Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:24 pm

The player character is a new hero designed by Firaxis and Marvel, with a supporting cast of established Marvel characters.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:29 pm

No X-Com no sale.

But seriously, that's a nice movie trailer, but what about gameplay? I assume since it's Firaxis, it's some kind of turn-based squad thing.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:30 pm

March 2022.

Like Nick I need to see gameplay before I am in.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:32 pm

That trailer music is just...ugh.

I'm intrigued. Want to see more.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:33 pm

I hate cinematic game trailers. It's like a movie trailer that's only audio. Or a radio ad that's unspoken text. Or a restaurant menu that only lists nutritional data. Or an IKEA assembly manual that pops out a robotic hand that just slaps you repeatedly.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:38 pm

I heard gameplay reveal coming 9/1. Not sure where they got that, but I'll be looking.

Also 100% with Smoove on the music, that may have been the worst cover I have ever heard.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:42 pm

There is a gameplay premiere scheduled for 1 Sept 2022. They didn't get into that today, but there was a short interview following the cinematic trailer.

I'll replace this Twitch link if the segment shows up on Youtube later:

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:47 pm

The costumes look cool though. Tangentially they remind me of these, which are also awesome:

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:53 pm

https://www.polygon.com/22641096/marvel ... escom-2021

“There are zero mechanics shared between XCOM and the Midnight Suns,” Solomon said.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:55 pm

Damn it, this better not be a Huniepop clone....

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:57 pm

Players will embark on turn-based missions with three other superheroes. They and their compatriots’ skills will level up and improve over time. How those skills are advanced is perhaps the biggest departure from the XCOM franchise. In between missions, players will have free rein to explore The Abbey, an all-new headquarters area designed in partnership with Marvel Comics, and its grounds. Solomon said players will explore it in third person, using their time to develop relationships with the other superheroes.

“Robbie Reyes, the new Ghost Rider — he may want to play video games. Captain Marvel may want to go spar with you. Tony Stark may want to go play cards,” Solomon said. “You choose how to hang out with them, choose how you talk with them, give them gifts. There are [also] social clubs around The Abbey that you can join, and that affects your friendships with heroes. [...] Some of these are pretty lighthearted [since] the story is dark enough.”

Hey, Hunter! Let's go bowling!

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:58 pm

Read the article I posted, but it's still turned based tactics with a 4 person team with skills growing over time. The dynamics are just very different from xcom so it doesn't play out in the same way.

Freyland · Post by **Freyland** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:20 pm

I really didn't get who was being awakened, and who is the villain from that.

Edit: nm, the link cleared that up.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:28 pm

Freyland wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:20 pm I really didn't get who was being awakened, and who is the villain from that.

The player character ("The Hunter") is being woken. The villain is your mom -- Lilith, Mother of Demons (which presumably tells us something about The Hunter's origin story).

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 4:15 pm

coopasonic wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:53 pm https://www.polygon.com/22641096/marvel ... escom-2021

“There are zero mechanics shared between XCOM and the Midnight Suns,” Solomon said.

So you're saying it's a new Alpha Centuri?

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:55 pm

It's described as sort of a TB Mass Effect.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:13 pm

Grifman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:55 pm It's described as sort of a TB Mass Effect.

So like...XCOM?

I'm so confused.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:26 pm

Well, XCOM without the strategic layer, base building, R&D or personnel management.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:02 pm

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:13 pm
Grifman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:55 pm It's described as sort of a TB Mass Effect.
So like...XCOM?

I'm so confused.

Why would you say XCom when I just described it as a cross between XCom and Mass Effect?

The combat will be TB but you will have a base of operations where you go back, hang out with your team, talk to them, etc. Like the Normandy in Mass Effect. This of an XCom/ME mashup.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:03 pm

Surprised no one has posted the IGN interview with Jake Solomon, lots of good info here:

https://www.ign.com/videos/marvel-midni ... by-firaxis

An interesting take away is that we haven’t seen all of the heroes in the trailer. Jake says that 12 heroes will be available, but there are only 10 (including the “Hunter”) in the trailer so there will be 2 to 3 more available to play.

This should clear up some stuff about the game but I'm certain the game play trailer next week will tell us a lot more.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:25 pm

Grifman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:02 pm Why would you say XCom when I just described it as a cross between XCom and Mass Effect?

Because of the earlier quote provided by our resident XCOM expert:

“There are zero mechanics shared between XCOM and the Midnight Suns,” Solomon said.

I'm doing a whole "Who's on First" routine here.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:10 pm

At least this isn't an EGS exclusive.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:56 pm

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:24 pm

I'm pretty confident that Marvel doesn't need Epic's money.

Victoria Raverna · Post by **Victoria Raverna** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:53 pm

Max Peck wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:24 pm

The player character is a new hero designed by Firaxis and Marvel, with a supporting cast of established Marvel characters.

Who is the person in the coffin that they resurrected?

Tried to google for it but can't find a group of superheroes called Midnight Suns. Found Midnight Sons which is about Dr. Strange and his team of heroes against Lilith. Are they the same? They changed Sons to Suns to be more PC?

