Review: Guardians of the Galaxy
This is a must-play game for Guardians of the Galaxy lovers.
Given the state of comic book movies now, it’s easy to forget that comic book adaptations were almost probably anticipated to be mediocre. The Marvel Cinematic Universe aided in changing that tendency for films, and Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest example that it has now altered for video games as well.
The manner in which Guardians of the Galaxy captures the mood that made the films so engaging is the film’s finest triumph. Yes, it takes some getting used to the varied voices and faces, but the production team at Eidos-Montreal has taken the personas established in the MCU and put them in a game that is so realistic that it could pass for an actual Guardians movie.
Guardians of the Galaxy is the best MCU game to date since it’s enjoyable, has a fascinating storey, and has an amazing music.
Guardians of the Galaxy is a fascinating blend of the movie and comic book characters we’ve come to know and love. It’s essentially a recreation of the first storey arc featured in the original 2008 comic.
That makes it easier for individuals who are unfamiliar with the comic to transition into a realm that is distinct from the MCU. Last year’s Marvel Avengers game failed due of a lack of connection to the movies, but the same mistake was not repeated here. The underlying notion of the Guardians being a family of outcasts is perfectly carried over from the movies to the game.
While Star-new Lord’s appearance and voice take some getting accustomed to, you forgive it because the characters are so well-known and endearing. Drax takes everything literally, Rocket is a jerk, Gamora is a badass with issues thanks to Thanos, her adopted father, and Star-Lord is the adorable dummy who brings the squad together. Groot still simply says “I am Groot,” but this version offers numerous varied delivery options and a hearty chuckle when appropriate.
I laughed a lot while playing Guardians of the Galaxy. The squad members are constantly arguing with one another, whether in or out of battle. These brief exchanges begin with observations that quickly escalate into insults and bizarre reactions. At times, I’d just put the controller down and let the Guardians converse to each other. At first, the volume of talk seemed virtually limitless.
Guardians is comparable to other action games in its gameplay. You play as Star-Lord, whose Elemental Guns have conventional fire and elemental attacks that unlock as the game progresses. He can also melee adversaries, allowing him to use a combination of the three attacks to do massive damage when fighting them.
The other Guardians participate in the combat, but Star-Lord can summon them to perform special moves, like as Drax’s charge, which throws adversaries into the air. Each move deals varied amounts of damage and stagger to an enemy, and the character can also knock down or manage the crowd. Abilities have their own cool downs, but if you time it properly, you can pull off some enormous combinations.
The soundtrack is one of my favourite aspects of the film. It’s jam-packed with ’80s hits. Some of my favourites include Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero, Billy Idol’s White Wedding, and Scandal’s The Warrior featuring Patty Smith. This is the best music for any video game from the 1980s.
However, the music isn’t as well implemented as it could be. During battles, the team gains motivation and might huddle together. It’s up to Star-Lord to pick what kind of motivation he’ll offer the squad; choose the right one, and everyone heals and can perform several special attacks. This is designed to cause a needle drop and a random ’80s song to play, pumping up the player. That is simply not how it works.
The music loudness is modest in proportion to the speech and effects — a good needle drop rocks you and, ideally, brings everything else out, not the other way around. Also, because these recordings begin from the beginning, some songs take a few seconds to begin and even longer to get to the hook. Finally, there are a few music that just don’t get you going. I’m not in the mood to beat up bad dudes when Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry Be Happy or Culture Club’s I’ll Tumble For You begins playing. I’ll admit that it’s a touch amusing when Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up comes on.
This game’s soundtrack was not the only element that was poorly done.
The most serious problem with Guardians is a lack of high-quality bosses. The greatest comic book game franchises, Batman Arkham and Marvel’s Spider-Man, offer memorable boss fights because those two comic book heroes have a plethora of compelling foes. Who are the Guardians? Not at all. Thanos is apparently dead in this timeline, hence the main antagonist is no longer present. The ones you fight in the game aren’t particularly memorable. With a few instances, beating the bosses provides little satisfaction.
During my playing of Guardians of the Galaxy, I noticed a lot of graphic and physics flaws. I’ve become caught in walls, had display messages overlay, and even had Star-head Lord’s vanish for a little while.
And, while I enjoy the ongoing arguing between characters, there appears to be some repetition later in the game. Dialogue that was so enjoyable at the outset of a fight began to annoy in certain places near the end of the game.
Also, why is there so much sliding throughout the game? Every chapter, the squad is forced to descend to a new place for some reason. It’s most likely a method for developers to create seamless transitions without loading, but there are so many of them. What became of the nice old-fashioned door?
Guardians of the Galaxy is not my favourite comic book game, but it is my favourite MCU game. It has flaws, but it has charm, and I want to see more of this cast in future sequels. This method of making the characters more like their movie counterparts is something that developers should consider in the future when creating comic book games.
Guardians of the Galaxy will be available for $59.99 on October 26 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series platforms. It will also be available for the Nintendo Switch for the same price via Switch Cloud Gaming.