Gaming

The Marvel brand can’t save ‘Marvel Cosmic Invasion’ from being bland

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

I went against my better judgment

Hear me out for a sec. I was, in fact, curious about Marvel Cosmic Invasion back when they announced it. I was keeping an eye out for Dotemu throughout the entire 2025. They did publish bangers like ***Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and [Absolum](https://medium.com/@constantin.gcopywriting/absolum-1-1-stylish-brutal-simplistic-12ef379eca30)***, didn’t they?

I can’t say that the Marvel IP is not enticing either. After all, I grew up watching cartoons with all these heroes. I’m more or less up to date with the MCU. And unlike DC, which heavily relies on Batman and Superman to carry it, there’s a bit more codependency in this Universe. Sure, each hero gets their moment in the spotlight. But you can frequently see them interact and team up to kick some ass.

I will say that I’m partial to Wolverine thanks to Hugh Jackman’s performance throughout the years. The X-Men are a great representation of super-abled individuals who fight for a society that antagonizes them as mutants. And Loki has always been a cool villain/anti-hero in my eyes. Plus, Tom Hiddleston does a great job in portraying a God of Trickery who feels relatable and… human.

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

I decided to go for just 3 examples for the sake of not making this a crappy “Constantin loves Marvel!” section. But you get the point. This is an IP that offered me a lot as both a kid and an adult. Even though I question the way it’s headed (Don’t we all?).

Which brings me back to Marvel Cosmic Invasion, and why “I went against my better judgment”. The reason is simple: I couldn’t see the fun behind the game. It looked like a generic game that tries to milk the Marvel brand.

But when I got the offer to cover it due to their new DLC, I bit the bullet. I completed the game in about 14 hours. And now I’m here to tell you why it feels so… off.

Story

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

There’s not much going on in this department. I did a bit of research about the main antagonist, Annihilus, because I wasn’t familiar with him. All in all, the story is a simplified version of the Annihilation saga from the comics. Big bad alien bug lord tries to subjugate the universe. Heroes from all around the cosmos join forces to defeat him across 15 short chapters.

Most of the final bosses are characters mind-controlled by Annihilus’s bugs. Some of them are villains getting an extra power-up due to these bugs. Some of them are allies who get turned against their friends due to the whole brainwashing thing.

Actors’ Performance

Most of the actors are already household names in the industry. Many of them have been portraying their respective superheroes consistently throughout Marvel games and shows since the 2000s. If you’re really curious, you can check out the credits for the game and be mesmerized by how many A-listers like Steve Blum (who likely voiced your childhood), Jennifer Hale, or Matt Mercer are there.

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

And for good reason. They deliver that old-school feeling of watching a cartoon. Except that it’s a playable one, and you control your favorite heroes. Their characters encourage each other, make fun of each other, and have enough lines of dialogue so they don’t become repetitive.

If you wanna take a trip down memory lane, you’ll be happy to hear Cal Dodd clawing his way back as Wolverine. If the name doesn’t sound familiar, he’s the original actor from the 1992–1997 cartoon. He’s also been voicing him in the early Marvel games, as well as the more recent X-Men ’97.

Narrative Quality

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

Does this game have a story? Yes. But it’s there just to connect gameplay sequences. It’s not that I would expect a meaningful story from a beat ’em up in the first place — even though it can be done. I’m just managing your expectations.

You’ll meet a few familiar faces from the Marvel universe. You’ll fight your way through waves of baddies as some of your favorite heroes. And that’s about it.

You should also keep in mind that playing the campaign is how you unlock the entire roster.

Gameplay

Important Mechanics

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a game that really plays itself. Each character has normal attacks that can lead to an auto-attack chain if you keep pressing the button. You can also hit flying enemies while on the ground (For fighting games folks: You got a Dragon Punch, fellas). Double-tapping your walk button will make your character sprint (which is really what you want to do 99% of the time). And pressing the normal attack button while running results in — you guessed it — a running attack.

You have a unique attack for each character. Some characters can fly if you press the jump button twice. And you have access to an ultimate attack that consumes a part of your Focus bar. For context, Focus is a resource that you replenish by playing. Simple, right?

You control two heroes throughout each level, and you can tag them in and out freely. Your stand-by character can always intervene with assists if you press the tag button once. You can customize the assist action by pressing the tag button plus the offensive action of your choice (even ultimate attacks).

Are you into co-op? Then you can team up with 3 more people. You can either join public rooms or create/join private ones locked behind a password. Some achievements are also locked behind multiplayer.

