Marvel Cosmic Invasion Review: They Couldn't Call It Avengers Cosmic Invasion?

 

We hate the name, but love the game. Tribute Games knocks it into deep space, just like the totally
tubular job they did with TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. Marvel Cosmic Invasion, uggh, that title, is another beat-em up that bashes and thrashes so good that we're already wanting more. DLC, please. Combining elements from older comics, newer comics and even the movies. Sorry, cinematic Universe. You have a ready to go, out-of-the-gate instant classic where you can toss AIM agents with She-Hulk or have Cap throw his shield at gross symbiotes. So, many playable characters! And, of course there's dinosaurs. It wouldn't be a classic, without dinosaurs!

 

It's an alien invasion, but this time it's bugs from the Negative Zone. So, get prepared to to save the Universe. Oh, and the bugs are taking over a bunch of bad guys and even super heroes, so be prepared for a fight. Luckily, you have options.

 

It's an insane number of fighters and quite the list with 15 playable franchise-able peeps from all over Marvel Comics timeline. From well known heroes like Spidey, Venom (is he a hero?), Iron Man, Cap, Wolverine, and Storm who almost seem like they were taken out of Marvel Vs Capcom. To newer heroes who weren't in 2D fighters like She-Hulk, Black Panther, Phoenix, Nova, Rocket Racoon (in 3D Marvel Vs Capcom). And, then you have Silver Surfer, Beta Ray Bill, Cosmic Ghost Rider (makes sense with his name) and Phyla-Vell. And, those last ones ain't been in any Marvel Vs Capcom game.

 

It's not a Capcom game, but dang was Tribute Games inspired by the Marvel Vs Capcom series and other 2d classic starring some of the heroes. Tribute (it's in the name) really plays tribute to attacks, moves and animations from other games. They're adding to it with new attacks and stuff we never got from those previous titles, but do they draw from a hefty back-log. If you've recently gotten the Capcom Fighting Collection you'll totally see what I'm talking about.

 

Then, there's the feel of the game like it's coming out in the 80's/90's with Nova's mullet hair. It's such a fun mix, because the series is drawing from the style from earlier comic runs, but is taking from newer comic arcs like the limited series  Annihilation and the whole Knull arc. And, you can, of course, switch to a CRT style and a curved TV style, to really feel like your playing in the past.

 

From pulling from so many comics, it makes for so many great levels. Of course, you have your dinosaurs in the Savage Land. You have your Rainbow Bridge to Asgard. No Marvel game is complete without walking the streets of New York City! Then, you get your creepy space places. One of my favorite levels is of course the one where Spidey and She-Hulk are supposed to be chosen ( more on that later) and you go through an animal sanctuary. Not Sanctuary II with Thanos, but a level with rife fourth wall breaking fun to be had by too of Marvel's best talkers.

 

Online play was an ease and with cross-play you can play with friends on any console that they have the game on. What's truly crazy is seeing four heroes on screening taking out so many bugs and dinos.

 

Or should I say eight? In a smart decision, you can switch on the fly between two heroes. So, one second your Spider-Man, the next Iron Man with whatever combo you want. The game has certain characters it wants you to play with on certain levels as their highlighted on the select screen before going into that level. You can ignore it or try and finish the challenges in the level for those characters.

 

If I haven't stated it clearly already, the game looks gorgeous. Tribute Games just makes everything
looks so damn good. 

 

I just love throwing Cap's shield or finally learning to hold down an attack button for some impressive moves like She-Hulk's thunder clap.

 

Honestly, I can only nitpick the name, there's really nothing here to hate on. 

 

There's a whole thing on collecting Cosmic Cubes and collecting all the art and files or getting to a higher level with each characters for more HP or faster focus to pull off your super attack.

 

Oh, those super attacks, don't forget you can combine with the other selected heros and pull off an even greater move. 

Another solid game from Tribute that you should get for the holidays. You're gonna want to beat down Thanos around the Menorah and rip Annihilus a new one around the Christmas tree. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is here to ring in the new year and ring MODOK's neck...well, if he had a neck. Beat him up and see his little baby legs kick.

* There was a rumor back around TMNT review of a The Simpsons game from Tribute, here's still hoping. 

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is out at $29.99 on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch 1 &  2, PlayStation 4 & 5, and Xbox Series X|S. On Steam, 10% Offer ends December 15

 

Game provided by publisher for review purposes on Steam.