Since its launch in December 2024, Marvel Rivaels has struggled with one persistent complaint: character movement feels sluggish. Players often compared the game unfavorably to Overwatch 2, citing slow animations and uninspired attacks. But with the introduction of Phoenix in Season 3, developer NetEase may have finally cracked the code — not by increasing speed, but by injecting style.
Not Actually Slower Than Overwatch — Just Feels Like It
At first glance, it’s easy to think Marvel Rivals characters are slow. When compared in the practice arenas of both Overwatch 2 and Rivals, characters in the latter take slightly longer strides to cover similar distances. But a closer look reveals that five meters in Rivals is physically longer than in Overwatch 2 due to different in-game scaling. Functionally, the movement speeds are comparable.
The real issue? Rivals characters move like they’re stuck in a slow-motion action scene — dramatic lunges, long pauses, and a surprising lack of impact in sound and animation. Instead of feeling superpowered, many characters feel like they’re performing interpretive dance.
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Phoenix Brings Urgency and Flair
Enter Phoenix. The fiery mutant doesn’t actually move faster than her teammates, but she feels like she does. Her animations are snappy, her attack effects are loud and explosive, and her movement abilities come with just enough flash to make everything feel responsive and exciting. Even her basic dodges and directional shifts feel sharp compared to the sluggish loping of heroes like Namor or Cloak and Dagger.
What makes Phoenix stand out is not her raw stats, but the style in which she’s animated. She’s a reminder that polish, urgency, and audiovisual feedback matter just as much as numbers.
Marvel Rivals Might Finally Be Worth Revisiting
Phoenix’s debut may mark a turning point for Marvel Rivals. With Overwatch 2 now introducing third-person modes, the comparison between the two games is more direct than ever — and Phoenix is the first character to truly rise to that challenge. If NetEase can bring the same energy to future characters, Marvel Rivals might finally move beyond the shadow of its rivals.
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