Alright, here goes:
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So, I stumbled across Phoenix in Marvel Rivals the other day, and honestly, it might be the reason I give Overwatch 2 a break. Not that I’m super obsessed with Phoenix—it’s more of a random curiosity piqued by her character trailer. Like, she moves like a human-ish—okay, mutant—but still! She’s got this fluid motion, a far cry from what I saw before in Rivals. Not that I’m a hardcore fan or anything. Just my two cents.
I remember when this game launched back in December 2024. Reddit folks were in an uproar about how slow everything felt. Some said it was like walking through molasses, while others waved it off as a camera trick. You know how Overwatch is in first-person, so maybe it just feels faster? I wasn’t buying it. I got fed up with the snail pace and fell off the game wagon because slow heroes are not my jam. It just got… ugh, annoying, you know?
Then came Overwatch 2’s third-person mode. Game changer, right? I saw Phoenix again, moving like some kind of speed demon—okay, exaggeration, but still faster. So, I thought, “Am I crazy, or is Rivals actually slow?” Spoiler: A bit of both.
Got nerdy with it in the practice arenas (both games have these little distance marks, super handy!). Turns out, Rivals characters indeed lag a half-step behind Overwatch 2’s crew over five meters. Not a shocker, except—plot twist—the scales are all off in Rivals. Five meters there is like, 1.5 inches more than in Overwatch 2. Go figure.
“But why does it matter?” you might ask while sipping your coffee. Well, because it’s not actually a speed issue. Surprise! It’s about style. Characters in Rivals look like they’re doing slo-mo beach runs, Baywatch style. Iron Fist is an exception—dude’s got moves. Audio? Let’s just say Winter Soldier’s gun could wake a baby… maybe. Scarlet Witch’s powers? More chill than chilling.
Now, Phoenix! Whole new vibe. Her attacks come with a whoosh, followed by mini-booms—such drama. She’s got this bird form that lets her zip around, and her cooldowns don’t take eons. Quick dodges and slick animations make her look and feel speedy, even when she’s technically not. Fun fact: Cloak and Dagger hit the finish line in fewer steps.
Bottom line: NetEase found a way to make gameplay that’s neither boring nor thick like pudding. Phoenix fights like someone trained for battle, and it feels alive. That’s enough to get me back in the game. I mean, how often do you run into that?
