Card-Based Marvel's Midnight Suns - Marvel universe card-based tactical RPG from Firaxis

[Bigg Boss]

They wanted to check every single block so dating, cards, hub place to upgrade, full story mode you can watch on youtube without playing, etc

 

[LizardWizard]

Yeah, at first the card system made me totally uninterested in the game.

But it is surprisingly well implemented in the combat system for this game.

I agree with this, but at the same time it still would have been better with a normal RPG system with some good build porn. I'd really like an X-Men game like that where you can create your own mutant.

3 man squad, no z-axis or real destructibles (aside from the obvious highlighted click me barrel garbage) is pure fucking decline. Wasn't expecting much from Nu-com devs, but these battle maps are laughable, basic boring shit. If they just expanded on what they built in Xcom 2 and went full on destructible terrain ala Silent Storm game could have been amazing.

What we got is a glorified skinner marvel box dating simulator. I mean the concurrent player numbers are lower than a 7 year old Xcom 2, they're clearly banking on making up the difference by pumping micro transactions to low-impulse idiots.

There are no microtransactions or RMT in it at all.

Their longterm monetization goal is clearly peddling skins to casuals. Also Denuvo, 'in-game currency'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1712442/Doctor_Strange_Defenders_Skin/

 

[Zeriel]

I was gifted the game despite having no interest in it, and… I actually really like it? The friend management shit is definitely cringe, and it’s a major mercy that Marvel apparently wouldn’t let Firaxis do romances, but the gameplay is really fun. Combat is great, and I don’t mind the abbey exploration stuff as it’s fairly minimal and makes for a nice break.

The writing of the game really does have a lot of unforced errors though. It’s baffling that they didn’t go for a concept with more mainstream appeal (an X-Men game set at the X-Mansion is the most screamingly obvious fit for this gameplay mash-up) and instead went for Nico Minoru, Ghost Rider, and Blade, none of whom are exactly A-list characters. Then they run into the problem of having to bend over backwards to explain why these characters are working with a bunch of Avengers, and the pretext by which they try to justify Spider-Man’s presence on the roster is just ludicrous and makes no goddamn sense. He’s very clearly just there to sell copies.

The plot is also really boring. I have read a lot of Marvel comics in my life, and this story is easily one of the blandest to come out of the franchise.

But yeah. It’s fun. I will complete it and play the DLC at some point. People who like card battlers will really enjoy the combat.

And it is a shame that the marketing and concept were so lackluster on this project, because it’s a genuinely unique game that does interesting things.

Blade and friends were greenlit 3 years ago because they were planning a movie for him and ghost rider and they are happy to sacrifice secondary product sales on the alter of the cinematic universe for extra movie tickets.

If that’s true (which I’m not sure it is) then they still royally fucked up. Blade is mostly written as an edgy pre-teen who is too nervous to talk to girls, BUT ALSO IS STILL A TOTAL BADASS WITH A GRAVELLY VOICE.

Ghost Rider is just… not really a character? He’s a vaguely edgy greaser and he REALLY LOVES HIS AUTISTIC BROTHER WHO BY THE WAY IS AUTISTIC AND DID YOU KNOW THAT HIS BROTHER IS AUTISTIC AND EVEN THOUGH HIS BROTHER IS AUTISTIC HIS BROTHER IS ALSO REALLY SMART AND AMAZING AND REALLY FUN?!


It’s shitty plotting/world-building, and it doesn’t work at all in the game they built.

Again, I like the game a lot, but honestly the only characters in the game that I would say are even competently written are Magik, Cap, and maaaaayyyybeeee Nico.

All of this is hilarious considering how badass both Blade & Ghostrider were in their own films. Hell, Ghostrider was even sort of cool in the dumb Mexican spinoff version he had in the Marvel TV show. That they managed to take the cool away from those characters is an amazing accomplishment in fuckupery.

 

[J1M]

They did a

Yeah, at first the card system made me totally uninterested in the game.

But it is surprisingly well implemented in the combat system for this game.

I agree with this, but at the same time it still would have been better with a normal RPG system with some good build porn. I'd really like an X-Men game like that where you can create your own mutant.

Yeah I was kind of bummed that there wasn't more customization for Hunter. I mean, I'm okay with what they did and more or less get it, but I was hoping for something like basic classes or something, e.g. Blaster, Brawler, Ninja/Acrobat, whatever.

