Publisher Dotemu and developer Tribute Games have revealed their side-scrolling beat ‘em up, Marvel Cosmic Invasion. The title is set to launch this year on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is set across the Marvel Universe, with battles stretching from New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone. The story is based on the 2006 Annihilation comic book event. Players will assume the role of 15 playable Marvel characters, including Nova, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Phyla-Vell, and Captain America, with the goal of taking on the invading Annihilation Wave. The heroes must fight against Annihilus, whom Dotemu hints is known as “living death that walks.”
Having tested the title hands-on, it provides a substantial challenge for both solo and team players. I was able to test the swap mechanic with a diverse roster of characters, including Wolverine, Phyla-Vell, Spider-Man, Venom, and Rocket Raccoon. Each hero has a designated melee attack, power attack, and super move, with some even having the ability of flight. The game requires players to quickly swap characters to adapt to different situations. For instance, you can take on aerial opponents with Phyla-Vell’s powerful projectiles or get past enemy shields by quickly swapping to Spider-Man or Venom to flank and attack them from behind. The title seems to draw on inspiration from classics like Streets of Rage while taking modern cues from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion features both local and online play, which Dotemu indicates includes a “drop-in/drop-out adaptive system” that allows players to seamlessly implement character-swap combos.
Tribute Games’ Marvel Cosmic Invasion is clearly a love letter to classic beat ’em ups and nineties Marvel comics. The team’s efforts aim for an accessible yet deep cooperative brawler, blending their signature pixel art with modern details such as the “Cosmic Swap” tag-team system. Fans and non-fans alike may have reason for excitement when this title drops later this year.