Marvel’s Spider-Man kickstarted a strong new era of Marvel-based superhero games, but it still doesn’t quite compare to the underrated one-off that is 2021’s Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Insomniac Games has given gamers and comic book fans two great Spider-Man games. However, the web-slinging series has a few key downsides that keep it from hitting the same highs that Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy does.
Now that Insomniac has Marvel’s Wolverine on the way, I’ve been thinking about some of my favorite superhero games of the past decade, and I’m still convinced that Eidos-Montreal’s Guardians of the Galaxy game is still a hidden gem for a lot of superhero lovers. Both critics and fans gave it mostly solid reviews when it launched, but it hasn’t remained in the spotlight the same way that the Marvel’s Spider-Man series has over the years for some reason. It could be the lack of a sequel holding it back, but I’m here to spread the word that Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy deserves to be the most talked about superhero game of the 2020s.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Is Great, But Guardians of the Galaxy’s Linear World Makes for a Stronger Story
I’m not opposed to open-world games, but there are plenty out there that feel as though the open-ended exploration overstays its welcome. Not every title can capture the open-world magic of games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3. I enjoy most of Marvel’s Spider-Man and its sequel’s content, but there comes a point in both games where the side missions become more distracting than exciting.
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Also, pace-killing moments like the MJ quests and various puzzles bring the superhero fantasy to a quick halt. A Spider-Man game needs an open world, but Insomniac’s take on the trend eventually grows formulaic and overly repetitive instead of being something that inspires me to get lost in the Peter Parker and Miles Morales fantasy long-term.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy doesn’t have this kind of problem, though, because it’s a much tighter, linear narrative. Not only that, but the story is also incredibly well-written. Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s writing definitely isn’t bad, but a cast of characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy members presents a more compelling dynamic overall and doesn’t have to adhere to Peter Parker’s hyper-positive energy. That alone lends itself to a more layered story. Drax in particular gets handled incredibly well in this game, as the story allows him to be a much deeper character than he’s portrayed in the MCU.
The Way Guardians of the Galaxy Tackles Multiple Characters Is More Satisfying
Players only get to play as one character in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and that’s Star-Lord. When I first found this out before playing the game, I was pretty bummed, but it’s ultimately the right move. Just like the linear approach to the story, keeping the playable character confined to Star-Lord helps keep the game from becoming bloated.
I enjoy most of Marvel’s Spider-Man and its sequel’s content, but there comes a point in the game where the side missions become more distracting than exciting.
The Marvel’s Spider-Man games bounce back and forth between Peter and Miles, but it should have stuck with just the two instead of expanding the playable cast. The aforementioned MJ stealth missions are still incredibly divisive, and even though I didn’t necessarily mind them, I was always eager to get back to playing as Peter or Miles while in the middle of one of these missions. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 even flirted with letting players step into Venom’s shoes, but it’s an incredibly short-lived moment that should have taken the place of MJ’s sequences.
Even though Marvel’s Wolverine is going to be another Insomniac-made game, the developer is opting for a linear world instead of bringing back Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s open-world. A closed-off world design is a smart move on Insomniac’s part, because it’s better fitting for a character like Logan who is more grounded.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy‘s characters may not all be playable, but the way they are utilized still makes the crew feel incredibly dynamic and truly helpful, which can’t be said about every game with AI companions. The whole core gang is there, and while players control Star-Lord, crew members have to be commanded in order to chain special moves. It’s a fun combat system that makes it feel like you’re controlling other characters without experiencing the extra bloat of having to fully learn how to play as every single member.
Peter Quill’s Awesome Mix might be a creation of James Gunn during his time with the MCU, but great music has become an expected feature in modern Guardians of the Galaxy adaptations. The soundtrack is oozing with upbeat retro 70s and 80s nostalgia, and it takes an already great game to even wilder, over-the-top action movie heights. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy‘s music is the beating heart of the game’s entire world, turning every moment into an awesome cinematic experience.
Songs Featured in Guardians of the Galaxy’s Soundtrack
- “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley
- “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler
- “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
- “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar
- “Call Me” by Blondie
- “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
- “White Wedding” by Billy Idol
- “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
- “Take on Me” by a-ha
- “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!
Frankly, it’s one of the best game soundtracks of the decade so far. Just because it’s made up of already-existing licensed songs doesn’t make it any less valuable as an official soundtrack. It simply wouldn’t feel like a Guardians of the Galaxy story if it didn’t embrace the music-focused storytelling that James Gunn popularized.
If great storytelling, fun action sequences, and a fantastic high-energy soundtrack are some of your favorite things, then Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is a must-play. It’s a great game for superhero lovers, but it’s also a solid option for action adventure fans who love a fun story-driven experience. Even though Marvel’s Spider-Man is the most popular superhero game of this era, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is an unsung hero.
- Released
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October 26, 2021
- ESRB
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T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
