Polygon.com / 12.07.25

Marvel Rivals' new hero Phoenix addresses a big nitpick about its characters

Phoenix is in Marvel Rivals, which means I might finally put Overwatch 2 on the shelf for a bit and get back into NetEases hero shooter game. Not out of some deep admiration for Phoenix, mind you. The only things I know about her are what I gleaned from Wikipedia after NetEase announced her for Marvel Rivals season 3 and one important fact from her character trailer: She actually moves like a normal human well, mutant and that was exciting, something I couldnt say for Rivals prior to this point. Since the game launched in December 2024, Marvel Rivals players have periodically complained on Reddit about how slow character movement speed is, or seems to be. Some said it felt like walking in slow motion; others said it was just a perspective trick, that of course games like Overwatch seemed faster, since the camera is first person and seems more dynamic. I agreed with the former and lamented the slow strides and glacial attack pace that plagued every hero in Rivals, gradually playing less...
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