There are 3 choices:
-Light side that heals and cycles cards
-Dark side that stuns and does big hits
-Power side aka some minor benefits for those that couldn't commit to one of the two options

 

[lycanwarrior]

https://boundingintocomics.com/2023...ns-fails-to-make-sales-impact-in-first-month/

1: Make game nobody asked for
2: Include extremely lackluster character creation that doesn't even let you play as a girl to avoid insulting a crazy super minority
3: ???
4: Profit.

I don't have an issue with them trying something a bit risky. Especially these days where every AAA game is either an "action RPG", remake, etc.

I wouldn’t call this game a risk, at least on paper. It seems like a JRPG homage of sorts. The relationship stuff seems to be drawing on Persona and Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which post Persona 5 Royal isn’t really a risky idea anymore. The card aspect seems like it was them trying to hedge their bets with a nothing thing people seem to be into.

It seems so not a risk on paper that’s it’s actually kind of astonishing to see how they fucked things up, and ended up fucking themselves in the process. Like this is aesthetically an ugly fucking game. It looks like an Xbox 360 era Xbox Live game that got HD textures. Visually it looks more like a discount game than that Hi Fi Rush game Tango just put out for thirty bucks. The game runs like shit despite looking like shit. And they completely fucked up the whole Personaish friend stuff with crappy writing.

Yeah, at first the card system made me totally uninterested in the game.

But it is surprisingly well implemented in the combat system for this game.

I agree with this, but at the same time it still would have been better with a normal RPG system with some good build porn. I'd really like an X-Men game like that where you can create your own mutant.

Yeah I was kind of bummed that there wasn't more customization for Hunter. I mean, I'm okay with what they did and more or less get it, but I was hoping for something like basic classes or something, e.g. Blaster, Brawler, Ninja/Acrobat, whatever.

The Hunter seems so badly implemented it’s weird that’s even the route they took. My guess would be the Hunter is there mostly because they thought they needed a player character to make the relationship stuff work, but that could’ve easily been done with no real player character, and the player just having whichever Marvel characters hangout.

Yeah I agree that the card system seemed something that would appear more to 'casuals.'

The way the card system is implemented in this game doesn't feel radically different from X-com turn-based battle mechanics.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Yeah I agree that the card system seemed something that would appear more to 'casuals.'

The way the card system is implemented in this game doesn't feel radically different from X-com turn-based battle mechanics.

I like that the card mechanics make it so you can't just spam your best abilities without using a resource mechanic (not counting heroism) or cool downs. It can also give you some minor reason to consider deckbuilding and the draw/redraw mechanics. All in all, I like that.

I kind of wonder though, if the card mechanics and their randomness is part of the reason they didn't introduce more interesting environments though (besides drops, walls, and environmental attacks) like I was saying before: height differences, flying, etc. because it kinda-sorta simulates some of the variation in terrain, just in a less tactical and less interesting way. I'd have liked to have seen both, so you could, for instance, have Spiderman web swing down on a guy from the side of a building or need to use ranged options (cards or environmentals) to hit a flying enemy, etc.

 

[lycanwarrior]

Yeah I agree that the card system seemed something that would appear more to 'casuals.'

The way the card system is implemented in this game doesn't feel radically different from X-com turn-based battle mechanics.

I like that the card mechanics make it so you can't just spam your best abilities without using a resource mechanic (not counting heroism) or cool downs. It can also give you some minor reason to consider deckbuilding and the draw/redraw mechanics. All in all, I like that.

I kind of wonder though, if the card mechanics and their randomness is part of the reason they didn't introduce more interesting environments though (besides drops, walls, and environmental attacks) like I was saying before: height differences, flying, etc. because it kinda-sorta simulates some of the variation in terrain, just in a less tactical and less interesting way. I'd have liked to have seen both, so you could, for instance, have Spiderman web swing down on a guy from the side of a building or need to use ranged options (cards or environmentals) to hit a flying enemy, etc.

In terms of the small scaled-down environments, it is likely due to budget restraints IMO. Especially considering this is turn-based strategy/RPG game that wasn't going to do blockbuster numbers.

 

[mediocrepoet]

In terms of the small scaled-down environments, it is likely due to budget restraints IMO. Especially considering this is turn-based strategy/RPG game that wasn't going to do blockbuster numbers.

