The 2D beat ’em up genre remains a straightforward yet enduring favorite in gaming, known for its simple premise of progressing through levels by defeating waves of enemies. Dotemu, a French publisher renowned for reviving classic arcade titles, continues this tradition with its upcoming game Marvel Cosmic Invasion, set to release later this year.
Following the formula established in Dotemu’s previous hits like Streets of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Marvel Cosmic Invasion features pixel-art visuals inspired by the 16-bit SNES era and classic side-scrolling gameplay. Players choose from 15 Marvel heroes and can team up with up to four players in co-op mode.
A notable addition is the ability for each player to select two characters, which can be switched in real time, allowing up to eight heroes to appear simultaneously. This tag-team mechanic, borrowed from fighting games like 1996’s X-Men vs. Street Fighter, adds strategic variety to the otherwise classic beat ’em up structure.
Players battle through linear levels, facing familiar enemies and bosses such as Beetle and Taskmaster. Each hero has unique light, heavy, dodge, block, and special moves powered by stamina. Combat spans two planes—the ground and air—since some characters and enemies can fly, adding complexity to the classic formula.
While the gameplay embraces retro simplicity, the Marvel license breathes life into the experience. The storyline centers on the villain Annihilus launching a cosmic invasion with threats including Thanos and Galactus. The roster blends iconic heroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, and Storm with lesser-known cosmic characters such as Phyla-Vell and Beta Ray Bill.
Among the diverse cast, Phyla-Vell stands out for her flight, teleportation, and sword attacks, excelling at handling threats on both planes. Nova offers speed and agility, while She-Hulk balances slower movement with powerful strikes. However, Rocket Raccoon’s ranged combat and limited aerial skills highlight some balance issues within the roster.
The dual-plane combat system can feel cumbersome, as airborne movement locks players into a single layer, limiting combo fluidity. Nevertheless, Marvel Cosmic Invasion shines during chaotic battles where players chain powerful combos, often reaching 500-hit streaks.
Levels are straightforward and linear, lacking exploration, collectibles, or alternative paths. While this keeps the experience focused and accessible, it provides less depth than similar modern beat ’em ups.
Overall, Marvel Cosmic Invasion offers a solid, accessible beat ’em up with the added appeal of Marvel characters and cosmic storylines. It caters to fans seeking easy-to-pick-up action featuring their favorite heroes, though it may not offer significant innovation beyond classic genre conventions.
The game launches later this year on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.