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MultiVersus lacks that Nintendo polish, but it’s still a slick Smash Bros-like in open betaWith zero barrier to entry
With zero barrier to entry
So, what does the MultiVersus open beta actually have to offer? Just enough, I reckon. Currently, there’s a roster of 16 characters, 3 modes to choose from (1v1, 2v2, and Free For All), a handful of maps, and the ability to set up some basic custom games. All this alongside earnable coins, an obligatory battle pass, andGleamium(its take on premium currency), which sounds like the sort of rare mineral they’d bung in the next iteration of Olay Regenerist’s anti-ageing night cream.
Our Favourite Characters In MultiVersusWatch on YouTube
Our Favourite Characters In MultiVersus
He might not rank very high in ourMultiversus character tier list, but Lebron James is my go-to character, as I’m able to slam dunk Bugs Bunny and send him crashing into the stratosphere, as opposed to through a hoop. I can flick the ball through my legs, bashing opponents in brief bursts. I can tee up a shot and bonk Steven Universe over the head as he clambers back onto the stage. And then! As the ball ricochets off Steven’s skull, I can leap into the air and catch the ball and sling it through a hoop, mega-bonking those below me with a powerful piledriver.
You can level up each character as you play, unlocking perks that’ll aid you and/or your teammates in battle. I’m unsure how to feel about them, as they both feel unimpactful and yet still represent small gameplay advantages that reward long-term players and punish newcomers.
MultiVersus is home to a few stages, most of which act more like nice backdrops than they do bespoke arenas that dictate play. There’s a bit of shape-shifting here and there, but you’re not going to be crying out for your favourite stages.
One way the game opts to differentiate itself from the competition is through the abundance of abilities with cooldowns, status effects, and buzzwords unique to each character’s moveset. Whether you’re playing Arya or the Iron Giant, you’re hit with words like “Turn Attack!”, or you’ll see a box containing the image of a bolt - which contains a circle - which contains a number that gradually fills. These features aren’t so different from MOBAs like League Of Legends or other fighting games, I suppose. But in a game that’s as chaotic as MultiVersus, critical information gets lost in the noise. Even if you don’t care for mastery, opting instead to button mash like the best of us, it then morphs into evenmorenoise.
If you take the time to flick open each character’s moveset, you’ll make better sense of the mess. But the game forgets that most folks aren’t going to bother, which represents this weird tension between seriousness and silly the game can’t quite shake. The archetypes folks fall into seem like an attempt to make things esports-ier, with support characters like Reindog and Velma performing well with a partner but falling into mediocrity on their own.
Sakurai didn’t work himself to the bone for nothing. Smash Bros is a top-tier fighting game.
Yet, Smash Bros has a barrier to entry. It’s a full-priced Nintendo Switch exclusive, where MultiVersus is on basically every platform and costs zilch to boot. This is huge! And despite my misgivings, it still has a level of polish that surpasses any free-to-play Smash-likes. Learn to cut through its barrage of boxes and cooldowns, and you’re left with a cracking fighting game that’s only going to evolve over the coming months.
