Marvel’s Avengers

Heroes taking up space in my backlog
Yep, this game was a title that had been sitting there on this list for almost 2 years. I purchased it when it became super cheap in late 2023 which also means support for the game stopped then and it was also removed from digital stores. So, if you have it in your library but you were hesitant to play it, this review might help you make that decision. I am happy to be done with the title (not fully, though) and it's too bad the game was not further refined by its developer.
Square Enix
I hate that it was more important to develop this instead of giving us a proper 3rd Deus Ex game to make it a trilogy and finish Jensen's story once and for all. At least Crystal Dynamics could finish the last Tomb Raider game (albeit only in a support role) before moving on to this. Also, while the current game is somewhat OK content-wise, there was a time (not long after release) when people complained about said content and I remember the developer introducing XP-boost items for purchase (for real-world money!) which allowed players to level-up faster. Given the backlash the system was removed a month later.
Story
This one is quite interesting. We use Kamala Khan initially to attend A-Day, something reserved for the Avengers considering all the good they did to mankind. We are aboard Chimera, the helicarrier, when there is a terrorist attack and since San Francisco is destroyed, our favourite team of superheroes is blamed for it. The group then disbands and in comes AIM, a criminal organisation (think of it as the new Hydra). Then we fast-forward to 5 years later when Kamala finds evidence actually confirming the superheroes are not to be blamed for the catastrophe that occurred before.
Now, AIM sets out to remove people with special abilities and since Kamala is one of them (an Inhuman) she decides to look for the Avengers team and reassemble them. It's actually pretty great finding each member and repairing the Chimera so that you can have your own base of operations. As more and more heroes start appearing in our hideout, more sections open up. You quickly realise the game has quite some content and it's fun conversing with each hero. Kamala, as a fangirl, is quite nice (and naive given her age) and if you play the game after the Ms Marvel series (Disney+) it is actually even better (definitely not after the mediocre Inhumans!).
The number of missions can be overwhelming. There is a button that allows you to continue with the campaign in case you get lost. Since this is a The Definitive Edition it includes all 4 campaigns but don't you dare click on "Play Now" in the main menu! Go to "Operations" and start with "Part 1" otherwise you get a nice summary as to what happened "so far" (as in you will get a complete story-spoiling experience). They definitely did not hire the smartest guy designing the menu.
I also had to figure out how to start part 2. You can't do it from the Chimera (your HQ) but this is exactly where the game takes you once you click on "Part 2" in the main menu under "Operations". The colour filter over your War Table slightly changes and this is how you know the new story missions will appear (somewhere on the globe in front of you). You can play as Kate Bishop looking for the other Hawkeye, go to the future in part 3 (the wastelands look amazing) and there is even a separate campaign for Wakanda (part 4).
Lots of cutscenes, great voice acting (Troy Baker) during which all your heroes are shown in the outfit of your choice. The entire game can be played cooperatively so in case you do not have buddies just let the A.I. control your 3 companions. Given the HQ we have (and the additional outposts we find later) and the overall roster of characters I felt there was a lot of focus on pleasing those picking up the game after Phase 3.
Gameplay
Boy is it fantastic! Flying with Iron Man and using your repulsor, jumping around with Hulk and smashing things... lots of iconic weapons, moves and takedowns from the movies are all here. This edition has tons of outfits already available for each hero (some are specifically from the Marvel movies as their name implies) and also a bit of a learning curve. Just because you control Hulk you still need to learn how to parry or dodge. Instead of health you have willpower and what is normally referred to as stamina elsewhere, here it is called intrinsic energy. Since each level is action-packed, prepare for lots of outside locations and those indoors have a high ceiling height for the sake of convenience.
AIM mostly sends robots against us and then there are, of course, boss battles with some well-known superheroes. Still, mostly it's just robots. It is actually quite fun when you think you saw the biggest then you face a much bigger one. I can understand some people consider this boring especially when you see the same enemies but essentially with new damage type (poison, freezing, fire, etc.) so it isn't really a new foe you are about to face.
ARPG here I come
Really? I was very surprised to see this. From enemies and the chests we find on each level, gear is dropped. We have 4 slots for them and they are used to increase our power level. From the War Table you can see the minimum required Power Level for each mission. Then we have 3 slots for artifacts (one is upgradable with special resources) then also comic books giving us a permanent boost. We also have emotes (I assume for coop play) and while the animation looks great I found them completely unnecessary.
Beside increasing your power level you also level up. Skill points can be used to improve upon your light and heavy attacks and the 3 special moves each hero has. The highest level I had was 15 but once I got my hands on a new character, I decided to use that one for a while. You find units on each level and also fragments. The former can be used to purchase additional outfits, emotes and nameplates while the latter is for buying gear from vendors.
But you also have assignments (challenges) you can get on a daily basis (from different factions) and you can find patterns that a special machine can convert into a new outfit. If you complete villain sectors you can also find DNA keys that open special chests. There is so much to do!!! You already see some missions require a power level over 100... you know that will take a lot of grind to get there.
End game content
Drop zones, villain sectors, daily assignments, hero mission chains (the objective menu is waaaaay too overwhelming and tracking up to 5 items does not help much), virtual trainings for each character etc. There is a lot and I mean a LOT to see in this game. Do you remember the Quinjet? It takes our heroes to their destination and we hear Jarvis tell us info all the time. I feel like content-wise the game is simply too big and at least 30% of the achievements requires a lot of grind (you probably need 100+ hours to see everything the game has to offer and get all 'cheevos).
Crashes, crashes and some more crashes
Fire after explosion had a weird graphical glitch for me. Kate's campaign constantly crashes when I commence the last mission so that is something I couldn't finish. The game crashes in every 2-3 hours stating insufficient resources. Lowering the graphics details does not help. People in the forums do tell you what older NVIDIA driver you should reinstall but then you would ditch every other video game that require a newer version. It's a shame the title was abandoned and no more fixes will be released.
Astra inclinant, sed non obligant
You have the option of picking this one up... make your own choice and shape the destinies of your heroes. Personally, I'm taking a break and I have yet to see Jane Thor and Winter Soldier in my roster. Which, by the way, has a strange number (11) since Spider Man is PS exclusive.

