Tag: Marvel’s Midnight Suns

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MARVEL’S MIDNIGHT SUNS [Preview] – Suns of (Magical) Anarchy!

Felipe Crespo

WELCOME!!! I know, it’s been a minute. Many minutes. A few things transpired here and there, but let’s talk about December 2nd… Many moons ago, ya boy reviewed XCOM 2 for the Xbox One and absolutely loved it. Firaxis turned me into a huge fan of theirs with the first game, XCOM: Enemy Unknown (and its “1.5” follow up, Enemy Within). This is thing “A” that I love.

Thing “B” is Marvel. Just like millions, I’m a massive Marvel geek. The comics, PS5 Spidey, the movies, the shows, the meh Marvel’s Avengers game, and even some of the shitty mobile games drip feed it all into my veins. Disney…

I mention this because the gaming gods and Firaxis are combining A and B to give us Marvel’s Midnight Suns. A card-based strategy game where you take a 3-person squad up against FORCES MOST FOUL!

Too much?

The game borrows elements from roguelike card strategy stalwarts like Slay the Spire and Monster Train in that you can collect and edit different cards and decks for each character. From there, they can be upgraded as you level up and re-rolled at the forge. You’ll be able to create different decks for different situations, which I can greatly appreciate considering that the developers have confirmed New Game+ and a staggering 8 difficulty levels. It’s also been revealed recently that some mid-level bosses (Crossbones and Sabretooth confirmed so far) can just show up unexpectedly… That shouldn’t be stressful at all.

Also, my nerdy ass will absolutely be making different “armor decks” for Iron Man.

The actual mission layouts will be very familiar to XCOM fans, though movement is a lot less restricted. Gone is the square grid movement that’s so prevalent in the strategy genre. I’m also hoping they’re bringing their knack for ruthless enemy AI at the higher difficulty levels.

An interesting aspect to the game that Firaxis has added is relationship building. In between missions, you get to further your bonds with certain teammates. Spar with Blade, hang out with Nico, study with Dr. Strange; you get the idea. Doing so will level up cards, unlock new perks, mods, etc. You won’t be able to do so with everyone, so you’ll want to put some thought into who you like to use and your team compositions.

In addition to growing closer to your team, you should use the downtime to explore the Abbey (your HQ, not the one in Downtown). Doing so will reward you with lore pieces, certain unlocks, mission items, and Easter eggs. We nerds sure do love our Easter eggs.

I still haven’t mentioned who the Midnight Suns are, have I? Well, you’ve got : Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, Dr. Strange, Sister Grimm, Magik, Scarlett Witch, Ghost Rider, and Blade.

There’s also The Hunter, an original hero (the protagonist) that you get to model after yourself. Or Roman Reigns, Conan O’Brien, Billie Eilish, Zendaya? I don’t know. Do you.

DLC will bring an additional four heroes. Each with their own story: Venom, Morbius, Deadpool, and Storm.

As excited as I am, it feels odd to not point out a concern or something that I’m not feeling great about, but thankfully it’s not a lot and one is just visual:

– The actual Midnight Suns team costumes? Kinda hate them. Most of the black and gold getups look gaudy and weird. Highly doubt I’ll touch them all.

– Haven’t seen terrain elevation differences in any of the gameplay footage I’ve seen…at all. I love card roguelikes, so I’m sure I’ll still love it; but as an XCOM guy, it’s a weird thing to see.

– No Moon Knight? Are you serious? For the love of Konshu…

Hope this helps you decide if you want to check it out! One more thing, though. There’s one unannounced hero that’s unlocked after you beat the game… Keep scrolling down to find out who it is, since it’s been leaked (of course).

You sure? SNIKT!

How about we BLAZE it up?

They actually let the monstrous, green cat out of the bag on Twitter this Tuesday… After you beat the game, you get Big Green himself. Thankfully you won’t have to use him with this look.

