Since the debut of the MCU film Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, the ragtag band of misfits has seen an exponential rise in popularity. Although the team has appeared in Marvel comics since 1969, Square Enix and Eidos Montreal’s game, simply titled Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, pays respect in-game to both genres. Indeed, Guardians of the Galaxy is a cosmic journey not just via the Marvel Comics team, but also through the MCU’s crew.
First and foremost, the fabric of Guardians of the Galaxy is unmistakably distinct from that of Marvel’s Avengers, which was created by Crystal Dynamics with assistance from Eidos Montreal. A live-service game, Marvel’s Avengers features a strong narrative but a greater emphasis on multiplayer components than Guardians of the Galaxy, which has merely the campaign.
The Guardians of the Galaxy story in Eidos Montreal’s game isn’t based on the comics or the movies; instead, it draws from obscure Marvel canon and repurposes well-known characters in fresh, albeit sometimes familiar, ways. In the end, the game’s story is the most important aspect of it. After defeating Thanos and his Chitauri in the Galactic War, the Guardians are still bringing together their team. At first, it seems as though players are being pulled in many different ways, but the story eventually manages to tie everything together…for the most part.
Juggling the two-to-three tales in Guardians of the Galaxy is a great way to surprise the audience, but it is also the story’s worst flaw. One mission in Guardians of the Galaxy can take hours to accomplish, whereas two or three others could be done in a shorter period of time. Even though the game’s tempo fluctuates erratically, never letting the player know how long a job would take, the story isn’t diminished by this flaw. Emotional and hilarious elements are well-executed in this film. The book does a great job capturing the characters of the Guardians, even if it does rely a bit too much on the MCU at times and has some issues with pacing.
For example, players may have Drax break down barricades, Groot construct wooden bridges, and Rocket squeeze into tight areas before exploding everything in their path. While they must use Star-powers Lord’s to solve challenges, they must also use their own, and there will be a lot of platforming involved. Although players must first direct everything in order to form a cohesive team, as the group becomes closer, they will be able to act on their own.
Decisions players make at various points in the game will have a significant impact on the rest of the story. Indeed, it sometimes feels like players are playing TellTale Guardians of the Galaxy, because they may offend Rocket or betray a certain person and perform other dubious activities that either benefit or injure them. Obviously, certain actions have a higher long-term impact than others, but it can be difficult to recognize which ones, driving players to constantly make the best option for the team….
It’s not just the story that makes Guardians of the Galaxy a great fighting game; it’s also the gameplay and input. Players assume the role of Star-Lord and are tasked with making all of the game’s tactical decisions on the battlefield. As for Star-Lord, he has his own set of abilities, including a basic attack, elemental ammunition assaults, rapid reloading, and a charging strike. In the meanwhile, he may lead the team through a variety of Flair Attacks and Call-to-Action sequences, call the team together for a huddle, provide environmental directions, and educate them on how to use their abilities and, once unlocked, their mega ability..
It’s a lot, and that’s because it is. Players can’t help but use the wrong skill or talent in battle when it comes to command input. Due of the predictable nature of the adversaries, this isn’t a disaster in most circumstances (tank-like bruisers, healers, etc.). Guardians of the Galaxy’s boss fights are a highlight of the game, although they are all rather standard, which is OK.
At the end of the day, the chaotic battling, numerous small-time opponents, and boss confrontations all add to the fun. Star-Lord, the captain of the Guardians of the Galaxy, is able to act out his power fantasies in the fight. Star-leadership Lord’s of the Guardians and his ability to make split-second fighting judgments are unlike any other experience in video games. For this reason, its battle has a great deal to recommend it.
The same can be said about the Guardians of the Galaxy in many ways. By the end of the game, it’s impossible not to feel like Star-Lord, no matter how crazy things gets. In a game with such a significant emphasis on story and decision-making, Guardians of the Galaxy delivers tenfold in terms of player devotion.