Marvel Rivals’ Phoenix Drew Me Back from Overwatch 2

Alright, so, let me just spill my thoughts here, like I’m talking to a friend over coffee. Bear with me.

Okay, so Phoenix is in this Marvel Rivals game now. I’m not sure what it is about her, but something made me think, “Hey, maybe it’s time to take a break from Overwatch 2 and check out what’s happening over there.” Not because I’m her biggest fan or anything—I mostly Googled her after she popped up in the latest season. But there’s this one thing from her trailer that sticks: she moves like a human. Or, you know, a mutant-human. Whatever. Point is, finally, someone who doesn’t look like they’re gliding on ice.

Ever since the game dropped back in December 2024, there were always folks on Reddit going on about how sloooow the characters in Rivals are. Seriously, some say it feels like they’re wading through molasses. Others think it’s just a trick of the eye—like, Overwatch seems faster ’cause it’s first-person and all. I was definitely in the former camp. Every step and attack in Rivals felt like a slow-motion replay. Eventually, I played it less. Or maybe I just got tired of it, who knows.

Anyway, with Overwatch 2’s new third-person Stadium mode, I circled back to my old theory: maybe Rivals really is slow. Turns out… kind of. So here’s the thing. Both games have these practice spots with markers to measure how far attacks go, blah blah blah. I was just doodling around, trying different characters, and realized those Rivals folks? They take a smidge longer to go five meters than Overwatch characters. Seems like a snag, right? But nah, distances are wonky. Five meters in Rivals? About 11.5 inches. In Overwatch? Like 10 inches. Go figure.

“So why does this even matter?” you might be mumbling, half paying attention. Well, it means Rivals characters are roughly as fast as Overwatch 2, maybe even speedier. But it’s all in how they strut their stuff. It’s like a style drama or something.

Characters like Cloak and Dagger, Namor, Spider-Man—they prance around like they’re rehearsing for Baywatch: The Game. Their attacks pause just long enough to remind you why you wished for more coffee break time. Iron Fist tries to spice it up with martial arts pizzazz but even he gets lost in the lull. Nothing pops. Winter Soldier’s gun goes pew-pew like a toy, and Scarlet Witch? Her “life absorption” feels, ironically, lifeless. Yeah, it’s got a little class, understated and all, but it’s not epic.

Enter Phoenix. She just shakes things up, you know? There’s this whoosh-noise with her attacks, then boom! An explosion after three hits. Her other skill goes bigger, and she’s zipping around in bird form, none of that dramatic pause stuff. She and Cloak and Dagger cross the same space, but it doesn’t feel the same. It’s like Phoenix has a caffeine boost. Her style just adds urgency, even if she’s not technically faster. She just… looks like she means business.

So yeah, NetEase finally cracked the code. Phoenix doesn’t make it feel like I’m slogging through dessert. She acts and moves like a real fighter. Fights with her? They’re fun. And that’s enough for me, you know?