NetEase’s Marvel Super War is a MOBA game for people who love superheroes

It might be just another MOBA reskin, but massive Avengers team brawls are irresistable fun

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Josh Ye

Published: 5:00am, 28 Jan 2020Updated: 1:08pm, 15 Jun 2020

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Imagine yourself as Iron Man beaming repulsor rays at your enemies while the Hulk holds off the assault. That’s an experience you can finally have in a MOBA game thanks to NetEase’s new Marvel Super War.

The free-to-play game has so far launched in six countries in Southeast Asia and is also available in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

While the game might seem like just yet another reskin of a typical MOBA game, NetEase has really succeeded in applying the MOBA formula to the Marvel Universe. After all, who doesn’t want to be in a teamfight sparring with other superheroes?

The most important aspect of the game is that the roles and abilities of the characters make sense. The Hulk and the Thing are your rock-ripped tanks, Hawkeye and Star-Lord your nimble marksmen, Groot and Mantis your support, Black Panther and Black Widow your assassins sneaking out of the jungle for an unexpected kill. Nothing feels out of place, making it a very immersive experience.

When fighting as Iron Man against Storm, I first shot missiles. Then I used the electromagnetic shock to slow her down and finished her off with the unibeam. (Picture: NetEase)

It is a feat easier said than done. Tencent previously brought superheroes into a MOBA game by introducing DC characters to Arena of Valor, the international version of Honor of Kings. But the experience doesn’t translate as well. Each Justice League member sticks out like a sore thumb among a bunch of medieval knights and mages, who are the game’s original characters. Worse, the characters’ abilities in the game don’t feel reflective of their strengths and weaknesses as portrayed in the comics.

NetEase’s Super War is definitely a step-up from that. Not only do the graphics look great, with character designs true to form, the game also effectively leverages much of Marvel’s fascinating lore.