Steam User 36

Reviewed last year

Heroes taking up space in my backlog
Yep, this game was a title that had been sitting there on this list for almost 2 years. I purchased it when it became super cheap in late 2023 which also means support for the game stopped then and it was also removed from digital stores. So, if you have it in your library but you were hesitant to play it, this review might help you make that decision. I am happy to be done with the title (not fully, though) and it's too bad the game was not further refined by its developer.
Square Enix
I hate that it was more important to develop this instead of giving us a proper 3rd Deus Ex game to make it a trilogy and finish Jensen's story once and for all. At least Crystal Dynamics could finish the last Tomb Raider game (albeit only in a support role) before moving on to this. Also, while the current game is somewhat OK content-wise, there was a time (not long after release) when people complained about said content and I remember the developer introducing XP-boost items for purchase (for real-world money!) which allowed players to level-up faster. Given the backlash the system was removed a month later.
Story
This one is quite interesting. We use Kamala Khan initially to attend A-Day, something reserved for the Avengers considering all the good they did to mankind. We are aboard Chimera, the helicarrier, when there is a terrorist attack and since San Francisco is destroyed, our favourite team of superheroes is blamed for it. The group then disbands and in comes AIM, a criminal organisation (think of it as the new Hydra). Then we fast-forward to 5 years later when Kamala finds evidence actually confirming the superheroes are not to be blamed for the catastrophe that occurred before.
Now, AIM sets out to remove people with special abilities and since Kamala is one of them (an Inhuman) she decides to look for the Avengers team and reassemble them. It's actually pretty great finding each member and repairing the Chimera so that you can have your own base of operations. As more and more heroes start appearing in our hideout, more sections open up. You quickly realise the game has quite some content and it's fun conversing with each hero. Kamala, as a fangirl, is quite nice (and naive given her age) and if you play the game after the Ms Marvel series (Disney+) it is actually even better (definitely not after the mediocre Inhumans!).
The number of missions can be overwhelming. There is a button that allows you to continue with the campaign in case you get lost. Since this is a The Definitive Edition it includes all 4 campaigns but don't you dare click on "Play Now" in the main menu! Go to "Operations" and start with "Part 1" otherwise you get a nice summary as to what happened "so far" (as in you will get a complete story-spoiling experience). They definitely did not hire the smartest guy designing the menu.
I also had to figure out how to start part 2. You can't do it from the Chimera (your HQ) but this is exactly where the game takes you once you click on "Part 2" in the main menu under "Operations". The colour filter over your War Table slightly changes and this is how you know the new story missions will appear (somewhere on the globe in front of you). You can play as Kate Bishop looking for the other Hawkeye, go to the future in part 3 (the wastelands look amazing) and there is even a separate campaign for Wakanda (part 4).
Lots of cutscenes, great voice acting (Troy Baker) during which all your heroes are shown in the outfit of your choice. The entire game can be played cooperatively so in case you do not have buddies just let the A.I. control your 3 companions. Given the HQ we have (and the additional outposts we find later) and the overall roster of characters I felt there was a lot of focus on pleasing those picking up the game after Phase 3.
Gameplay
Boy is it fantastic! Flying with Iron Man and using your repulsor, jumping around with Hulk and smashing things... lots of iconic weapons, moves and takedowns from the movies are all here. This edition has tons of outfits already available for each hero (some are specifically from the Marvel movies as their name implies) and also a bit of a learning curve. Just because you control Hulk you still need to learn how to parry or dodge. Instead of health you have willpower and what is normally referred to as stamina elsewhere, here it is called intrinsic energy. Since each level is action-packed, prepare for lots of outside locations and those indoors have a high ceiling height for the sake of convenience.
