MARVEL Cosmic Invasion

Tribute Games has delivered a top-notch experience. While it has a few minor flaws, its strengths are undeniable, and Marvel Cosmic Invasion stands out as an experience that no Marvel or beat 'em up fan can afford to miss. This adventure clearly showcases the talent of this team and the place Earth's Mightiest Heroes hold in the industry.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion feels a little less fluid than Shredder’s Revenge due to the Cosmic Swap mechanic, but that same feature actually makes fighting in this beat-’em-up more enjoyable overall. It also fits perfectly within the Marvel universe that Tribute Games has created with such love and attention to detail.

Pure cartoon fun, and all the better for it, Tribute Games has not only totally honoured the source material, but delivered one of the best arcade Marvel games ever made. The aesthetic is beautiful, and the effort involved in creating such a varied cast of beat-'em-up protagonists is admirable…Yes, there are areas for improvement, and some of its combat-feedback oversights feel like missed opportunities. But if you primarily want multiplayer action, to unlock and grind and level up your cast, and to get knee-deep in Marvel mayhem, it’s right on the money. If you’re working through its single-player Story campaign, you’re likely to get bored before the end owing to its ease, but unlocking Hard Difficulty and Cosmic Invasion becomes all it was destined to be.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion isn’t quite the gob-smacking surprise that Shredder’s Revenge was, but I suppose it really couldn’t be. It is, however, a more than worthy spiritual follow-up to that game, and it shows that if Tribute Games wishes to keep working in the beat ’em up space, it still has plenty to offer. For Marvel fans, this is the dream team-up arcade brawler that we never got, doing proper service to characters big and small from the pantheon of heroes. Yes, we’ve seen many of its tricks before, but when the result is this good, I think a second scoop is more than permissible. The only real drag on the game comes from the occasional bits of slowdown when things are at their most chaotic, but it’s not enough to hurt the game significantly. Another proper event for beat ’em up buddies.

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion isn’t quite the blockbuster-level beat 'em up game that rivals the likes of Street of Rage 4 and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. It has clear flaws in its progression systems and stage design, but it's undeniable that it's presentation is top-notch, it has good variety in its characters, and is fun and simple enough for everyone to play.