-Felipe Crespo

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MARVEL’S MIDNIGHT SUNS [Preview]: Unleashes a New Generation of Tactics & Storytelling.

2K and Marvel Entertainment unveiled the world premiere of Marvel’s Midnight Suns gameplay, giving a thrilling first look at the game’s genre-defining tactical combat and a new side to legendary Marvel heroes as players experience an unforgettable adventure that dives deep into the darker side of Marvel.

In Marvel’s Midnight Suns, players take on the role of the Hunter – the first customizable original hero in the Marvel Universe, brought back to life from a centuries-long sleep to lead the Midnight Suns, with heroes spanning across the Avengers, X-Men, Runaways, and more. Forced to unite in opposition to Lilith, Mother of Demons and parent to the Hunter, the Midnight Suns must rise up against the darkness in the face of fallen allies and with the fate of the world at stake.

“We’re thrilled to work with Marvel to create Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Not only is this a sensational, original direction for Firaxis, we also have a rewarding partnership with Marvel in telling new stories in their world.” said Steve Martin, Studio President at Firaxis Games.

As the Hunter, each day in Marvel’s Midnight Suns starts off in the Abbey, the last safe haven from Lilith’s demonic influence and the player’s very own secret mystical base. Players will move freely throughout the Abbey from a third-person “over-the-shoulder” perspective and greet their fellow heroes before embarking on missions.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns features a new engaging and deeply customizable battle system that rewards clever thinking with Super Hero flair. In Marvel’s Midnight Suns, players select up to three heroes to bring into combat and all hero abilities are represented through cards. Each hero, including the Hunter, has a unique set of cards that can be arranged and customized to tailor that character to the player’s preference and playstyle. In addition to cards, players will also be able to utilize their environments as they shove, leap, and smash their way to victory.

“In Marvel’s Midnight Suns, you aren’t learning how to fight or gradually grow stronger – you and your fellow heroes are already legends, and must combine everything in your arsenal to stop Lilith,” said Jake Solomon, Creative Director at Firaxis. “Cards provide a new and refreshing way to approach tactics, allowing us to really go all-out in designing a combat system that makes every hero feel, look, and play differently.

After completing missions, players return to the Abbey where they’ll develop relationships and strengthen their personal bonds off the battlefield with some of Marvel’s most beloved heroes, such as Iron Man, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, and more. As the Hunter, players will get to see heroes in a new light and unlock additional abilities as they increase their Friendship through a variety of activities, such as getting to know heroes better through dialogue options, Hangouts, gift giving and more.

“At Marvel, we’re always looking to bring new and fresh experiences to our fans and know people have wanted to ‘hang out’ with their favorite Marvel heroes for a long time,” said Bill Rosemann, Vice President of Creative at Marvel Games. “That’s finally possible in Marvel’s Midnight Suns. We couldn’t be happier with the way 2K and Firaxis are bringing the mystical and darker stories from the Marvel universe to the forefront.”

“It was incredibly important to us to build something the gaming world has never seen before,” stated Garth DeAngelis, Senior Franchise Producer at Firaxis Games. “In Marvel’s Midnight Suns, you aren’t just saving the world with heroic combat – you’re living alongside and befriending Marvel legends, engaging in an incredibly deep story, all the while making interesting decisions befitting of timeless Firaxis gameplay.”

Added Chad Rocco, Director of Narrative at Firaxis Games: “With all these heroes from across the Avengers, X-Men, Runaways, and more – this is a particularly interesting and diverse group of heroes who don’t always see eye-to-eye. As the Hunter, it will be up to you to help bridge the gap between the old guard and the new kids on the block.”

Following today’s initial unveil of gameplay, Firaxis will be sharing a closer look at combat via gameplay stream on September 7. Viewers can tune in to www.midnightsuns.com at 11:30 a.m. PT on Tuesday, September 7.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns will launch in March 2022 and will be available on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo™ Switch and Windows PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.