When Marvel Rivals was first announced, it was inevitable that comparisons to Overwatch would arise. Once players got a look at the game, the similarities between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 became even more apparent. NetEase didn’t shy away from designing characters like Black Widow, Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Loki, who bear a striking resemblance to Overwatch’s Widowmaker, Hanzo, Genji, and Echo.
Despite the rivalry between these two games, both have plenty to offer. Overwatch and Marvel Rivals provide unique gameplay experiences with diverse characters that keep players engaged, offering various skill levels to master. Yet, Marvel Rivals has managed to outshine Overwatch in a crucial area: hero balance.
Since its release, even though Marvel Rivals is still in its early months, NetEase has impressively rolled out five new heroes with a sixth, Ultron, arriving in May. This pace of character release is nearly unprecedented in hero shooters, especially when compared to Overwatch’s pace of one hero every three months. Even more impressive is how well-balanced these new characters are upon release.
Emma Frost, The Thing, the Human Torch, the Invisible Woman, and Mister Fantastic joined the roster without disrupting the meta. Each new hero filled a unique role and contributed to team diversity, standing in stark contrast to Overwatch’s history of adding characters like Sojourn, Ana, Echo, and especially Brigitte, who often dominated the game upon their debut. Many Overwatch fans still point to Brigitte’s introduction as a turning point when the game’s balance suffered.
NetEase benefits from hindsight, learning from Overwatch’s journey over the past nine years, including its successes and missteps. This knowledge helped Marvel Rivals stay on course. Blizzard, despite its experience with game balance in titles like Starcraft and World of Warcraft, faced challenges in breaking new ground with the hero shooter genre.
Maintaining this level of quality won’t be easy for NetEase. They plan to release roughly one hero a month, a demanding schedule requiring consistent care to ensure balanced launches. Ultron’s upcoming debut will be another test, with leaked abilities suggesting he might be a powerful DPS/Support hybrid.
Marvel Rivals’ ability to keep new heroes balanced ensures player satisfaction and engagement. Balanced characters prevent frustrating gameplay experiences, which can deter new players and alienate dedicated fans. As long as NetEase continues this approach, Marvel Rivals is likely to maintain its appeal in the competitive gaming landscape.
