The team? A quarreling clique of misfits. The plan? Heavily improvised to non-existent. The soundtrack? Screeching metal, the bombast of Bonnie Tyler and the cowbells of ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’.
How do you translate the humor and irresistible personalities of sweet losers Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket and Drax, the heroes of the Guardians of the Galaxycomics and movies, to a big game? After the uninspired Marvel’s Avengers it seemed an impossible task for publisher Square Enix. But Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy from Square studio Eidos-Montréal succeeds brilliantly, thanks to a razor-sharp focus on what the game wants – and can – be.
First of all: this is not a continuation of the films, but an own creation that brings film and comic together. Earthly loser Star-Lord has just gathered a team with which he hopes to make some big bucks. The cold assassin Gamora, whose voice actor unfortunately can’t compete with the rest, the too-literal powerhouse Drax, the evil raccoon Rocket and the lovable tree creature Groot, can hardly stand each other. When a stupid mistake puts the entire universe in danger, they are forced to grow closer.
You play as Star-Lord, who can use the power of elements such as ice and fire during the wonderfully flowing battles with his pistols to sideline enemies. You control the other Guardians by asking them to do something for you. They help you in battle, but also if you have to climb higher to solve a puzzle, for example.
Bickering gang feels like family
Surprising for such a big game likes Guardians of the Galaxy fixed to a linear setup, in which you shoot from scene to scene, puzzle, and explore the environment. Character development is paramount. Even the collectibles you find along the way are mainly there as a direct reason to have a personal conversation with your Guardians. You can hear them chatting and bickering along the way. As a Star-Lord, you yourself influence the story through your behavior and dialogue choices – before you know it you feel personally involved in this chaotic gang that is slowly becoming family.
Only the pep talks Eternal Child Star-Lord can give to his team during battle don’t really work. They don’t connect well enough to what’s happening, and therefore feel generic in a game that’s all about the details. The fact that dialogues sometimes repeat themselves accidentally doesn’t help either.
Everything else just works. A magical walk through the black market is smoothly followed by a deep conversation about grief and a tense fight that ends in piss and puppy jokes. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is exactly the Marvel game we’ve been craving for years: a hilarious and loving adventure full of atmospheric action.
#works #lovingly #crafted #Marvels #Guardians #Galaxy