Marvel Cosmic Invasion Review – Old-School Chaos, Modern Power

Marvel Space Invasion

Marvel dominated the arcade scene with countless iconic side-scrolling beat 'em up games that became classics of the genre. The combination of incredible characters and signature powers provided fans with the perfect way to live out their superhero fantasies. After years of absence from the genre, Tribute Games and Dotemu bring the heroes home in a new adventure that aims to recapture the old-school magic. Will Marvel Space Invasion Can you honor Marvel's favorite beat 'em up story or struggle to live up to the legends?

Based on the massive Annihilation crossover, you'll have to defend Earth from an unprecedented cosmic attack. Heroes from across the universe join forces as they fight on the streets of New York and in the depths of the Negative Zone. The story isn't groundbreaking, but it provides a solid foundation for big, memorable encounters. The all-star cast fills the game with thrilling moments and plenty of fan service that longtime Marvel fans will appreciate.

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Side-scrolling Beat 'em Up style is experiencing a resurgence. Streets of Rage 4 and Shredder's Revenge proved there was still plenty of life in the genre, building on classic foundations and creating modern, polished brawlers. Tribute Games is now shifting the focus from half-shell heroes to caped heroes, and this is where the game really shines. Although the Turtles have a similar playstyle, each Marvel character feels completely different here. Some float across the screen, while others stomp forward with unbridled force. In addition to differences in size and movement speed, each hero has unique abilities that further define their personality.

Spider-Man, for example, doesn't just move through the environment; he can slow down enemies with his webbing. Iron Man unleashes a powerful Unibeam while Rocket Raccoon fires a quick volley from his overflowing arsenal. Each hero has a signature move that reflects who they are, and their move sets work well together. Melee combat is where the game excels, allowing you to string together attacks into stylish combos that perfectly capture the essence of each character. While offense is at the forefront, Marvel Cosmic Invasion also focuses on defense. Some characters can dodge blows, while others can block and counterattack, adding much-needed layers to the combat.

Tag me!

The individuality is further enhanced by the secondary character and location swapping mechanics. You can freely switch between two heroes or call a partner for an auxiliary attack, combining his movements with yours. This leads to some great moments as you juggle enemies in tandem, raising your combo meter higher and higher. As the numbers climb and the screen becomes chaos, the endorphin rush is undeniable. It is in moments like these, when you are overwhelmed, that a special attack can be your salvation. With one press of a button, you can unleash a powerful area attack that will destroy multiple enemies at once. To prevent spam, you can only activate the maneuver once your meter is full.

Each mission includes several objectives that require you to solve a goal with the help of certain characters. This increases replayability as you can revisit levels to complete challenges and earn rewards. Completing these unlocks changes the items in the vault: character profiles tell you the backstory of the heroes, and color palettes allow you to change their appearance. In addition, you can also unlock music and, most importantly, arcade modifiers!

Arcade mode makes things more difficult by requiring you to complete each level without the ability to restart the area. However, the modifiers you can unlock in the campaign add variety by allowing you to customize a number of elements. The options on offer are fantastic and give you the opportunity to change up the game so that veterans can challenge themselves and newbies can get involved. This results in a truly accessible experience that is ideal for players of all ages and experience levels.

Pixel Perfect

The overall presentation is fantastic. Large-scale pixel art captures the nuances of each character's design while maintaining a strong sense of nostalgia. This attention to detail extends to the animation, as each character moves and behaves just like their comic book counterpart. Their attacks also reflect their personality with clever visual design that clearly conveys the purpose and style of each move. With powerful sound effects and amazing backing tracks, the game doesn't just evoke the era; it builds on this, providing a remarkable evolution of the classic formula.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is one of the best beat 'em up games to date. The addition of a secondary character increases combat effectiveness, allowing you to easily manipulate enemies and create massive combos. Each hero has unique moves and attacks that make experimenting with different team combinations exciting. Although the campaign is short, it encourages replaying levels to complete challenges and unlock additional content. Combined with its stunning presentation, the game stands as one of the best modern examples of the genre.

***PlayStation 5 code provided by the publisher***