"Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy": Video Game Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
There wasn't a whole lot of hype surrounding the release of "Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy". Between the negative reception of the "Marvel's Avengers" game or even the lackluster gameplay walkthroughs shown at E3 and other gaming events, there was much hesitation from most of the gaming community. Yet to my surprise, "Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy" is a fantastic action game that ranks as one of the best gaming experiences I've had all year and just another reason why linear single player games rule when done correctly. Besides some serious technical issues that hold it back from being an instant classic, this is a must play for 2021.
Based heavily on the two film installments, Peter Quill and his gang of misfits band together to take on an evil religion that looks to manipulate the minds of the innocent and take over the universe. The story is outstanding, as it balances comedy with a surprising amount of dramatic depth. Its willingness to rely on some seriously heavy themes such as loss is a surprise, but a welcome one. And this all thanks to some tremendous voice acting that inevitably bring these characters to life. Between Peter, Rocket, Groot, Gamora, Drax and many others, all the performances are thoroughly engaging. Not only from an individual level but the chemistry and persistent interaction between them is what really shines through in the gameplay and cutscenes.
Many have criticized the combat as being somewhat bland, but I think it's one of the more satisfying gameplay loops I've experienced this year. During each combat encounter, you control Peter and his duel wielding pistols but are also able to control the other team members through a variety of unique bottom prompts that can initiate a wide range of attacks. Rocket utilizes his explosives, controlling the offense, while Gamora and Drax rely heavily on a flurry of close combat moves; and finally Groot is the more defensive based character whose healing techniques are a life saver towards the end of the game. Playing on a Playstation 5 at 60 frames per second is buttery smooth, especially as the action ramps up to insane levels when each character is using all their special abilities at once. Very much akin to the combat in many of the "Final Fantasy" entries, yet its combat feels more fluid and controllable.
And each gameplay moment is even more fleshed out by the incredible soundtrack of 80s hits. Over 25 different pieces of licensed music including artists such as Rick Astley, Bonnie Tyler, Wham!, and many more are perfectly integrated into each combat scenario. Getting involved in a fight with a giant creature as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is an effective combination. I haven't personally felt this blown away by a soundtrack since "Mafia 3", but unlike that game the music here is integrated to boost the gameplay and becomes a necessary function to the experience as a whole.
It isn't always a flawless ride, as crashing, getting stuck in the environment and a few game breaking bugs remained a frustration throughout my playtime. In some of the more exciting moments, seeing these obstacles occur took me out of the experience and unfortunately marred some of the deep character arcs. I would surmise that by now a lot of these bugs have been worked out, but for a big budget release it's a flaw nonetheless.
Amazing action, gorgeous graphics, terrific characters and a soundtrack for the ages,"Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy" is a giant punctuation mark on this year of gaming. A true spectacle from start to finish, other than a few hiccups along the way, there's plenty of content for any gamer to appreciate. A can't miss experience that not only ranks as one of the best games this year but one of the best superhero video games ever made.
Comments
Post a Comment