Tag-Fighting Shines in Marvel Cosmic Invasion | Summer Game Fest 2025
It feels apt to take the opening line from my TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge review and update it slightly to kick off my latest Summer Game Fest preview. The arcade beat ‘em up* is and forever will be a staple to the aging millennial. It’s a genre that’s tough to master without feeling overly punishing, tiresome, or simply not fun. Countless modern entries have tried to write up a recipe for success without relying solely on a licensed IP. Well, if our time at Play Days with Marvel Cosmic Invasion is any indication, Dotemu and Tribute Games are once again cooking up a delicious feast.
The pressure was definitely on for Tribute Games after the success of Shredder’s Revenge. They set the bar for what a modern beat ‘em up could be, so the reveal of Marvel Cosmic Invasion naturally sparked excitement. Tribute’s gameplay paired with the power of the Marvel license sounds like a match made in heaven. Still, going into the demo, there was that gnawing concern: would this just be a simple reskin of Shredder’s Revenge with a Marvel paintjob? But as soon as I took control of Wolverine and Spider-Man—alongside Kyle’s Venom and Storm—it was clear from the jump: the love, care, and attention to detail was all there. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a certified banger that firmly stands apart from Shredder’s Revenge.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion builds on the modern sensibilities nailed in Shredder’s Revenge but reshapes the formula to channel Marvel’s arcade classics—fighting games included. The core gameplay is pretty much what you’d expect: a side-scrolling beat ‘em up where you brawl screen-to-screen until you hit the boss. And, to no one’s surprise, it's done remarkably well and feels fantastic. Attacks are responsive, the difficulty feels fair and not punishing, and it’s balanced well for two players controlling four heroes without things getting too chaotic. The game also encourages hero experimentation, which is a big plus for folks who want to dive into the story and find their mains as they fight to save the universe. The replayability factor for the arcade mode is massive.
What really caught me off guard was how quickly I fell into that familiar rhythm I knew from growing up with X-Men: Children of the Atom or, dare I say, Marvel vs. Capcom 2. I caught myself trying out fighting game-style combos, working to break guards or charge up a special meter for a flashy finish.
But the biggest surprise? The tag-style gameplay. Yeah, we saw it in the trailers. But feeling it was something else. The MvC2 DNA was radiating through the controller as I launched enemies with Wolverine, only to tag Spidey to swing in for an aerial follow-up. A simple press of the bumper let me call in or swap with my partner, and suddenly I was right back in the arcade balancing health bars and lining up special moves to close out fights. With the recent reveal of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, it's exciting to see another team—one working in a totally different genre—creatively use the tag system we all associate with Marvel on such a deep, nostalgic level.
Tribute Games and Dotemu talked about the lessons they learned from Shredder’s Revenge to create a more fluid, refined experience here. They’re clearly their own toughest critics. Even after crafting what might be my favorite beat ‘em up of all time, they’ve still found ways to push things further. It sounds cliché, but you can hear the passion and excitement in their voices beaming throughout Play Days. This is a team that refuses to take the easy road. Instead, they’re merging genres in unexpected, refreshing ways, and the result is a game that shines through the sticks.
We were told we’ll be playing Marvel Cosmic Invasion over the holiday break, so I’ll be counting down the days until the big man in red comes knocking. (Red Hulk, of course. Who did you think I meant?)