Even with the rocky launch of Marvel's Avengers, Square Enix has gone full speed ahead with its next Marvel title, Guardians of the Galaxy. The game is a departure from what has come before, focusing completely on a single-player experience that hinges on Star-Lord. However, while the game is charting a unique course, that doesn't mean the combat isn't taking inspiration from its Square Enix predecessors.
Unlike most team games, especially Marvel-based team games, Guardians of the Galaxy gives the player control of Star-Lord and no other Guardian. While this seems strange at first, Square has come up with systems to compensate for the lack of variety. In doing so, Star-Lord's combat style looks a lot like two other franchises, Tomb Raider and Marvel's Avengers.
While the game is nothing like Tomb Raider in terms of setting and story, the camera placement is very similar. Whether traversing the world or in combat, the camera stays close to Star-Lord. Like in Tomb Raider, this offers a more personal experience while playing as the team's leader. The closer camera also helps the player feel like they're a part of the action in every battle. This isn't a huge surprise as Edios-Montréal, Guardians' developer, previously worked on the Tomb Raider series.
As for the combat's nuances, the inspiration shifts from Tomb Raider to Marvel's Avengers. When compared to a character like Iron Man, it becomes clear how similar the two games are. For example, when in a hover stance, both Tony and Star-Lord stay in close proximity to the target and have high maneuverability. Like every character in Avengers, Star-Lord also has his own version of abilities that he can use to beat enemies faster. This includes a group power-up when he turns on his Walkman.
The combat also builds off these ideas with the addition of team commands. The player can command other members of the Guardians to help Star-Lord defeat enemies. One example of this is when Groot pins an enemy in his branches long enough to deal damage. It's a small mechanic, but one that helps with combat flow and showcases Star-Lord's leadership skills in battle.
Guardians of the Galaxy is unlike any Marvel game that has come out in the past decade. From a unique story to truly inspired combat, the game can offer a lot while bringing its characters to life through a fresh experience. With its combat appearing to mirror aspects of Tomb Raider and Marvel's Avengers, players should have no issues getting used to the mechanics.
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