Yeah, quite possibly. I'm okay with what they delivered, but it could've been better. They probably realize that too, but I can't imagine the licensing fees for something like this are cheap.

Tbh, I'm pretty impressed that they delivered what sane people want: single player, complete game, no real microtransactions, premium real money currency crap, etc. Yes, they have all the cosmetics and such that you can add on, and a few DLC characters, but it's a complete experience and you don't need any of that unless you really like a particular look/character... and there's a lot to unlock even without any of it. Contrast that with shit like anything Squenix has been doing lately, in particular, The Avengers game that's being abandoned later this year.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Well, I did my part and bought it a couple days ago during the deep sale, but I've yet to find the mood to dive into it.

 

[Assisted Living Godzilla]

If they were smart they’d release some Cel Shading patch so the game doesn’t look so generic and shit. They can’t really do anything about the writing, but they could make the game look better pretty easily.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

Now just imagine this was named properly as it should have been - Midnight Sons, there was no woke garbage and book club shit...

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

It would still be shit...?

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Christ I already sank nearly 20 hours into the game and haven't even started with the 2nd Story mission. This game is very addictive.

Also, how can I make Magik laugh/smile, or will she be a forever a stone-cold Russian bitch?

 

[mediocrepoet]

Christ I already sank nearly 20 hours into the game and haven't even started with the 2nd Story mission. This game is very addictive.

Also, how can I make Magik laugh/smile, or will she be a forever a stone-cold Russian bitch?

Tap in to your inner darkness and be direct. She's into that.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Christ I already sank nearly 20 hours into the game and haven't even started with the 2nd Story mission. This game is very addictive.

Also, how can I make Magik laugh/smile, or will she be a forever a stone-cold Russian bitch?

Tap in to your inner darkness and be direct. She's into that.

Yeah, I thought so. Russkies are direct as fuck. Too bad I'm opting for a Light Power play. But we are big friends nonetheless.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Christ I already sank nearly 20 hours into the game and haven't even started with the 2nd Story mission. This game is very addictive.

Also, how can I make Magik laugh/smile, or will she be a forever a stone-cold Russian bitch?

Tap in to your inner darkness and be direct. She's into that.

Yeah, I thought so. Russkies are direct as fuck. Too bad I'm opting for a Light Power play. But we are big friends nonetheless.

She's my BFF. Too bad this wasn't a Bioware game, would've angled for the Magik - Scarlet Witch three way.

On another note, I made my guy with the long pony tail and stubble. He looks like young John Romero on 'roids. I think it's hilarious, especially with the I'm gonna make you my WITCH! t-shirt.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Doubters can play the game for free over the next two days.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Also, I believe there must be an achievement bug. Got Achievement Unlocked: My Best Girl after hanging out with Magik too much, but I believe it was meant for coddling my Charlie girl.

 

[Cyberarmy]

Doubters can play the game for free over the next two days.

Game really that failed commercially huh...

 

[mediocrepoet]

Also, I believe there must be an achievement bug. Got Achievement Unlocked: My Best Girl after hanging out with Magik too much, but I believe it was meant for coddling my Charlie girl.

Yeah, it's supposed to be for petting Charlie 15 days in a row. Which I probably missed one day of.
I think the one for doing Deadpool's story is broken too. Whatever.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Doubters can play the game for free over the next two days.

Game really that failed commercially huh...

Yeah, which sucks, it's quite good for what it is. I'd have considered getting a sequel or whatever, especially if they worked on more complex arenas, etc.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Doubters can play the game for free over the next two days.

Game really that failed commercially huh...

... like all the other countless games that became Codex favorites.

 

[LizardWizard]

Doubters can play the game for free over the next two days.

Game really that failed commercially huh...

it's quite good for what it is.

Not really, cringe mechanics no one wanted or asked for. And failed commercially despite pandering for sales by adding all the Avengers as principle actors in the story whilst omitting actual Midnight Suns members to DLC. RIP Morbius.

But at least Morgoth can pretend date Magik. And Blade can eye fuck Captain Marvel during Book Club.



Meanwhile, Xcom 2 peaked at 130k players and Mid Suns peaked at 15k 7 years later. Fantastic financial decision Firaxis.

 

[deuxhero]

Doubters can play the game for free over the next two days.

Still has malware.