Invincible VS: Going Hands-on with Three New Characters (Together with Omni-Man)

When you’ve watched or learn the wonderful “Invincible,” you’re most likely conscious of simply how brutal the fights between these superheroes might be – I’m nonetheless not over watching Omni-Man wipe the ground with the Guardians of the Globe and it has been years since I noticed that first episode. That episode can be a very good barometer of how bloody you may anticipate the fights to be in Invincible VS, an upcoming 3v3 tag preventing recreation from Skybound’s first in-house recreation growth studio, Quarter Up, comprised of members behind the wonderful Killer Intuition (2013).

We final received a very good have a look at Invincible VS following its world reveal throughout Xbox Video games Showcase, the place we went in-depth on a few of its mechanics, just like the 3v3 tag battle system, and the bonus spherical face-off that happens as soon as time expires. Coming again to it once more with a barely bigger roster, now together with Omni-Man (voiced by J.Okay. Simmons), Rex Splode, and Battle Beast, it nonetheless appears like a fighter that’s going to hit that candy spot of a compelling and deep preventing recreation expertise, with some satisfying pick-up-and-play parts for much less seasoned gamers.

What I used to be working to discern throughout my hands-on time with the sport is how completely different all of the fighters really feel to play, particularly with the three fighters I’m making an attempt out for the primary time. For instance, Omni-Man is classed as a Stability/Energy fighter, that means he’s nicely rounded and excels at dealing uncooked injury, the place Battle Beast is classed as a Striker/Strain fighter, that means he’s centered extra on touchdown assaults (relatively than grappling/throws) and is constructed to maintain gamers on the defensive. Rex Splode, in the meantime, is your Ranged/Mobility attacker, designed to strike from a distance with flame assaults and stay cellular sufficient to evade incoming punches.

Omni-Man had some nice assaults I saved coming again to, like his Heavy Assault uppercut that will ship opponents flying into the air, chasing them as much as comply with with a sequence of air juggles to maintain the ache coming. Rex Splode appears like one for extra skilled gamers, with some highly effective flame assaults and was positively agile sufficient to stay at a protected(ish) distance throughout fights.

As I continued to play, I discovered Battle Beast to be one in every of my favorites. Though he felt slower to maneuver than the opposite characters, having the ability to press my assaults (remaining shut) in opposition to any of the opponents was extremely efficient, particularly by urgent Ahead and stringing collectively a sequence of Gentle Assault (X button) combos, which kicked off an auto combo that showcased a brutal sequence of assaults, culminating in a Floor Bounce that, generally, would simply shatter my opponents aside in a pile of bloody goop.

He wasn’t alone in pulling off auto combos. Omni-Man additionally had an efficient one the place he sends the opponent into the air, and Rex Splode would shove flaming sticks into the face of an unwilling opponent. Each character I performed may seemingly combo simply with some fast urgent of the X (Gentle Assault). Stringing even simply 5 of those hits collectively can unleash a robust combo assault, supplying you with a satisfying look as your fighters proceed to dish injury.

I additionally recognize how reactive the voice dialogue is between characters. Omni-Man dissing on an unkempt moustache from his doppelganger, or how Invincible would complain about Rex Splode’s varied quips are nice table-setters earlier than a battle kicks off. Context with the present and comics are useful, however not obligatory, and all appear designed to faucet right into a participant’s curiosity to look at the present or learn the comics to higher perceive the place these characters are coming from (and why they could have a selected beef with one another).

Because the battles go on, the brutality actually begins to shine by because the fights proceed into the later levels with your characters having ragged clothes, extreme bruising, and turning into drenched in blood (plenty of blood) that offers Mortal Kombat a run for its cash. To not point out, if you’re in a position to string these combos collectively it may end up in indifferent limbs laying in a puddle of stays. It’s an incredible contact that’s all very harking back to the tv present, particularly once I may construct up my Particular Meter to kick off a robust cinematic assault.

One of the intense finishers I used to be in a position to pull off was Omni-Man’s, the place he would seize the face of my opponent, fly them up within the air, crush them by dozens of buildings, after which drop a mountain of rocks on prime of them. I used to be grinning from ear to ear at simply how ridiculously superior all of it was.

And that touches on what makes this such a enjoyable and efficient pick-up and play expertise. You may unleash so many superior assaults by solely needing to focus round 4 buttons — Gentle Assault (X), Medium Assault (Y), Heavy Assault (B), and Particular (A) — as a substitute of the same old six for many fighters. This begins to deliver the sport extra in line with the likes of a Marvel vs Capcom or Smash Bros. preventing expertise. That’s to not counsel there isn’t a whole lot of depth right here – one have a look at all of the strikes you may pull off within the menu illustrates this. It’s that you simply’re all however assured a very good time after only a few minutes of dedication. That’s uncommon to see in any sort of preventing recreation.

It’s unclear what number of extra fighters will likely be accessible with Invincible VS (Robert Kirkman has been teasing a pretty large roster) when it launches subsequent yr – I’d like to see the inclusion of different notable characters like Monster Woman, Black Samson, or Robotic — however the roster that’s already in place is bringing an incredible mixture of kinds and flare that makes this 3v3 tag fighter an incredible quantity of enjoyable to play already, and I can’t wait to see the way it progresses.

Search for Invincible VS to launch in 2026 for Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Anyplace title.

Invincible VS

Skybound Video games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Invincible VS is a brutal superhero 3v3 tag preventing recreation set within the Invincible universe, the place you may battle to the dying as a workforce of fan-favorite characters in iconic areas. Unleash bone-breaking combos by quick fight and good defensive ways to depart a path of blood and destruction. Land vicious Tremendous strikes and Ultimates to depart your opponents in a large number of blood.

Invincible VS options a wide range of recreation modes together with a charming cinematic story mode with an unique narrative from a author of the animated sequence. Leap into Arcade and battle with your workforce, hone your combos in Coaching mode, and check your expertise in opposition to the world in aggressive and informal multiplayer. Present, comedian followers, and preventing recreation lovers will expertise unparalleled heroic brutality, the place each earth-shattering blow will depart you feeling… Invincible.

That is the debut title from the newly shaped Quarter Up™—the primary in-house studio at Skybound—led by former members of the core Killer Intuition (2013) dev workforce.