Marvel and fighting games fans will have something to drool over, or conversely to pan, on Android now that Contest of Champions is finally here. Marvel's highly hyped mobile game, developed by Kabam, promised a lot of things, especially console-level graphics quality and intuitive touch controls. But are they able to deliver all those as well as a game that doesn't feel like "yet another" mobile game?
The plot of Contest of Champions is taken from two events in the Marvel world of the same name. Here, you are the unnamed Summoner who is pitted against one of the dreaded villains of the Marvel universe, Kang the Conqueror. Pulling the strings is the Collector, who, as his name points out, collects not just things but people as well. You, the Summoner, and Kang don't fight directly. Instead, you use a selection of Marvel heroes and villains to do the dirty work for you.
This mobile rendition of that event was praised early on for its graphics, and here Kabam does deliver, at least to the extent that they can on mobile devices. The scenery and the character models do feel like they jumped right out of a console, or an arcade box at least. This should definitely give Marvel fans a reason to vie for this game, especially considering the rather extensive roster now available at launch, a mix of both popular and sometimes fringe characters.
Although the game is best played with two hands in a controller grip, it actually doesn't make you feel that you're trying, and failing, to use a button-less controller. In fact, it could probably be played without holding it like a controller, but the feeling will definitely be different. A simple tap of the right half of the screen initiates a low attack, while a swipe in that same area is used for a medium one. Tap and hold charges up for your higher attack. The left side of the screen is used for blocking (tap and hold), backing up, and dashing forward. The only time you might actually have to be conscious of your finger placement on the screen is for the super attack, where you have to tap on a specific button to activate.
Champions, in other words the heroes and villains you can use, are acquired via crystals, though it seems to be a semi-random game of luck trying to get your hands on your favorite characters. An interesting element in this fighting game is the concept of character classes and bonuses, where one type of character, for example a "DNA" one, has bonus damage against a class weak against that type.
That said, the game doesn't stray too far from the comforts of well-tested, and sometimes annoying, mobile gaming tropes. Ladderized progress, hour/day-based bonuses and limits, and of course, the dreaded in-app purchases. Still, it might be worth taking a shot, especially since it's free, just to see your favorite Marvel characters dish it out in Full HD, depending on your device, of course.
Download: Marvel Contest of Champions