There is a Midnight Sun which is a villain and Shang Chi's adopted brother.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:35 pm

Victoria Raverna wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:53 pm Who is the person in the coffin that they resurrected?

She's a totally new superhero developed by Firaxis working with Marvel who will be your avatar/character. They wanted a hero with sort of a blank slate that you could develop how you wished. She's an expert on the evil they are fighting and sort of becomes the de facto leader of the group.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 11:14 pm

Victoria Raverna wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:53 pm Found Midnight Sons which is about Dr. Strange and his team of heroes against Lilith. Are they the same?

Yes. Jake Solomon (design lead for the game) explicitly stated that Midnight Sons is one of his favorite Marvel story arcs. I'm not sure whether the name change to Midnight Suns is intended to be "PC" or simply to reflect that the team is no longer an all-boys club.

The blurb for the game on Steam sets up the story:

After centuries of sleep, Lilith, Mother of Demons, has been revived by Hydra through a twist of dark magic and science. Lilith stops at nothing to complete an ancient prophecy and bring back her evil master, Chthon. Pushed to the brink, the Avengers desperately look to fight fire with hellfire and enlist the help of the Midnight Suns - Nico Minoru, Blade, Magik and Ghost Rider - young heroes with powers deeply rooted in the supernatural, formed to prevent the very prophecy Lilith aims to fulfill. Together, they resurrect an ancient warrior - the Hunter, Lilith’s forsaken child and the only hero known to have ever defeated her. In the face of fallen allies and the fate of the world at stake, it will be up to you to rise up against the darkness!

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Aug 25, 2021 11:18 pm

Grifman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:03 pm An interesting take away is that we haven’t seen all of the heroes in the trailer. Jake says that 12 heroes will be available, but there are only 10 (including the “Hunter”) in the trailer so there will be 2 to 3 more available to play.

I believe he said that there would be that many at launch, which implies that we can expect to see more added down the road.

rittchard · Post by **rittchard** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:09 pm

I'm embarrassed as a Marvel fan that I couldn't figure out who the main chick in the middle with two swords on her back is. EDIT: oh I guess the main character is you lol.

The ones I recognized for sure were: Ghost Rider, Dr Strange, Wolvy, Magik, Iron Man, Blade, Cap, Captain Marvel... looks like a pretty cool ensemble.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:37 pm

Just needs Gambit and I can pre-order with ease.

IceBear · Post by **IceBear** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 3:39 pm

Friaxis, TBS and Marvel is a sure buy for me. Have a bad feeling I won't be able to run it on my machine though. Really need to upgrade but no free $$$

Formix · Post by **Formix** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 5:10 am

Paste Pot Pete reference in 3 . . .2 . . , oh, wait.

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 1:13 pm

Do you want hepcats? Because that's how you get hepcats.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Sun Aug 29, 2021 9:24 pm

Laugh all you want. Triple P will get his own Triple A game.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:26 am

Unfortunately (IMO), it looks like the game is going to use a card mechanic for powers per a preview in Game Informer:

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:02 am

The gameplay premiere is today, so we should know for sure how it plays in a few hours (11:30am PT/2:30pm ET/18:30 GMT).

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:47 am

As long as packs aren't monetized, I don't have a problem with this. I presume the primary concern about a card mechanic is randomness? (Outside of personal preference.) You'd get the randomness somewhere, whether it was visible or not. But I guess randomness with a card-based mechanic can potentially be worse if it's not designed well, especially before your "desk" is optimized. But well designed difficulty should account for that.

Could be fun. Firaxis has continued to be pretty reliable, haven't they? But we'll see.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:25 am

Sudy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:47 am As long as packs aren't monetized, I don't have a problem with this. I presume the primary concern about a card mechanic is randomness? (Outside of personal preference.) You'd get the randomness somewhere, whether it was visible or not. But I guess randomness with a card-based mechanic can potentially be worse if it's not designed well, especially before your "desk" is optimized. But well designed difficulty should account for that.

Could be fun. Firaxis has continued to be pretty reliable, haven't they? But we'll see.

I just find card battlers to be contrived and "unrealistic" (yes, I know, it's a game but still). Does Ironman have to draw a card in real life before he can use his repulsor beams? Does Cap have to draw a card before he uses his shield throw? No, that's just silly, they use their abilities when the tactical situation requires it.

Iron Man: "I need to use by chest ray, oops, don't have the card for it. Hey, Cap, could use a shield throw about now."
Captain America: "One shield throw coming right - oops, sorry, I don't have the card for that either."

You get the idea

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:35 am

I do. I guess I've just come to accept the convention. Buttons and APs aren't "realistic" either. This doesn't have to be Marvel: The Simulation. We can have Marvel: Street Fighter Clone, or Marvel: Puzzle Quest, or whatever.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:47 am

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:32 pm That trailer music is just...ugh.

Exactly my reaction. When your advertising budget only allows for the crappy cover...move on.

Max Peck wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:02 am The gameplay premiere is today, so we should know for sure how it plays in a few hours (11:30am PT/2:30pm ET/18:30 GMT).

I'll probably check it out. I'm skeptical but curious.