REVIEW: Marvel’s Avengers (Next-Gen Upgrade)

Although the game missed the launch in August 2020 due to its rocky launch, the latest Marvel’s Avengers patch--a next-gen update for the latest consoles-–is now the ideal time to play the title. The title seemed to disappear from the zeitgeist almost immediately it was released. This release seems to indicate that Crystal Dynamics is aiming for this to become a second bash with a DLC roadmap and Hawkeye joining the fray. But how can you really change a game that is fundamentally flawed?

The next-gen patch for PS5 is stunning to look at. It now looks up to par with other titles that have received the upgrade treatment. Like many other titles, Avengers offers two modes of graphics. You can choose from quality or performance mode. These two modes have been standard over the first few months of the new generation. Performance mode keeps things running at 60fps but with a lower resolution. Quality mode presents a 4K resolution at 30fps, with some additional effects. As I do, Avengers looks stunning on the new hardware. The 60fps target is never an issue. The PS5's cutscenes and gameplay look great. This allows the game's chaotic nature to look smooth. Performance was never an issue. The resolution is boosted to 4K, but the frame rate increases make it difficult to return to 30fps.

The PS5 version offers some next-generation features thanks to its hardware potential. Although I'm sure both consoles will have the same lightning-fast loading times, the DualSense controller provides a haptic feedback that is very well implemented. Every hero you play has the exact feel you would expect it to give. The blasters of Iron Man provide a stronger pull to the forced feedback triggers. Black Widow's gun attack triggers have a slight clicking when you push the trigger down. Overall, the game feels great to control and these add-ons give the controller that "wow" factor that is a hallmark of the PS5.

What about the game? It seems, despite not being launched, that the game is still available, for both good and bad. Avengersis a beat-em up looter. You control your hero in large levels and can have three friends accompany you on your mission. You're used to the standard missions here. The main objectives of every mission type are defend a spot, attack an enemy, and destroy a device. There may be minor distractions along your journey to get more loot. You will find both upgrade materials and new pieces of armour. This allows you to improve your heroes and take on more challenging challenges with better rewards. Rinse and repeat.

Every hero you control has the same core mechanics. You have an offensive ability, defense ability, and an ultimate ability. Each of these abilities also has its own cool-down period. Each ability is designed to encourage teamwork. Some abilities have more uses than others, while all of them offer unique advantages when combined. If you play mainly alone, each hero does enough damage to make sure you never feel powerless.

Your power level is what determines your ability to complete missions. This meter can be increased by improving your hero's equipment. Your character has a higher level. Each step up will give you a skill points that you can spend on new moves and abilities, as well as advancing you through the given hero's fight pass (I wish it was a joke). Each character has their own set tiers. As you progress, each tier offers a different reward. This system was not visible to me for many hours. I only noticed it when I was scrolling through the confusing menu systems. However, this concept is a way to make the game more money. Sure, it is cosmetic only, but the game is still a full-price title that doesn't do even close to enough to warrant such a vast amount of micro-transaction--but then, what games does?

Before you dive into all of that, you need to start the campaign. You will be able to control Ms. Marvel, a newcomer to Marvel Universe (aka Kamala Khan) for a 10 hour adventure.

Although the story is not as good as Infinity War or Age of Ultron, it does have its moments. These moments are most evident in the first few hours. You really get to know Kamala and spend a lot of time controlling her as she learns how to harness her father's powers. Sandra Saad's performance is truly spectacular. She shines in the big moments but also in the small touches that Kamala displays in her genuine passion for the Avengers.

Casting is perfect for the other heroes, too. Fan favourites Troy Baker, Laura Bailey and Nolan North bring to life Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner respectively. They also have the same traits that Marvel fans will be familiar with. The game's core appeal lies in the looter missions that the online game offers. This is because the scripted, narrative-driven sequences of the first few hours become redundant. As you travel the corridors of Avengers Base, you will find merchants offering useless tasks to increase your loot. The game is more about getting to grips the endgame mechanics than telling a story. This is the endgame, and it is what you will enjoy. However, Avengers shows in the first few hours that it is willing to take on a more cinematic story, but forgoes it in order to increase the campaign's length.

The next-gen patch is a blessing in disguise. It is also a step in the game's efforts to become a regular player. Your level of engagement with the Avengers endgame features will depend on your personal preferences and how comfortable you are with a grinding, intense game. I was able to find players online who were significantly higher than me in my power levels, even though it was only a short time. The core hook isn't enough for me to come back. I don't want to hunt for loot to improve my characters or grind for cosmetic skins. Although the mechanics are solid, the gameplay is not satisfying enough to keep me engaged for more than an hour. This is due to the grind required by the game.