’s skin:

     

    https://twitter.com/PlayAvenger/status/1411071667539939333?s=20

     

    Overall, it was a quieter stream as they are heading into a three-day weekend. The return of the Red Room Takeover is great, as it ties into next week’s Black Widow release. Again we got the tease of an MCU-inspired outfit heading our way before Thor gets his. So, I believe there is a good chance it’s a tie-in suit for the film’s release. The event’s runtime might also hint at the OLT’s release being the latest around the 22nd of July alongside multiplayer Mega Hives and permanent multi-heroes matchmaking. Here’s hoping we get more information next week on what is heading our way.

    Source: Twitch, Twitter

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases the Potential Return of Loki

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases the Potential Return of Loki

    We just recently got a major update for Marvel’s Avengers roadmap. Patrol Mode was pushed back after the upcoming Black Panther expansion. Of course, we hoped to get some more insight into what the future holds with the latest developer stream. Luckily, they did exactly that, as we got some insight into what was revealed, some future teases, and

    • The reasoning for the switch was that they want to focus on endgame content. As such, they wanted to get Omega-Level Threats and multiplayer options out first. It also gives them time to continue work on Patrol Mode to add some elements to it.
    • Power Level cap was pushed to release after War for Wakanda, as they want to combine it with the right content that requires that extension.
    • Monica’s Villain Sector will be the template for future content, as they want to avoid enemy sponges but offer unique challenges with their bosses. She actually shouldn’t be able to get one-shotted by players, which is due to a missing threshold. It will be corrected in the future. AI was purposely a little dumb, as they want to enforce the focus on playing with others to finish these types of missions.

     

    Marvel's Avengers Update Accidentally Doxes Streamers - ComingSoon.net

     

    • Thor’s Marvel Cinematic Universe skin will not be the next release, but it is on its way as they have to finalize some details.
    • OLTs follow the same philosophy as Monica’s Villain Sector. The first OLT, titled Family Reunion, is similar to the mission introduced in Kate’s operation. However, the major difference is that this one isn’t puzzle-focused. So, the big challenge here will be the boss fight against the Super Adaptoid. Cloning Labs is the more puzzle-focused entry.
    • There was a brief tease that the Super Adaptoid might resurface somewhere. No details were given but could imply the Patrol Mode.
    • Duplicate heroes are a permanent feature moving forward and are also active in OLTs, but they highlight that a good combination of characters is essential. It got prioritized because they wanted to ensure people can play Black Panther. Yet, do not expect any story content to explain this. It is simply a gameplay mechanic moving forward but could get used in future events.

     

    THE FAKE THOR in Marvel's Avengers - YouTube

     

    • Crystal Dynamics highlighted the character-specific missions. It’s uncertain if they will return with War for Wakanda, but they highlighted that they want to continue working on the storylines set, such as the one teased with Loki.
    • Black Panther will feature more new villain types than just the Spider-bot. You can also expect a unique Faction and more non-robot foes. They also teased other additions after the expansion has launched.
    • They’re working on a mode where you have no companions but couldn’t offer any details. Loadouts are also currently in development.
    • There was a question regarding a villain lock-up location. They confirmed it’s something they’d be interested in doing, but there are no plans. Right now, their main focus is providing variety and endgame content. They want to get to a point where you can find specific gear by tackling specific bosses or missions.

    Overall, the future seems promising. We got a confirmation that content got planned for the next few years, and we’ll get an update for the game’s second year around Black Panther’s release. Right now, it’s their primary focus, as it includes a playable Wakanda region. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait too long to finally try out the OLTs and get our first glimpse at the king in action.

    Source: Twitch

  • Loki Heading to ‘Fortnite’

    Loki Heading to ‘Fortnite’

    It looks like Marvel wasn’t quite done with Fortnite. A few months ago, they had a major event that saw a variety of Marvel characters join the Fortnite Crew in a battle against an invading Galactus. The recent event saw the addition of Superman during an alien invasion. Well, it looks like they aren’t quite done yet, as the official Twitter channel revealed that Loki is joining the game with a tweet. The golden horns aren’t subtle but it’s certainly a great addition to the game. We still don’t have our official look at the skin’s design, but it seems likely it’ll be strongly inspired by Tom Hiddleston‘s run as the character.

    Fortnite has become the center of pop culture and gaming. They’ve added a grand list of classic comic and movie-inspired characters. They’ve also added countless gaming icons, which include franchises like Tomb Raider, Horizon, Street Fighter, and even Halo. The developer also had done collaborations with Disney+ in the past. So, there’s a good chance the July release of Loki is to coincide with a new collaboration.

    It would be great if we even get an alternative skin to ply as Sylvie, who got recently introduce into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are still some reveals to come n the upcoming weeks, as we are only halfway through the series. So, we might get a lot more as the show continues to grow and expand into the multiverse. Who knows if it might even build up the next Fortnite season.

    Source: Twitter