This weekend Disney D23 Expo, Marvel dropped a surprise, announcing they’re teaming with Oculus for Marvel Powers United VR, a four-player shooter/brawler, featuring some of your favorite heroes. Basically, Marvel Powers United is the arcade classic game Gauntlet in first-person virtual reality with Marvel characters. It’s an intriguing concept.
Marvel Powers United VR developer Sanzaru Games (Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time) promises they’re making a full-size game, rather than just a VR teaser…
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“You can expect a ton of different locations, tons of different modes of play. This is a 100% full-size game. This isn’t a little demo, it’s not an ‘experience,’ it’s not an on-rails thing. This is a full retail game. There’s only one opportunity to do this first. There’s no other Marvel VR game. So, we see it as opportunity.”
Sounds promising! But of course, the proof is in the gameplay. IGN recently took a run through a level playing as Deadpool, Hulk, and Rocket Raccoon. Scroll down to check out the gameplay, and judge for yourself whether the Marvel Universe is ready for VR…
Deadpool
Deadpool was just unveiled as a playable Marvel Powers United character this morning, but IGN already got to take the Merc with a Mouth for a spin. As you can imagine, you can take bad guys down with Deadpool’s trademark katanas, dual pistols, or just a swift flying kick. Honestly, Deadpool could use a few more one-liners, although he does have a handful of sassy quips.
Hulk
Appropriately, Hulk towers over both friend and foe alike, which should make your smashing all the more satisfying. Interestingly, Hulk isn’t the lumbering brawler you might expect – he can quickly leap all over the stage, taking enemies out with dropkicks and shockwave attacks. He can even grab baddies by the head and use them as projectiles. I have a feeling people are going to be fighting over who gets to play as the Hulk.
Rocket Raccoon
And on the opposite end of the spectrum from Hulk, we have Rocket Raccoon, who’s about half the height of all the other characters (or about a quarter the size of Hulk). Thankfully, size doesn’t matter, as Rocket can fly and rain destruction down from above. Oh, and Rocket’s fuzzy little raccoon nose is on screen at all times when you’re playing, so, uh, that’s something!
Certainly, some aspects of Marvel Powers United currently look a bit rough or silly, but that kind of comes with the territory with VR. The game lacks some polish, but you have to applaud the developers’ ambition, and the multiplayer focus is definitely appreciated (most VR tends to be rather lonely).
Folks attending this year’s San Diego Comic-Con 2017 will get to try out Marvel Powers United VR, featuring playable characters Hulk, Captain Marvel, Rocket Raccoon, and Deadpool. Marvel Powers United VR arrives exclusively for Oculus Rift headsets in 2018.
