This year’s Disney Expo, D23, was filled with plenty of exciting movie announcements, including the revelation thatInside Outwill be getting a sequel and that Niantic, the maker ofPokemon GO, is working on a new project in collaboration with Marvel. There were quite a few other game trailers; fans can expect a Black Panther and Captain America game, as well asTron: Identity, which is being developed by Mike Bithell.Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagawill be receiving a Galactic Edition release in November that comes with 30 new playable characters.
Niantic’s game could be one of the most unique from the recent reveals. TitledMarvel World of Heroes, the upcoming game will make use of augmented reality to allow players to explore multiple alternate realities in the Marvel multiverse, and players will be able to become superheroes, too. Although there is plenty thatWorld of Heroescan learn fromPokemon GO, it should take care to not be too much of a clone.
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What Pokemon GO Got Right
Pokemon GOis a mobile game that was released in 2016, and it achieved almost instant meteoric success. Its gameplay was not entirely unique, asaugmented reality gamesexisted beforePokemon GO. However, it managed to excel by merging augmented reality with an already popular franchise and extending the playing field to encompass the outdoors. This, combined with the social aspects of the game and its calendar of constant updates, has ensured that it has remained at the top of the downloads charts for years.
Since its initial release,Pokemon GOhas grossed over $6 billion in profits for Niantic, so it is no surprise that it will want to extend the idea to other IPs. At the Disney & Marvel Games Showcase, it was revealed that Marvel will be getting the location-based augmented reality treatment withMarvel World of Heroes. Though the game has the potential to be another hit, it must ensure that it does notemulatePokemon GOtoo much. Fortunately, it does not seem like this will be the case.
Niantic Unveils Marvel World of Heroes
LikePokemon GO,Marvel World of Heroesis a mobile game that makes use of augmented reality, and it encourages players to go outside. In the same way thatPokemon GObrings the world ofPokemonto reality,World of Heroesattempts to do the same with theMarvel multiverse. However, whilePokemon GOfocuses on Pokemon collecting as its central mechanic,Marvel World of Heroesinstead focuses on role-playing, which could make for some interesting cooperative gameplay.
As lead game designer Neil Melville has explained, the game will let players feel like superheroes in their very own neighborhoods. It will feature a robust character avatar system that allows players to “express different body types, gender expressions, and outfit customization.” This focus on role-playing could makeWorld of Heroesa very personal experience, allowing players to feel like they have entered the Marvel world filled with all their favorite superheroes.
Not much has been revealed yet about the upcoming game, but judging by how popularthe Marvel Cinematic Universeand its superheroes are,World of Heroescould be another cash cow for Niantic. It presents an interesting concept, especially due to its emphasis on role-playing, and its ability to make players feel like superheroes. The comparisons toPokemon GOwill be unavoidable, but ifWorld of Heroescontinues to stress its role-play aspects, it could ensure it carves out enough of a unique niche for itself.
Pokemon GOis available now on Mobile devices.
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