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GAMING FEATURE

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days of MicroProse.What challenges have you faced developing a game based on such a giant IP? With Marvel, we know we’re creating a game with superheroes and there are really two distinct fantasies. One of these is, of course, being a superhero. Having powers, fighting alongside legendary Marvel heroes, the combat. A lot of Marvel games do this well, and we have our own unique spin on that with tactical combat. Another part of the superhero fantasy that’s equally important is answering the question, ‘What’s life outside of combat like for a superhero? What would it be like to hang out with Tony Stark or Peter Parker?’ We knew we wanted to be able to drop the player straight into the Marvel Universe, which meant we needed to create a player character - the Hunter - and we also wanted you to be able to interact with the heroes. This led us to creating an RPG, something we've never done before and really something that's new for Marvel gamers as well. How much control do players have over the design features of their Hunter? You can make your version look and play how you want. You can choose between male and female appearances and select from a ton of customisation options across hairstyles, skin tones and more. Playstyle-wise, like all heroes in Marvel's Midnight Suns you'll be able to select which abilities you want to slot into everyone's unique decks. The Hunter has the most abilities of any hero in the game, and we even have three distinct branches of abilities - Power, Light and Dark. Power abilities are straightforward damage dealing ones. Light abilities are tuned for support and healing, while Dark abilities are incredibly powerful but come at a cost, usually at the expense of your health or from your squad. I'm really excited to see what types of Hunters players come up with and I'm sure they'll take advantage of our fun Photobooth mode to make their own comics with the Hunter!

The massive world of Marvel heads into strategy game territory with Marvel’s Midnight Suns .We found out more about the exciting new release from the game’s creative director at Firaxis, Jake Solomon. Words Amy Flower

Please give us the quick story sizzle for Marvel’s Midnight Suns … When the nefarious forces of Hydra resurrect Lilith, Mother of Demons, through a twist of magic and science, the Avengers look to fight fire with hellfire

by enlisting the help of the young supernatural team known as the Midnight Suns and together revive their own ancient warrior - the Hunter, Lilith's forsaken child and the only hero known

to have ever defeated her. Together,

you’ll forge unbreakable bonds in the fight against the world's greatest threat yet.

Firaxis have a long strategy gaming

tradition, with roots dating back to the “Wild Bill” Stealey

DECEMBER 2022

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