AIM mostly sends robots against us and then there are, of course, boss battles with some well-known superheroes. Still, mostly it's just robots. It is actually quite fun when you think you saw the biggest then you face a much bigger one. I can understand some people consider this boring especially when you see the same enemies but essentially with new damage type (poison, freezing, fire, etc.) so it isn't really a new foe you are about to face.
ARPG here I come
Really? I was very surprised to see this. From enemies and the chests we find on each level, gear is dropped. We have 4 slots for them and they are used to increase our power level. From the War Table you can see the minimum required Power Level for each mission. Then we have 3 slots for artifacts (one is upgradable with special resources) then also comic books giving us a permanent boost. We also have emotes (I assume for coop play) and while the animation looks great I found them completely unnecessary.
Beside increasing your power level you also level up. Skill points can be used to improve upon your light and heavy attacks and the 3 special moves each hero has. The highest level I had was 15 but once I got my hands on a new character, I decided to use that one for a while. You find units on each level and also fragments. The former can be used to purchase additional outfits, emotes and nameplates while the latter is for buying gear from vendors.
But you also have assignments (challenges) you can get on a daily basis (from different factions) and you can find patterns that a special machine can convert into a new outfit. If you complete villain sectors you can also find DNA keys that open special chests. There is so much to do!!! You already see some missions require a power level over 100... you know that will take a lot of grind to get there.
End game content
Drop zones, villain sectors, daily assignments, hero mission chains (the objective menu is waaaaay too overwhelming and tracking up to 5 items does not help much), virtual trainings for each character etc. There is a lot and I mean a LOT to see in this game. Do you remember the Quinjet? It takes our heroes to their destination and we hear Jarvis tell us info all the time. I feel like content-wise the game is simply too big and at least 30% of the achievements requires a lot of grind (you probably need 100+ hours to see everything the game has to offer and get all 'cheevos).
Crashes, crashes and some more crashes
Fire after explosion had a weird graphical glitch for me. Kate's campaign constantly crashes when I commence the last mission so that is something I couldn't finish. The game crashes in every 2-3 hours stating insufficient resources. Lowering the graphics details does not help. People in the forums do tell you what older NVIDIA driver you should reinstall but then you would ditch every other video game that require a newer version. It's a shame the title was abandoned and no more fixes will be released.
Astra inclinant, sed non obligant
You have the option of picking this one up... make your own choice and shape the destinies of your heroes. Personally, I'm taking a break and I have yet to see Jane Thor and Winter Soldier in my roster. Which, by the way, has a strange number (11) since Spider Man is PS exclusive.
Steam User 34

Reviewed last year

they can never make me hate you, avengers
your gameplay was stellar, it was the live service garbage that brought you down
you could've been something amazing, RIP
Steam User 33

Reviewed last year

This game fell victim to:
• Hype.
• Expectations (Cause It's Marvel, you know :D)
• Steam ratings.
What we liked:
• The plot.
• The visuals.
• The characters for sure.
• A lot of cosmetics without pressure.
What we didn't like:
• Technical nitpicks.
• Weak endgame.
Verdict:
• An underrated game.
• I feel sorry for those people who didn't manage or didn't want (or didnt know that it will be delisted) to buy it. Now it's history of comic games.
• And yes — 67-70% does not reflect reality.
Steam User 16

Reviewed last year

After a terrible roll out and the end of online support, the game is still a lot of fun.
Steam User 18

Reviewed last year

it's delisted and barely even runs on some systems... yikes lol, but hey, a rare game is a rare game
Steam User 12

Reviewed last year

The game is finally fixed after the latest Nvidia Driver release, 581.15, thanks Nvidia! Did not think they would do this for a delisted game, but here we are. Really fun game when it is working, but it can get a bit repetitive after a while. I'm happy I bought it while I could though!
Steam User 11

Reviewed last year

I bought this elsewhere (since it isn't listed) and I understand why people pooped on it. I think the hype was ridiculous and you have to accept games for what they are. I have zero complaints, I enjoyed the story and the DLCs. I can agree that the missions get tedious though.

Marvel’s Avengers

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