Phoenix in Marvel Rivals Pulled Me Back from Overwatch 2

Okay, so here’s the deal: I’m diving into this Marvel Rivals thing again, mostly because Phoenix just dropped. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not some mega-fan. I barely know a thing about her beyond a quick skim of Wikipedia after the announcement. But here’s the kicker: she moves like, well, a person. I know, mind-blowing, right?

See, when Rivals launched back in December 2024, it got kinda slammed for the whole slow-motion vibe. Reddit was buzzing with folks saying it felt like time just dragged on. A bunch said it was all perspective—compared to something like Overwatch, which feels faster ’cause, you know, first-person view and all that jazz. I was all in on the “yeah, it’s slow” camp, getting more ticked off over time until I finally just… stopped playing as much.

But then Overwatch 2 added this third-person Stadium thing, and after catching a glimpse of Phoenix, I just had to test my sneaking suspicion: is Rivals really that slow, or was I just tripping? Answer’s not as simple as a yes or no, though. I headed over to the practice arenas—both games have these spots with distance markers for damage testing. Perfect excuse to check movement. Turns out, Rivals’ characters kinda drag their feet, like half a stride longer over five meters. Doesn’t sound huge until you realize the scaling’s all off. Five meters in Rivals is a smidge longer compared to Overwatch, measuring distance differently. Clever, sure, but still kinda annoying.

So, why even care? Well, Rivals characters might actually be on par with—or outrun—Overwatch 2 characters in a sort of technical sense, even if it doesn’t feel that way. Doesn’t change the fact that their moves still look like they’re trying out for a Baywatch reboot. Think long, dramatic strides. Attack sequences are like a slow dance unless you’re Iron Fist, who at least spices things up a bit. Sounds are bland too. Seriously, Winter Soldier’s gun doesn’t pack a punch, and Scarlet Witch’s powers feel kinda lifeless, despite being, well, life-draining powers.

Phoenix flips the script on this snooze fest, though. Her attacks have this wicked whoosh and kaboom vibe—three hits and bam, you get a mini-explosion. And flying around all fiery bird-style? Way cooler than just taking big ol’ steps across the field. She’s got this double mobility thing too, not bogged down by absurd cooldowns. Unlike others, she’s nimble, almost like she’s eager to fight rather than daydreaming on the battlefield. Crazy part? She isn’t even faster; Cloak and Dagger still cover more ground per step.

Bottom line, NetEase nailed it this time by shaking up the formula with something not boring. She dances—and fights—with energy. That’s all I need to dust off Rivals and dive back in.