Marvel Cosmic Invasion Is A 2D Beat-‘Em-Up Fit For A Superhero

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Dotemu has been leading the charge in the resurgence of retro-style 2D games lately. Some of their recent successes involve revamping established franchises such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Metal Slug Tactics, and Streets of Rage 4. Additionally, Dotemu has experience porting popular series like Final Fantasy, along with numerous Neo Geo titles.

In the year 2025, the publisher is delving deeply into nostalgia with two projects: Ninja Gaiden Ragebound and Marvel Cosmic Invasion, both products of the collaboration between Dotemu and Tribute Games. Having had a chance to try out the new arcade superhero beat-’em-up at Summer Game Fest 2025, the progress made by these companies in Shredder’s Revenge is looking promising enough to live up to the legendary names it carries.

In my demonstration, I initially picked two characters out of a set of seven options: Captain America, Nova, Storm, Venom, Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Phyla-Vell. Each character in this group has unique skills and powers, which marks an improvement over Shredder’s Revenge, where, despite minor differences, each Ninja Turtle you controlled essentially behaved the same way.

Moving forward, I brought my two formidable partners into the bustling streets of New York, squaring off against the throngs employed by villain Annihilus right away. You manage one hero at a time and have the flexibility to switch between them as needed. Each character boasts an array of attacks, from swift jabs to heavy but potent blows, and they can even perform unique moves mid-air. Additionally, you can link attack buttons for a super move, though this comes at the expense of some health – a feature reminiscent of classic 2D brawlers that I found delightfully reintroduced in this game.

In Marvel Cosmic Invasion, selecting the right team of characters appears crucial given their unique abilities. For instance, Nova excels in long-distance battles due to his energy wave attacks, whereas Wolverine prefers close combat with his claws and powerful throw attack. Furthermore, you can swiftly switch between two heroes during gameplay, enabling you to adapt your offensive strategy according to the specific challenge at handif adversaries have ranged attacks, it’s wise to opt for a long-range character like Nova.

Enhancing the gameplay with this feature introduces a strategic depth to every interaction, moving it away from mere rapid button pressing towards a thoughtful playstyle that enhances the game’s enjoyment. It further empowers tactical choices – in tight spots where my less active character was running low on health, I could summon them for a single attack as backup during an intense fight, giving me a moment to regroup.

Engaging in combat offers a thrilling experience, both visually and audibly, with each successful strike resonating satisfyingly as it lands on an unfortunate foe. The spectacular attacks truly shine, transforming the screen into a spectacle as every enemy is obliterated without a traceI find Storm’s electrical abilities to be my favorite, evoking memories of her super move in Marvel vs. Capcom, although each hero’s special attack boasts an element of style and pizzazz.

The demonstration showcased two challenging boss battles as well. One was against Beetle, manipulated by one of Annihilus’s servants, while the other starred Taskmaster in his usual form. These boss encounters adhered to the traditional 2D brawler format for boss fightsmulti-stage conflicts complete with a large health meter at the base, and the adversary employing potent moves to inflict heavy damage. Each confrontation provided a fitting test of skill at the end of each level.

In every confrontation with a boss, there was an additional challenge: each boss’s health meter had a border of blue that needed to be broken down through attacks before the red health bar would decrease. This blue boundary functioned like a protective “shield” that stopped damage from being inflicted directly, and which would occasionally regenerate at various points during the fight. The shield feature increased the battle’s complexity slightly, although it just required a few additional seconds of attack time. Now, I’m curious to see how Tribute will further refine the conventional boss battle design in the final version.

My experience with Marvel Cosmic Invasion unfolded precisely as anticipated: I dispatched numerous adversaries, engaged in thrilling encounters against formidable bosses, and reveled in a deluge of 2D nostalgia, thanks to Tribute Games’ knack for replicating the arcade ambiance of yesteryears. Although there are several novel aspects at play – expanded character skills, complexified battles with bosses, among others – it feels like a game I would have cherished during my childhood days. It is the successful evocation of nostalgia that will likely propel Marvel Cosmic Invasion to success upon its release, and thus far, Tribute Games has excelled in this regard.

The much-anticipated Marvel Cosmic Invasion game is set for launch towards the end of the current year. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and personal computers (PCs).

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2025-06-18 18:39