Marvels Rivals - welcome to the modern F2P

Marvel Rivals is one of those video games that makes me feel a little frustrated with myself, and the reason is that even though I know they're genuinely good, they have a level of mechanical complexity that reminds me that maybe I'm a little rusty as a gamer.

Released late last year, Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game for next-gen consoles and PC that, taking the same formula as 5v5 games like Overwatch or Team Fortress, takes the comic book company's most iconic characters and pits them against each other in closed scenarios.

Developed by NetEase Game, this is one of those titles that takes full advantage of its free-to-play format and creates an experience that can be enjoyed without having to pay real money, leaving the "premium" aspects relegated to cosmetic accessories or special skins.

Marvel Rivals has everything we've come to expect from a game of its kind: season passes with special missions and rewards, global ranking modes, and a diverse roster of characters for us to experiment with until we find the one that suits our skills and play style.

However, since my first playthrough, I've only struggled with its controls, not because they're bad, but because it seems my brain is no longer programmed to be efficient at handling so many attack and movement mechanics, and, honestly, I should stick with simpler things like Tetris or racing games.

The important thing is that despite how impossible it is for me to have a good game (and I have to perform miracles to get a couple of kills), Marvel Rivals is still a fun game with very pleasing graphics and the potential to grow exponentially over the years.

Gone are the days of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, where talking about a free-to-play game meant limited features and a limited budget. Games like Rivals demonstrate a radically different design philosophy that, inspired by modern classics like Fortnite, sees this market as an opportunity to become pillars of modern gaming.

Marvel Rivals is complex, and the love and effort behind it is evident. Controlling a character like Spiderman feels radically different from controlling ones like Iron Man or the Punisher, and most of the hero designs are brilliant and perfectly capture the essence of the characters they're adapting.

Although I've only managed to rack up a couple of wins, I want to keep experimenting with this game. Maybe I'll become decent and stop getting my ass kicked so much.