Phoenix in Marvel Rivals, huh? So, yeah, I might finally swap Overwatch 2 for a sec and dive back into NetEase’s hero shooter. But not like I’m obsessed with Phoenix or anything. I mean, all I know is from some random Wikipedia deep dive after they announced her for season 3, plus this key takeaway from her trailer: She actually moves like a regular human—or, um, mutant—which was a fresh change. Seriously, Rivals needed that.
When did Rivals drop? December 2024, I think. Folks on Reddit have griped nonstop since then about the snail-like character movement. Some say it feels like slo-mo; others argue it’s an optical illusion—first-person games like Overwatch seem zippier because the camera’s dynamic. I side with the slow-mo camp, moaning about Rivals’ leisure pace until I kinda just… fizzled out with it.
So, Overwatch 2—ever tried their third-person Stadium mode? I noticed Phoenix moved snappier, so I had to check my theory: is the rest of Rivals slow as molasses? Turns out—sorta, yeah.
Both games have practice arenas with distance markings to gauge damage and, surprise, perfect for speed tests too. I ran around as different characters and yep, Rivals characters take a tad longer for five meters than Overwatch 2 ones. It sounds like a deal-breaker, but Rivals’ distance math is weird. Their five meters equals about 11.5 inches; in Overwatch 2, it’s like 10 inches. Confusing, right?
“Why’s this important?” you ask. Well, it means Rivals characters might actually move at the same pace as Overwatch 2, maybe faster, ‘cause they’re technically trekking further. Speed isn’t the problem. It’s more of a flair issue.
Players like Cloak and Dagger, Namor, Spider-Man—they kinda lurch around like they’re auditioning for Baywatch, taking these grand, sweeping strides. Their attack sequences are oddly ballet-like, interrupted by long dramatic pauses unless we’re talking Iron Fist, the martial arts guy. And don’t get me started on the sound effects. Winter Soldier’s gunfire? Reminds me of a dampened kid’s toy. Scarlet Witch’s life steal feels lifeless. It’s kind of classy in a way but lacks that punch.
Then there’s Phoenix, shaking things up. Her attacks come with this fiery whoosh and explode if you hit a target three times. Her other skills? Boom, even more explosions. She whisks around as a blazing bird to reposition quickly, pairing that with a second mobility skill that doesn’t drag with a ridiculous cooldown. She flits around energetically. The urgency in her moves makes battles lively, even if it’s all for show. (Same steps as Cloak and Dagger, to be fair.)
In essence, NetEase nailed a combo of flair and function with Phoenix that doesn’t feel sluggish or like wading through pudding. She moves with finesse, like a real fighter, and even if she’s not fundamentally unique, her battles are thrilling. Works for me!
