Remember the Avengers game? Man, what a bad impression that one left. This game felt like a plan B for Marvel in case that Avenger's game foiled really hard. And I am thankfully to say this one didn't. Guardians of the Galaxy video game is tons of fun, for it takes the best of what made story focused action-adventure games really popular in the first place.
Guardians is a celebratory game for everything that Marvel has done for the GotG comic book series. Both old and the new, and puts them in this highly engrossing package. There's no short of laughter in the madness of these galactic rascals. And you get to see them progress into better teammates the further the game goes.
It's not a perfect game, but I started to care less of its flaws, because the characters are great, and the writing is rich. Enjoying the moments of constant levity and total anarchy that we ensue.
Within the first few minutes, the game didn't waste time to introduce to these colorful characters, although they are despondent and distrustful of one another, the only team leader holding them together was the game's very own Peter Quill, the playable character of the game.
First few minutes of exploring this large space debris all attached together by this red crystallized goo, both Rocket and Peter had a bet on who was scoring more on a target practice, this bet kept me anxious as I had to look around across all dimensions to find them, Rocket wasn't above cheating either. But nonetheless, I won in the end.
This was also the part where the game introduces you into its world and just gives you the good gist of what you should be expecting. You and your teammates aren't in favor of being space trotters, but when there's money to be made, it's gotta be.
Guardians suck you in first into its environmental storytelling, while in the background the characters banter at each other like the usual, until the game directors decides to take you inside a ship in the next chapter and this is where the interactions between characters start being more prominent.
If you've watched James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy movies, these guys aren't much different, although Peter here is less of a pipsqueak than his film counterpart. But it's obvious by the way they talk that they have serious issues they need to resolve in order for the team to truly stand together against some of the scariest threats out there. This even includes having something to do with the soul stone.
In 2020, Marvel's Avengers came out and was a pretty lackluster game. This game doesn't completely remove that stench, but I can reaffirm that it is a cut above that game in many respective ways. The goofy and sporadic energy of these guys will keep you engage, the dialogues goes so fast even when you're running around, you'd wish you didn't miss out the commotion.
The main story is pretty linear, but you make choices that affect how the characters in the game become part of it. Like if you despise Rocket way too many times, he'll be less inclined to help even towards the end. Other choices as well, like saving Peter's friend Cosmos, who plays a big factor in saving the galaxy later on. Similar to how Telltale games work.
There are times I would think the character design look better than the James Gunn films, this probably has so much to do with the fact that the game takes you on this long journey to save the galaxy, and you see these group of misfits grow, despite being crazy lunatics. Made me laugh with them more times than I could count. This game was as good as Spider-Man, just a step below though, and that's probably because of the gameplay.
The best way to describe the gameplay is that, it is very hurky jerky. As in, you spam fire, and abilities, both yours and your gang, in unison to dish out as much damage to multiple enemies as possible. You unlock these abilities by receiving points after each battle. They have cooldowns, so you need to time them really well.
Peter is the only playable character here, and he is basically Tomb Raider in a space ranger suit. His dual blasters have 4 different elemental types that you unlock as the game progresses, they can freeze enemies, electrocute, etc. Works really well if you know your enemy's weakness in particular.
Some basic RPG stuff like finding components to enhance Peter's combat prowess. Although this part of the game and the ability progression is a bit broken, since I've unlocked all of it before finishing 80% of the game's story.
I would call most of this unrefined, but it was really fun to play this hero-based action adventure, as the abilities and perks you max out makes playing the game much more intense and fun. Enemies even get ridiculous at that point, and you just stop caring about game balance when you're having fun blasting foes with your frantic teammates.
I went all the way playing this title, honestly, this was the biggest surprise that Marvel threw at us last year. Sure, it kind of borrows some aspects of game design from Avengers, and it isn't perfect in that measure either. But I had fun, I was so engrossed with the characters, I wanted to keep going.
Also, the graphics and sound design, these are top tier production qualities compared to any video games, it looks drop-dead gorgeous, and sounds really bombastic at times.
And man, this game knows how to throw plot twists too, it really took the best from the storylines of the GotG comic book series. I had a great time, I loved these guys so much, I wanted to try out New Game Plus. Pretty amazing start for Marvel, without needing top tier talents like Insomniac as always. I am just glad Eidos Montreal made this. It shows they're ready to make great games again. Now to just split the studio and put the other team into other projects, say, like a third Deus Ex game we've been waiting for?