The platform fighter genre is tricky to break into. Obviously,Super Smash Bros.reigns supreme as the most-popular of the bunch, but other contenders have occasionally thrown their hats into the ring.Brawlhalla,Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, and evenPlayStation All-Stars Battle Royalehave all had varying levels of success over the years, but none have had quite the ride thatMultiVerusushas had. From the game’sextremely popular beta, to its modestly successful relaunch, to its sunsetting in May of this year, few games have experienced such extreme highs and lows in such a short period of time.
ThoughMultiVersuswill not be around for the long term, there are still plenty of lessons to be learned from it. During its beta, fans praised the game for its excellent character design, interesting roster picks, and high-speed gameplay. But above all else, there’s one thingMultiVersusbrought to the table that should absolutely not die with the game’s servers this May.
MultiVersus' Premier 2v2 Mode Deserves Another Shot in Another Platform Fighter
MultiVersus' 2v2 Game Mode Deserves a Second Chance
ThoughMultiVersusfeatured Free-For-All and 1v1, modes that players have come to expect in platform fighters, the game stood out in the crowd by structuring itself around a unique 2v2 format. As the name of the format suggests, two teams of two players would duke it out on the stage until one team’s ringouts were all exhausted. While simple enough on paper, there was always a surprising amount of depth to the mode, and it deserves to live on even ifMultiVersusdoesn’t.
MultiVersus' 2v2 mode encouraged players to take time to figure out which characters synergized well with each other. Squishy zoners and projectile characters, like Marvin the Martian, tended to pair really well with heavy-dutymelee tanks, like Superman or Jason Vorhees, who lacked ranged options of their own. Picking characters that compensate for each other’s weaknesses gave the duo an advantage over other teams queuing up at random.
And since the game was entirely built upon the concept of 2v2, plenty of moves were structured around having a partner there to interact with. For example, Beetlejuice, one ofMultiVersus' more unconventional fighters, had a passive that allowed him to teleport directly to an enemy fighter that his teammate marked; a fun tip of the hat to how the character is summoned in the movies. Then there were Stripe’s sawblade projectiles, which could hit teammates and circle them like a shield, dealing damage to any enemies they came into contact with during the fight.
Why 2v2 Needs to Find its Footing in Another Platform Fighter
MultiVersusis done. The game is no longer available for download, servers are shutting down at the end of May, and the development studio, Player First Games, has beenshuttered by parent company WB Games. But 2v2 as a concept deserves a second shot at finding its place within the platform fighter genre. The mode has proven its value throughMultiVersus, and it just needs a more solid game to attach itself to really make it in the big time.
Smash Bros., the giant of the genre that it is, is primarily developed and balanced as a free-for-all party game.MultiVersustook a unique approach by developing and marketing itself as a 2v2-first game with competitive balancing. That was one of thebiggest things that setMultiVersusapartfrom the competition, if not the biggest thing overall. It encouraged team-based cooperation by design, something other platform fighters are just not offering right now. Whatever enterprising developer steps in and fills the 2v2 niche stands to gain a lot, provided they don’t make the same mistakesMultiVersusdid in the long run.
MultiVersus
WHERE TO PLAY
CHARACTERS: Choose from Bugs Bunny, Batman, Arya Stark, Rick Sanchez, and many more. In MultiVersus, every star brings their unique moves, worlds and attitudes to fight. And as the roster expands, so does the spectacle — with new personalities and play styles turning up the heat in every battle.MAPS: Our maps turn legendary realms like the Batman’s Bat Cave, Jake and Finn’s Treefort, Game of Thrones’ Throne Room into epic battle grounds. And the best part? We’re adding new maps regularly, so the party never stops!MODES: Whether you’re seeking the intensity of 1v1, the frenzy of a 4-player mayhem, or team up for strategic 2v2 battles, we’ve got you covered. Plus, introducing an all new PvE mode, a thrilling realm of limitless combat possibilities designed for solo or co-op play.CROSS-PLATFORM: MultiVersus has full cross-play and cross-progression support across all platforms.
