James Gunn took a C-list Marvel super team and made them A-listers in Guardians of the Galaxy. Before the 2014 film, the comic team - in fact the second iteration of the team - had experienced some success due to the excellent run by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and this is the team that the film and this surprisingly good game from developer Eidos Montreal focuses on.



I say that Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is surprisingly good because around a year ago another Square Enix studio developed and released Marvel’s Avengers and that Games as a Service mess has disappointed fans of the comics, films, and games ever since it was released. The marketing campaign also raised concerns with the trailers focusing on cutscenes and story rather than showing off any of the combat and mechanics. Happily this approach to the marketing meant that the game was a pleasant surprise and an entertaining ride filled with the trademark banter, a great ‘80s soundtrack and decent combat.

Like the lamentable Avengers game, this game treads a non-MCU path. Unlike that game, the voice acting and the characterisation is inspired by the films.

For anyone expecting a straight up adaptation of the films, you will be disappointed. Like the lamentable Avengers game, this game treads a non-MCU path. Unlike that game, the voice acting and the characterisation is inspired by the films. Star-Lord is the loveable loser of the films, always arguing about ownership of their ship with Rocket Raccoon. Gamora is the assassin trying to redeem herself, facing the continuing suspicion and scorn of Drax who, like the films, is very literal in everything he says and hears. And Groot is Groot.



Taking the best parts of the comic, the team is trying to tread the fine line between mercenaries and super team on a budget. It also hews closer to the comics in that the universe and story are closely related to stories published by Marvel. Peter here is the half Spartoi heir to the throne of that race’s planet instead of the son of Ego, and Drax is the killer of *that* villain.

The story is what drives you through the game. Following an attempt to make some quick and easy cash, or so Peter assures the Guardians, the team is drawn deep into a mystery of what could cause members of the Nova Corps to abandon their roles as space cops and become religious zealots. Once again, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy looks to the comics for inspiration for this main villain. But that’s not the only villain. Scattered throughout the game you will take on Lady Hellbender, someone the Guardians crossed when they knew they really shouldn’t have.



Unravelling this mystery has you visiting some exotic locales, each created in exquisite detail. It is one of the most detailed worlds that I have ever visited in a video game. Eidos Montreal spent a lot of time on each environment and thankfully the game includes a full photo mode so you can spend hours photographing every single beautifully rendered enemy and monster and alien and environment. This is truly one of the best-looking games of 2021 and bodes well for those who have been asking what’s the point of the newer, more powerful consoles. Oh yeah, and the game hasn’t had ray tracing implemented yet (on console), that’s coming in a patch later.

This is truly one of the best-looking games of 2021...

Where the game does fall, slightly, is in two areas. Firstly the level design is obvious and old-fashioned. The beautiful environments disguise the fact that you will be tasked with running between arenas, where you will be road blocked by light platforming and simple puzzles. The platforming is not frustrating; signposts are obvious as to where you need to go, and which ledges are scalable. The level design hides some resources used to upgrade Peter and the team’s skills, but they are never difficult to get to, especially when you use Peter’s visor which, like the Arkham series’ Batman’s predator vision, highlights interactable items and collectables in the immediate area. It's never as intrusive as the Arkham mechanic incentivizing you to play with it always on which shows that they heard the criticism levelled at Rocksteady’s trilogy.



Once you reach an arena, obvious by the high walls and open areas, you know that combat will begin. The only way it could be any more obvious is if this was a cover shooter and the arena was littered with half walls, crates and other detritus that could be used as cover. Combat is the second area where the game falls into a rote design. Despite the game being billed as the Guardians of the Galaxy, it is really Star-Lord featuring the Guardians in this regard. You only ever control Peter with the rest of the team working autonomously in battle to keep you free from the hordes attacking you.

Despite the game being billed as the Guardians of the Galaxy, it is really Star-Lord featuring the Guardians in this regard.

Each character has a special attack that you can activate either to whittle down a boss’ generous double health bar or to thin the crowds to get you out of a jam. Each character has a specialty, though Gamora and Drax are similar in that they are both melee fighters using a blade. Rocket obviously uses explosives and Groot can temporarily restrain enemies to make them easy targets. Peter himself has his Spartoi guns that have special, elemental fire modes that certain enemies are weak to.



General combat quickly devolves into Peter keeping his distance and dodging attacks to whittle down enemies while the rest of the team get down and dirty. Every so often you call in a special attack and if an enemy is staggered and you are close to that enemy, you can either implement a finishing move or, if their health is too high, a team move with the closest teammate ala the combat with the Batfamily in Arkham Knight. This is where the game developers played it safe. Allowing the player to choose or swap between characters in battle would have led to variety and a way for players to challenge themselves if they so choose.



Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a pleasant surprise, definitely the better of the two Square Enix published Marvel licensed games. I cannot wait for Eidos Montreal to release the sequel, hopefully after the conclusion of the Deus Ex trilogy. For fans of the films, the comics or just looking for a fun game to play, this is well worth picking up. And like the films, wait for the credits to roll... you will love the surprise.

Review code provided by Square Enix | Reviewed on PS5