Marvel's Midnight Suns is a turn-based RPG from the minds behind XCOM, aka Firaxis Games. This title is a bit different from that series of alien invasion titles, though. It brings the characters from several Marvel comic series together as they take on the extremely dangerous Lilith. The threat she offers is so large that the Earth's most powerful heroes need to revive the last person to defeat her, which happens to be her own offspring.
You get to create and control this new hero as you try to bring the villain down. Along with turn-based combat, the game includes card deck-building mechanics, life-simulation elements, and deep customization options. But altogether, is this game worth playing? Here is everything you need to know to answer that question.
Review
Eric Switzer did the review for Marvel's Midnight Suns here at TheGamer and gave it a lot of praise. Firstly, he talked up the boldness of the game regarding the choice of source material, the style of its turn-based combat, and the fact it includes life simulation elements. He said, "there’s no part of this that could be considered playing it safe." And despite making some bold choices, Eric feels the game "succeeds at practically every turn."
In a sea of blockbuster open-world and third-person action games, it was a delight to play something so clearly driven by passion for these characters and this kind of gameplay. Something like this could only come from a team that deeply understands and respects the Marvel heroes as much as they understand and respect turn-based strategy games.
He particularly appreciates the story and characters. While it seems to be a standard tale of good versus evil on the surface, there are more layers to the tale, according to Eric. And none of the characters feel underserved, which could've been the case with a cast as big as this one. Eric says that each one of them has a complete arc. The only criticism he has of the characters is from a technical standpoint. After all, they don't have the most emotional or realistic-looking faces.
From a gameplay standpoint, Eric is happy with both the out-of-mission life simulation elements and the turn-based combat. He compared the latter to the XCOM games, saying that while this title is different in several ways, it's "no less strategic or satisfying." He did point out that conversing and speaking to heroes might not be for everyone, as it does take up much of your time with the game. But he personally loved the relationship-building aspect of the experience.
Time Expenditure
This game isn't a good option for those who desire a short superhero romp, as the main story lasts about 36 hours, according to HowLongToBeat. And that is only if you focus completely on the main narrative and don't engage with any of the optional stuff.
The average length for those who do some additional content alongside the main story is 61 hours.
However, if you're a completionist who wants to do everything the game has to offer, then you will likely need to spend about 87.5 hours with the title.
Cost
The cost of The Midnight Suns varies based on your choice of retailer and edition. Yet, the following prices are the retail standard:
System | Standard Edition | Enhanced Edition | Digital + Edition | Legendary Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PC | $59.99 | N/A | $79.99 | $99.99 |
PlayStation 5 | N/A | $69.99 | $79.99 | $99.99 |
Xbox Series X/S | N/A | $69.99 | $79.99 | $99.99 |
What Is In Each Edition:
- Standard Edition - Just The Base Game.
- Enhanced Edition - Base Game And 5 Premium Character Skins.
- Digital+ Edition - Base Game And 11 Premium Character Skins.
- Legendary Edition - Base Game, 23 Premium Character Skins, And All The Post-Launch DLC Packs.
What Players Are Saying
Perfect For Those Craving A Different Kind Of Superhero Game - Ben Jessey
Compared to titles like Gotham Knights and Marvel's Avengers, Midnight Suns is one of the most creative superhero games in recent memory. Instead of going down the route of trying to be an Arkham or Marvel's Spider-Man clone, it presents something really different, both in and out of combat. Firaxis Games did an excellent job of tweaking their turn-based formula to accommodate superheroes while still maintaining challenge and enjoyment. Plus, the addition of a relationship-building mechanic is strange for a superhero title, but it has a unique charm due to the game's distinct and likable characters. Overall, it's worth a try for anyone into Marvel or Firaxis-style games.
Surprisingly Worth A Playthrough - Jerel Levy
Marvel's Midnight Suns is surprisingly worth a playthrough. The characterization of your favorite Marvel characters is spot on, brought to life with great performances, stylish animations, and sound effects that'll shock you with just how well it's pulled off. The card-based battle is intriguing, allowing you to customize each character's deck for a load-out that suits your playstyle. Follow-up animations make you feel like you're part of the action instead of just playing cards. While quips between characters can become tiresome, character relationships are limited, and AI can be predictable, Marvel's Midnight Suns has charm and a robust system that'll keeo you coming back with how much fun you'll end up having.