TEAM PLAYER

MARVEL COSMIC INVASION has a super cast but not enough adventure

- Robin Valentine

That this beat 'em up has a roster of 15 different playable Marvel superheroes is immediately impressive. But what's really amazing is every single one of them feels completely distinct, fun to play, and truly super. I just wish Marvel Cosmic Invasion offered more for them all to do.

This is an unabashedly old-school side-scroller. Bad guys appear, you punch them until they're all gone, then you move a bit further right and more bad guys appear. Repeat until you reach a boss fight. Simple, nostalgic, satisfying.

But more modern ideas enhance the action. Blocks, parries and dodges make it easier to stay on your feet than in the old classics, for example, and launchers and timing windows allow you to string together combos and juggle foes in the air without hours of practice.