Starting Marvel Rivals is like jumping straight into the deep end of a pool. You start the game, pick a hero you’re excited about, and then suddenly there’s wall-running, air dashes, and combo systems to figure out all at once. It’s a lot to take in, especially in the first few hours. But after a week of playing, I have realized that Marvel Rivals isn’t easy and that’s exactly why it’s awesome.
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Your First Steps in Marvel Rivals
When you first play Marvel Rivals, you’ll notice that not every character is complex. If you’re just starting out, heroes like Hulk and The Punisher offer straightforward playstyles that let you focus on learning the game’s basics. Hulk’s gameplay revolves around simple but effective moves: jump in, smash things, and take hits. The Punisher plays like a standard shooter: point, shoot, and throw smoke grenades.
These characters give you room to learn the game’s movement and team mechanics without worrying about complex ability combinations. But try picking up someone like Iron Fist or Psylocke, and things will get trickier. Every attack needs to connect in a specific order. Miss the timing and combo, and you will feel like you don’t have enough damage – while it’s not true.
Movement Mechanics, Matches, and Training in Marvel Rivals
The movement system is your first challenge in Marvel Rivals. Wall-running feels slippery at first, and air dashes take practice to land where you want. Getting comfortable just moving around the map takes time as every hero has a different movement.
Jump into a match now, and you’ll likely see the difference between someone who’s learned these systems and someone who hasn’t. Newer players often spend more time respawning than fighting, which can feel discouraging when you just want to enjoy playing as your favorite hero.
Marvel Rivals has a training mode, and it help but ends up throwing too much at you too fast. Even though it explains basic mechanics well enough for simpler characters, it doesn’t do a great job of breaking down the more complex heroes. There’s a lot to remember, and it’s easy to feel lost even after completing all the training missions.
Is Marvel Rivals Difficulty Good or Bad?
So, is Marvel Rivals’ complexity a good thing or a bad thing? Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for. For me, the high skill ceiling means there’s always room to get better. Every time I land a perfect combo or pull off a well-timed team move, it feels earned because I know how much practice went into it, and it’s awesome. When I’m up against other skilled players, the matches turn into these intense, back-and-forth battles where every decision really counts.
But of course, there’s a catch. If you’re just a casual Marvel fan looking to jump in and have fun with your favorite characters, you might run into a bit of frustration. That said, I still think it’s worth it because the game is pretty fun overall. On the other side, if you want to play competitively, there’s so much to learn about: matchups, team builds, map strategies, and it can definitely feel a bit overwhelming at times.
Getting better at Marvel Rivals definitely takes dedication. Starting with simpler characters helps. It lets you focus on learning the core mechanics without worrying about the complex ability combos. Once you are comfortable, you can start tackling the more complex heroes. The roster right now has a decent mix of characters, but I think maybe adding a clearer difficulty rating for each one would help players pick the right hero when they’re just starting out.
Will Players Stick Around?
The real question is whether enough players will stick around through the practice process in Marvel Rivals. The game has solid mechanics and rewarding gameplay, but its success depends on finding the right balance between challenge and accessibility. With Marvel’s huge fanbase, regular free cosmetics giveaways, fun events, and battle pass that don’t expire, I think there’s plenty of reason to keep playing, even when the learning curve is tough.
If you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll find a deep and satisfying game beneath the tough exterior. Just remember, everyone starting now is going through the same learning process. Take it step by step, and the complexity that feels overwhelming at first might end up being the thing that keeps you hooked. You can always learn at your own pace without worrying about falling behind.
