Marvel’s Midnight Suns is an RPG that mixes the tactical strategy and combat mechanics of a card-based game. The objective of Firaxis Games is to offer a title that allows us to see “the darkest and supernatural side of the Marvel universe” and to achieve this, it has created Hunter, a demon hunter with a mysterious past who must lead a team of heroes in a mission to stop Lilith, the mother of demons, who wants to fulfill an ancient prophecy and summon her master and old god Chthon.
Hunter is the first original customizable heroine in the Marvel universe, befriending characters from the Avengers, X-Men and Runaways throughout the campaign. We are talking about heroes like Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America, Blade, Wolverine, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, Ghost Rider, Magik, Doctor Strange, Iron Man and Sister Grimm. Each have their own customizable abilities and specialization. As Hunter, players must decide which characters to take on missions.
Each hero can be equipped with up to eight abilities drawn from their deck of cards. Regardless of its rarity, each card has an attack, technical, or heroic ability. Cards with a heroic ability are the most powerful in the entire game and use a resource called heroism that is generated by playing an attack or technique card. When combat begins, each hero’s deck is shuffled and up to 6 cards are drawn at the start of each turn. During the turn, the player has three draws with cards representing how many times the abilities can be used and two re-draw actions.
Firaxis Games has implemented an accessible and easy-to-learn combat system in Marvel’s Midnight Suns. For example, players won’t find a movement grid, there’s no cover system either, and the heroes reposition themselves. “Playing the abilities is as simple as selecting an ability card from your hand, selecting the target zone or enemy, and that’s it,” the development team explains. Despite all this, Firaxis Games maintains that once the basic rules are mastered, “combat can become surprisingly complex and deep.”
Those who want to expand the lineup of heroes should get the Legendary edition, which for 99.99 euros includes the base game and a season pass with access to Deadpool, Venom, Morbius and Storm, four heroes that will be delivered in 2023.