Invincible VS may not be perfect, but Quarter Up respects its source material. The Amazon Prime show is one of the best superhero properties of recent years, and we’ve already had a slew of games that have tried to capture the violence and excitement of both the comics and the television program. Tag fighters can be hit and miss. When you build them on the strategy behind them, making sure the mechanics work well can be difficult to balance. Thankfully, there’s a strong core of which each fight is built around.
There a significant amount to learn in Invincible VS. Thanks to a substantial tutorial, it won’t be long before the game’s mechanics become familiar. It’s straightforward and welcoming, giving players of all abilities a chance to enjoy the meaty combat. The moves lists for all characters feature simple moves to pull off using the light, medium, and strong attacks. Specials can be used as well. The more damage you do, the more damage specials can do. As you build up the gauge, stronger attacks can make a big difference in gaining an advantage.
Ultimates are a joy to watch, as well. These are your strongest attacks after a short animation kicks in. The simplest of combos, however, can also be set off by pressing the light attack multiple times. When combining this with other button presses, and pressing the boost button to power up attacks, there’s plenty of moves to utilise. Invincible VS is a tag fighter. The 3v3 matches offer plenty of strategy to allow your teammates to be called in to offer brief support to attack opponents and break combos.
Not only that, teams can swap out fighters quickly during a match. Making sure teams are balanced helps to tackle whatever threat you’re facing. Fighters like Invincible are quick, but big and bulky fighters like Monster Girl or Battle Beast provide brutality with slower yet stronger blows. Some fighters feel similar to use, but the healthy roster will make fans of the show giddy. Rex Splode, Atom Eve, Omni-Man, Allen the Alien. Every favourite is pretty much in Invincible VS, and experimenting with them is much of where the fun lies.
Matches will also start with some back-and-forth dialogue. This helps to build the camaraderie between fighters. Not all original voice actors feature from the show, but those stepping in do a good job. As for favourite fighters, some feel more overpowered than others. To no surprise, the Viltrumites are a handful, and I quickly fell in love with Thula’s capabilities. The violence of the show is also kept faithful in Invincible VS. There’s tons of blood, tons of violence, all wrapped up in intense battles that make each match exciting.
My only gripe with some of the matches is the blocking. It’s tricky to block during combos. When an opponent is in a flow state, it’s pretty much the end of the one on the receiving end. Breaking combos is obviously a useful tool. However, when it comes to pulling back on the analogue and trying to negate damage, it can be hard. Even though things are explained well during the tutorial, there’s a lot to master. Thankfully the varying difficulties ease you into its play style.
Despite the fighting being pretty solid, it does feel a little hollow. The story mode was something I was excited to play. While it manages to fit in the entire roster, it’s more a device to simply get you playing as various fighters rather than feature a solid narrative. The ending falls flat, yet the cutscenes are pretty spectacular. It was never going to feel like an impactful story, but it could have been more than it is. Visually, the animations are excellent. It’s art style is impressive, and this only bleeds further into the other game modes.
Tower-style fights where you battle various teams of three acts more of a trial run for online. There are various rewards for successfully winning, and fighting is almost always a thrill. Invincible VS will have new content added, but it does feel a little empty for those who rather play solo than online. If online is the appeal for those wanted to dive in, it’s easy to get into a fight. Not only is it quick to find a match, the ability to watch others is there, too.
Invincible VS is a more than capable fighter. There’s not a ton to learn, yet it’s more about mastering how and when to use combos and attacks. Fans are going to get a kick out of picking their favourite characters and watching them interact with others. The story mode is lacklustre, and there doesn’t feel like as many modes as you’d see in Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter. There’s definitely room to grow, though. For now, fighting is a lot of fun, and the overall presentation is fantastic.