Most Marvel games will be competing with AAA projects from top-tier first party studios or even DC’s litany of exceptional releases, putting any Marvel release in the sights of some of gaming’s biggest developers and properties. As such, investing in more unpredictable and genre-splicing spinoffs could help to make Marvel a name synonymous with games as well as comics and film. Nintendo has mastered the art, and the comic’s titan would do well to take cues.
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe Has Broad Appeal
As phase four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues, it’s gathered a smattering of critics while maintaining a strong fanbase that find comfort in even the most predictable MCU films. They are undoubtedly popular among many, as comedic timing, strong performances, enjoyable action, and heartfelt moments appeal to movie-goers of all ages and backgrounds. Games typically have a harder time making everyone happy, as genres are so different in content and mechanics. Guardians of the Galaxy has good combat and linear level design akin to the likes of Tomb Raider and Uncharted, but lacks the freedom of exploration that people love about Spider-Man. Conversely, Lego Marvel’s Avengers is a solid couch co-op, family-oriented game even years after its release, but it lacks the mechanical depth that some might crave.
To use the whole scope of the Marvel brand to branch off into any number of genres could give the company’s characters more of a chance to find diverse audiences in all corners of gaming. The MCU has done this with relative ease, so bringing a horror spin to an Incredible Hulk game or implementing Wakanda into a grand strategy game could further add complexity to the characters that fans have come to love in the MCU. Marvel in gaming can absolutely lean on the one-size-fits-all approach of its cinematic universe, but instead of making individual projects that appeal to all, it could be best to make spinoff games that each cast a small net, giving the company a foothold in most gaming genres.
Mario and Pokemon’s Spinoff Successes
Mario is the most recognizable face in gaming, and has been Nintendo’s poster child since the mid-1980s. Pokemon is one of the highest grossing media franchises in the world, and neither are too proud to make spinoffs. Sometimes they are remembered as retro classics, with Paper Mario and Pokemon Snap! each receiving new entries in their respective series’ recently. Neither of the aforementioned titles are in a genre even close to the mainline series, but carry the same charm that returning players expect of the properties, which is perhaps the most important thing when handling such beloved franchises.
Marvel has its own charm, and each of its hundreds of characters – both obvious and obscure – have potential within at least one gaming genre. If a goofy character similar to Mario can transition into any number of gaming genres, and the otherwise stalwart JRPG Pokemon can produce some genuinely fantastic 3D arena fighters, GPS augmented reality titles like Pokemon Go, and physical card games, then Marvel’s sheer diversity puts it in a perfect position to release plenty of spinoffs in the same way.
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Different Marvel Characters Require a Different Approach
In film, Marvel has done well to fit its characters into a format that never drastically changes with each release. Subtle changes in tone are appreciated, but plenty of MCU movies have a familiarity that is hard to ignore. Using the same process in games wouldn’t be wise. The time it takes to develop a AAA experience is simply too long to produce a title with a new protagonist that isn’t hugely different to the games that came before. Innovation is important, and the wide berth of personalities in the Marvel toy box means spreading them to different spinoff titles would do best by who they are.
The upcoming Wolverine game will surely be drastically different from Insomniac’s previous works with Spider-Man, and it would be all the better for it, since Wolverine and Spider-Man are vastly different people. Should a spinoff centered on Storm be greenlit it would have to be different still, as the format that fits Logan won’t necessarily be suitable for all members of the X-Men.
Third-person action/adventure is the chosen flavor of PlayStation’s first party franchises, and it works for those products, but Marvel shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking that success only rests in one genre with only a handful of iconic characters. An SSX-style arcade racer focused on Silver Surfer could be amazing, but terrible for the likes of Captain America or Thor. Marvel has to pick its poison wisely in gaming, so spinoffs and genre changes would be the best course of action.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to the concept of spinoffs, taking side characters and making them the star of their own project. The issue arises when the end result doesn’t feel different enough from the series that spawned it, and the same applies in video games. Crafting excellently-made spinoffs can give characters a chance to thrive in an environment that shows of their strengths and minimizes any weaknesses. Pokemon and Mario continue to prove they can expand a property’s legacy, ensuring they reach audiences of all persuasions, and Marvel should follow suit.
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