Okay, so here’s the thing. Phoenix is popping up in Marvel Rivals, and that’s nudging me to finally set aside Overwatch 2 for a bit. Weird, right? It’s not like I’m a die-hard Phoenix fan or anything. Actually, I barely know squat about her beyond what Wiki spat out after NetEase announced her for Marvel Rivals season 3. Though, one thing stood out from her character trailer: she moves like a regular human. Or mutant, I guess. Whatever. The point is, her movement wasn’t the usual awkward shuffle I was used to in Rivals.
Ever since Marvel Rivals dropped in December 2024, Reddit’s been ablaze with players griping about how sluggish everyone feels. Some say it’s like watching grass grow, while others argue it’s just a funky perspective thing—like, Overwatch feels zippy because of its first-person view. I was totally on board with the slow-motion crowd. I mean, the heroes in Rivals move like they’re wading through jello, which kinda wore me out over time.
But hey, with Overwatch 2 flaunting its third-person Stadium mode, mixed with Phoenix looking spry, I gave my old speed theory another whirl. And guess what? I was kinda right. Sort of.
So, there’s this practice arena in both games, right? You can gauge damage drop-off ranges there. A great spot to mess with movement speeds. I tinkered with a few characters and noticed Rivals’ folks take a smidge longer to cover five meters compared to Overwatch 2. Feels wonky, but Rivals’ scaling is quirky too. Five meters there is like 11.5 inches in Overwatch 2 terms.
“Why’s this important?” you ask. Well, it means Rivals’ characters are almost as speedy, or even quicker than some Overwatch 2 characters when you think about how much ground they’re covering. It’s not about velocity. It’s about vibe.
Cloak and Dagger, Namor, Spidey, and the gang? They’re pacing like they’re in some slow-mo action flick. Big dramatic steps, the whole nine yards. There are these awkward pauses between attacks unless you’re Iron Fist, who actually brings some energy. Everything else? Totally low-key. Winter Soldier’s gun might as well be a Nerf toy. Scarlet Witch’s skills? Kinda lifeless. I mean, they’ve got this quiet elegance but come on, where’s the super in superhero?
Phoenix shakes all that up. Her attacks come with a fiery whoosh and an explosion if you hit the same baddie thrice. Another skill? Bigger boom. She zips across the field in her flaming-bird mode and pairs it with another quick move, this time without that annoying cooldown. When she dodges, she doesn’t mosey around. It’s snappy, giving an edge to her movements even if she’s not actually faster. (Spoiler: she isn’t. Cloak and Dagger still cross distances in fewer steps.)
Long story short, NetEase nailed it with Phoenix. She’s got the right flair mixed with functional gameplay. No more slogging through molasses. Phoenix moves and fights like you’d expect from a seasoned warrior. She’s not drastically different from others, but man, her battles feel thrilling. And for me? That’s all I need.
