I’ve been a die-hard fan of XCOM-style turn-based strategy games since the ’90s, so you’re able to imagine my joy when I learned that Firaxis was making a game that leans heavily on those mechanics but with Marvel superheroes. This was a dream come true for me—what can be better than preparing a super-squad for turn-based combat? But as it turns out, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is not an XCOM clone, not even close.
Characters
The characters are the most important selling point ofMarvel’s Midnight Suns. It’s not every day that I can play as a superhero and hang out with the likes of Iron Man, Blade, Spider-Man, and other supes. It reminded me of the Mass Effect but with more Sims-like social activities. I really never imagined that I’d be taking Blade to fish or Scarlet Witch on mushroom-foraging escapades.
While this can be very fun and novel experience at times, it’s off-putting when some of those superheroes are presented out of character. It also doesn’t help that some lines of dialogue are cringey, at best. Sounding like a 16-year-old might fit for Magik or Spider-Man, but not for heroes like Tony Stark or Wolverine. For example, Doctor Strange once sent me a private message on a local superhero social network (yes, they have that!), thanking me for taking the time we spent together watching the night sky…
Combat
It took me just a few seconds of playing Marvel’s Midnight Suns to realize that it has nothing to do with the XCOM combat system. Although it’s technically turn-based, the fight in Marvel’s Midnight Suns is, in fact, a card game. I won many battles without moving heroes, as positioning was almost redundant. You can move only one hero per turn, and it’s essential only for catching better angles for some attacks. But overall, it’s not that important. Also, heroes don’t take turns with their actions, so I could play whichever card I wanted.
For example, I often played three Blade cards in turn, completely ignoring Doctor Strange and Spider-Man, who were part of the squad. Skill cards are an exciting solution that offers more variations in combat, but more movement would’ve made the combat feel more dynamic. I wanted to see Spider-Man using high ground and jumping on enemies from above. As it happens, the battlefield is miniature, with randomly placed objects that can be used against enemies. I’ve used them often, but I still got a feeling that the combat was stagnant.
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Exploration
Marvel’s Midnight Suns has three important game segments that make one in-game day: a morning, a combat mission (I guess it’s an afternoon affair), and an evening. Before and after the battle, you can explore the Abbey (the base of operations) and the land around it. The exploration acts as a separate mini-game. Besides solving mysteries necessary for the story progression, I collected plants and other resources needed for crafting.
Visuals and Performance
Marvel’s Midnight Suns released in 2022, but you wouldn’t know that by looking it. Even in 4K resolution and ultra settings, it felt like it was made in the previous decade. It’s not that it looks terrible, but I’m expecting much more than “solid” from a game with Marvel superheroes. On the other hand, the animations are smooth, especially in combat. But again, there is not much movement during battles, so that’s not very hard to accomplish.
Verdict - An average superhero game with room to grow
Marvel’s Midnight Suns can be a fun experience if you don’t set your expectations too high. As a longtime fan of the XCOM franchise and Marvel superheroes, I wanted much more than what this role-playing strategy game offered me. The combat system is excellent but lacks the depth that similar games have. Think of Slay the Spire or Monster Train, and you’ll get the idea.
