Alright, so I’m diving into Marvel Rivals again. Seems like Phoenix finally got added to the mix, and yeah, that means maybe – just maybe – I’ll put Overwatch 2 on pause. But don’t get me wrong; it’s not ’cause I’m some Phoenix superfan. Honestly, before she popped up in season 3, my “knowledge” about her only came from a quick Wikipedia surf and something from her trailer. But hey, she moves like, well, normal? I’m talking human movement here, or mutant, whatever. Either way, that was refreshing ’cause Rivals never really nailed that before.
When the game launched in December 2024 – which somehow feels both yesterday and a million years ago – people on Reddit couldn’t stop complaining about how slow everything felt. They’d say it’s like moving in, I dunno, syrup or something. Some claimed it’s all a perspective illusion – like, because Overwatch is first-person, it just seems faster. I sided with the syrup folks. The slowness really started to bug me, and over time, I drifted away from the game.
But then Overwatch 2 got this third-person Stadium mode. Curious, I’d say. Phoenix seemed quicker, and it pulled me back in to check Rivals once more. Turns out, I was kinda right – in a roundabout way.
Both games have practice arenas with little distance markers for checking damage ranges. Perfect for a speed test, right? Tried it, and guess what? Rivals characters take just a teeny bit longer to move five meters compared to Overwatch folks. But, here’s the kicker – Rivals’ “meters” measure a tad differently. Five meters in Rivals is about, what, 11.5 inches compared to 10 inches in Overwatch? Yeah, it’s weird.
So, you’re probably thinking, “Why should I care?” Here’s the thing — Rivals characters aren’t slower; they’re just, uh, stylishly different. It’s not about speed. It’s about flair.
Take Cloak and Dagger, or Namor, or Spidey. They move like they’re trying out for Baywatch, all dramatic and grand. Every attack has these dramatic pauses unless you’re Iron Fist – Mr. Speedy Pants. Most other characters have this kinda toned-down vibe. Winter Soldier’s gun? Sounds like he’s firing a toy, and Scarlet Witch’s life-sucking move? Meh. It’s elegant, sure, but where’s the pizzazz?
Phoenix? Now she shakes things up. Her attacks “whoosh” with these fiery pops every third hit. There’s a bigger boom with her other skill. And she zips around in this fiery-bird form. Oh, and her mobility skill doesn’t have a year-long cooldown. When she dodges, it’s with purpose, not laziness. She’s got this urgency in her moves that just feels right. Even if movement-wise, she’s in line with the others – hello, Cloak and Dagger!
So yeah, finally, Rivals is blending style with some snappy function. Phoenix feels like she’s got the moves and the groove. Not massively different, but her battles? They’ve got that zing that keeps things exciting. That works for me.