What makes gameplay fun

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

The word that best describes Marvel Cosmic Invasion is “relaxed”. You can just have lots of fun by button-mashing your way through the game. You have plenty of healing items throughout the level to just take it chill.

You can also play as little or as much as you like. The campaign features one-shot missions that can be completed in 5–7 minutes without even trying. The Arcade Mode takes you through a combination of these levels until you meet the final boss. It also includes various modifiers, in case you desire to mindlessly trash everything. Or in case you want to be beaten so hard that you regret all your life decisions.

Besides unlocking new heroes, the campaign also awards you Cosmic Cubes. You get them by completing side objectives and by finding them hidden throughout each mission. This currency allows you to unlock new outfits, music, or files about characters present in the game. You never know what you get until you unlock the reward — unless you go online and check one of the many reward guides.

What makes gameplay less fun

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

The replayability factor drags this game into the depths of Helheim. Even with all the efforts they took to spice things up in the Arcade Mode, it’s just a repetitive experience:

· There’s virtually no reason not to mash your way to victory.

· They have a leveling system for heroes that only adds one passive ability, with the rest of the rewards being extra HP and increased Focus gain.

· The variety of enemies between regions is lacking.

· Achievements are mainly tied to “Doing X action for Y number of times with character Z”.

· The community is barely active, even after a DLC drop.

Ultimately, there’s not much… game to play. Even with a current roster of 18 heroes, there’s only so much that you can squeeze out of the gameplay.

Art & Audio

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

The initial surprise in these departments is very pleasant. I mentioned this before, but the game looks like a playable cartoon from back in the ’90s. You can even add CRT filters for that retro feeling.

· The pixel art and animation are nice and smooth all around.

· There’s a good sense of impactful animation and support from the audio side to make every attack feel great.

· Each level is not only designed based on iconic locations from the Marvel universe… but it also has unique and lovely background art.

· All the bosses feel unique and fun to fight.

· The soundtrack is inspired by your favorite childhood Marvel shows.

You really can’t ask for more from the first impression. But I’ve used words like “initial surprise” and “first impression” veeery deliberately here. Taken on their own, the art and audio are amazing. What drags them down is the repetitive gameplay. You can only fight so many Sentinels on Genosha until you get tired of them. You can only murder so many Symbiotes on Klyntar before it gets dull.

These amazing visuals could’ve been used to support the gameplay and make an amazing combination. Yet the gameplay forces them to try to save face for the game.

Final Verdict

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

Who is this for?

If you love the Marvel universe with all your heart and might. If beating up villains and their minions using your favorite Marvel superheroes is all you’ve ever dreamed of. If you enjoy a game that lets you take it easy or makes you bite your nails, depending on how you adjust it. If you like a game that you can pick up after a long day, finish a few runs in minutes, then call it a night. And if you have a couple of friends who wanna join you for the ride. I think that Marvel Cosmic Invasion will satisfy you.

Who isn’t this for?

If you expect meaningful storytelling. If you expect a game that challenges you with engaging gameplay systems. If you want a game with a lot of replayability. And if you expect meaningful combat, not just button-mashing. Then Marvel Cosmic Invasion might not be what you’re looking for.

Was it worth to 100%?

The main aspect that made Marvel Cosmic Invasion worth completing was that it was short. I got in. Got my fun for a couple of hours. Then bailed out. I had fun playing with the cast while it lasted. And by the time it started to get boring and empty, I had already achieved everything that I could.

I want to say ”Yes, it was worth it”. But only because I quickly realized when the game stopped having something to offer.

Price & Platforms

Credit: MARVEL Game Software, Dotemu, Tribute Games

You can get your hands on the game on all the major platforms: **Steam, [PS 4 & 5](https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10012545), Switch 1 & 2, and [Xbox](https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/marvel-cosmic-invasion/9n79tqtztqq4)**. The base price is $29.99 across the board. If you’re a fan of subscriptions, it’s also coming with the Ultimate Game Pass or GeForce NOW. You can also pay the extra $3.99 if you want to play as Cyclops or The Thing.

The base game has already been discounted a few times to $19.49 on Steam, as well as $22.49 on all the other platforms. But if you consider the average **completion time of 11 hours** and how empty it feels, I wouldn’t advise you to get it for more than $10–12. Unless you absolutely need to own everything Marvel in your life, you’ll be just fine waiting for a deeper discount. There are plenty of new beat ’em ups to fulfill your desire to… well, beat something up.

Thanks a bunch for reading. If you’re the developer and would like insight into the more subtle details and nuances, you can reach out to me on **LinkedIn or via [email](mailto:constantin.gcopywriting@gmail.com)**.

Take care. And see you soon with another review.