Batman V Superman? Why go for the mundane when you can swap things out for The Dark Knight versus serial killer Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, or Bugs Bunny of Looney Tunes fame fight Rick from Rick and Morty? Anything is possible in a world that spans multiple franchises, timelines, and universes, and fighting game MultiVersus has stepped into the arena with its own spin on the Super Smash Bros. formula.
Hailing from Player First Games, the free-to-play brawler brings in characters from various Warner Bros. Discovery properties, including Game of Thrones, the DC Comics Universe, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, The Matrix, and even slasher flick Friday the 13th. Launched in beta in 2022, the console and PC game garnered plenty of excitement from fans before going offline in June 2023 in preparation for its full launch with new modes, maps, and character skins. Ahead of its full release on 28 May, 2024, we had an exclusive hands-on preview of the game and received an extended first looks at upcoming content.
First on the list is a new gameplay mode, Rift. This player-versus-enemy (PvE) experience presents branching fight brackets and a story aspect that spotlights specific characters, which can result in amusing, unexpected matchups and entertaining banter between the fighters (LeBron James and Batman, anyone?). Not all matches will be one-on-one, extending into two-versus-two territory at times.
Currently, Multiversal Mayhem and Rift Detectives are available as themed Rifts, offering dream team-ups you’ve probably thought about, but never imagined seeing together, from detectives Batman and Scooby Doo’s Velma working together to solve a mystery in Rift Detectives, or Agent Smith infiltrating the Batcave in Multiversal Mayhem. As you play on, the story elements within the game can result in some very amusing situations and hilarious dialogue, including seasonal rifts revolving around various characters, such as psycho killer Joker and serial killer Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13th fame.
For more multiversal chaos, a new mechanic, Mutators, throws in some crazy abilities into the mix to spice things up in the various Rifts battles, and different stages give you random buffs, from infinite jumps to chicken gauntlets, so players will never know what they are going to get to deliver maximum mayhem.
Spaced in between the fights are fun mini-games known as Bonus Nodes or activities, ranging from target practice and defending objectives to arcade-style platformers. The difficulty here spans from simple to challenging, but MultiVersus doesn’t lock you out of progressing in the Rift even if you fail to complete the challenge, so the fun aspect of it gets to shine. It also serves as a welcome change in pace from the constant brawling, introducing some variety into gameplay.
Initially launched with 17 characters in open beta, the platform fighter will have 26 playable characters at launch, including DC Comics’ Clown Prince of Crime, The Joker, Adventure Time’s Banana Guard (yes, this is not a joke), and Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees, with Agent Smith from The Matrix available post-launch, each catering to different play styles.
For starters, the roster is divided into five classes: Tank, Bruiser, Mage, Assassin, and Support, and each class plays a different role in MultiVersus’ combat system. Tanks, like Superman, are good for withstanding hits and charging forward, while Bruisers, like LeBron James, are more versatile with attack and defence capabilities. Mages, such as Tom and Jerry, excel at ranged combat, while Assassin characters including Marvin the Martian do lots of damage but have lower health.
Since the game is meant to be more accessible than competitive, beginners will find it easy enough to get the hang of it, with a tutorial and an AI training mode easing the learning curve.
For those keen on playing as Mr J himself, the Joker is a mage and ranged combatant who can summon projectiles, rocket launchers, and even balloons to knock opponents back. Ideal for those who prefer to fight at a distance, the Crown Prince of Crime uses floating balloons for upward traversal, giving him an advantage in combat and in some of the bonus nodes.
The icing on the cake, however, is the return of Mark Hamill as the voice of the Joker, along with Kevin Conroy, who recorded his voice as Batman for the game before his death in November 2022. For fans who grew up with Batman: The Animated Series, it’s definitely a treat to see and hear the iconic villain and the late Kevin Conroy’s Batman interact once more.
Bruiser Banana Guard, meanwhile, has got melee enthusiasts covered with his offensive capabilities. Between charging forward with his spear and knocking back opponents, the close-ranged fighter packs quite the punch – despite the lack of ranged abilities.
And for players who want a more versatile experience, there’s Jason Voorhees, an easy pick as Tank with his well-rounded kit. Apart from the ability to also grab and throw opposing players off the ring, guaranteeing a mostly easy win in PvP mode, the masked killer can also teleport, disappearing into the mist and reappearing to knock back all opponents in his vicinity.
When it comes to maps, MultiVersus includes well-known locations, and its new maps add Powerpuff Girls’ Townsville and Dexter’s Laboratory’s well, lab, to the mix. A key mechanic here is a contraption that fires projectiles at players during combat, which proves useful for forcing opponents into an area that makes them take the hit. While the original maps involve the use of floating platforms which allow for greater manuverability and creative fight strategies, these new maps swap the platforms out for obstacles that attack players instead, leaving players with less room to move around.
While there’s a 1-vs-1 PvP option, it should be noted that the platform fighter is built for 2-vs-2 action. Personally, the 1-vs-1 mode is the easier out of the two, as you just have to focus on one enemy, but things do get chaotic in the 2-vs-2 mode, especially if you’re trying to keep track of multiple enemies and your opponents pick similar characters. If you’re looking for a challenge, the 2-vs-2 mode is the way to go.
Victory is determined through a best-of-three format, with a perk system. Each fighter comes with specialised perks that correspond to their abilities and can be swapped out for stronger perks which are unlockable with fighter currency. In the event that you select the same perk as your opponent, the chosen perk gets a buff. Matchmaking is a decently fast process, as the game boasts a new player-matching algorithm that ensures shorter wait times.
MultiVersus is free to play, but offers in-game purchases for the game’s currency, Gleamium, which allows you to buy gems to get character skins, though these can eventually be obtained for free through the use of fighter currency by playing the game. These skins are a nice nod to the various characters and the series they originate from, such as the Joker’s “The Batman Who Laughs” skin, and even ugly Christmas sweater variants.
Still, there are some elements to the game that have nothing to do with the characters and their premise, and are seemingly placed within for the sake of it. For example, Rift Detectives grants players points for bringing in an Adventure Time character, even if the Rift has nothing to do with the Adventure Time series at all.
For those who’ve been playing from the start, content earned or purchased before 25 June 2023, including unused Gleamium, Battle Pass tokens, character tickets, and any other in-game cosmetics, will carry over when the game launches. Typical of freenium experiences, there will be a free Battle Pass for all players that resets at the start of each new season of content. The premium alternative lets players get more rewards faster, but at the extra cost of in-app purchases.
Overall, MultiVersus is a fun brawler that takes you into a chaotic but exciting fictional multiverse, keeping it fresh with fun mini-games and an ever-expanding roster of fighters. It’s an enjoyable option to play with friends on game night, and despite its flaws, there’s plenty of potential for MultiVersus to shine.
Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.
Natalie
