There currently seems to be a race to create the next big co-op superhero ensemble.Marvel’s Avengersbrought its titular team to an online live-service,Gotham Knightslet two players fight evil in the streets of Gotham, andSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewilllet four players battle the Justice League together. Even if most of these titles have been lackluster, it seems developers have not given up on the concept. If they insist on continuing down this road, maybe some studio should giveThe Defendersa shot.
The Defenders is a dysfunctional group of heroes that come together to battle mystical and supernatural threats. They have existed in the comics since 1971, and were brought to live-action for the first time in 2017 with theMarvel’s The Defendersminiseries on Netflix. While the show was met with mixed reception, viewers love most of its heroes, and a game should finally give players control of them.
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The Defenders Could Be the Stars of a New Superhero Co-op Adventure
Marvel’s The Defendersbrought the likes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist together to stop the villainous Hand. The show served as a crossover event between the four major Netflix Marvel shows, and it was the culmination of multiple years of storytelling. It was TV’s equivalent toThe Avengers; a treat for anyone who had been following the shows over the years.The Defendersmay not have met fans' expectations, but some have been calling for their return ever since.
There is no news on whether Marvel Studios has plans to continueThe Defenders’story in the MCU, but that does not mean the team should be left to gather dust. This dysfunctional group of street-level heroes could work well as the protagonists of a new co-op experience. The big superhero IPs seem to aim for the co-op and online markets, and a rotating roster of Defenders seems like it would be a great fit. While the team maynot be as popular as The Avengers or X-Men, they could finally give Marvel games a street-level story they have been missing.
The game wouldlikely be similar toGotham Knights, albeit with a few tweaks to avoid similar pitfalls. Players could take to the streets of New York City as one of the many members of The Defenders and attempt to rid the city of villainy. It could adapt the open-world action-RPG model to the Marvel universe, and deliver an engaging co-op title. The game could stick to the roster of Netflix’sMarvel’s The Defenders, or it could take notes from the comics and add other members like She-Hulk or Doctor Strange. They could team up to take out the Hand like in the Netflix show, or the developers could have entirely different villains running rampant in the city.
A Defenders co-op game would have to tread carefully so that it does not repeat the mistakes of recent superhero ensemble titles.Marvel’s AvengersandGotham Knightsreceived a lot of criticism for their lackluster gameplay and stories. There was also controversy surrounding the live-service elements ofMarvel’s Avengers, andSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueleakssuggest it is following in that game’s footsteps.
If done right, a game followingThe Defenderscould be a great co-op experience. It would let these heroes enter the spotlight once more, and would likely be that street-level superhero game that Marvel has been missing. If the trend of co-op superhero games continues, this team seems like the perfect choice to adapt - as long as it does not build on the most controversial aspects of the genre.
