Gazillion Entertainment's Marvel Heroes Online has been in beta testing for a short time. We've been putting on our tights and working the game for all it's worth. Check out our in-depth preview before heading to the comments to chat about it.

Few gamers would question the impact the Diablo franchise has had upon PC gaming. Many of us fondly recall staying up late into the night bashing demons as we plumbed the depths of Hell, and since then, we've tried unsuccessfully to recreate those memories by playing other games. Good news for us—David Brevik, the man behind Diablo and Diablo II, is currently hard at work at Gazillion Entertainment, crafting yet another unforgettable gaming experience. The game is Marvel Heroes, a free-to-play MMORPG that promises to do for superhero-dom what Diablo did for the infernal. 

Read more of Neilie Johnson's Marvel Heroes: A Deep Dive Into Marvel Heroes.

I can certainly see the appeal for Marvel fans. But for someone who doesn't care much about Marvel, the gameplay alone is probably not going to retain players. I don't see anything that Diablo didn't do already.

At least with a game like Path of Exile, they went outside the box with a very unique gem/skill system as well as a super deep character progression.

But the biggest thing that I think will hurt the longevity of Marvel Heroes is the lack of optional PvP.

No have no pvp. That is important to so many potential players.

If it's not soloable that will present a problem for many.

Thanks for the preview, definitely concerned about the one inventory for all characters (and lack of slots for loot, frequent returns to HQ KILL the immersion) and the ability to solo when friends are not available to group.

Originally posted by PPharoah

If it's not soloable that will present a problem for many.

Thanks for the preview, definitely concerned about the one inventory for all characters (and lack of slots for loot, frequent returns to HQ KILL the immersion) and the ability to solo when friends are not available to group.

I solo'd everything but "world bosses" as Scarlet Witch. And yes, that is up through the final teir. However, they are still doing numbers tweaks, and many of those battles took quite a long time.

Originally posted by PPharoah

If it's not soloable that will present a problem for many.

Thanks for the preview, definitely concerned about the one inventory for all characters (and lack of slots for loot, frequent returns to HQ KILL the immersion) and the ability to solo when friends are not available to group.

The lack of inventory slots isn't much different from when Diablo launched, and if it really bothers people, I can't imagine it being hard for them to increase it.

And I believe that i heard there were open zones too, that even if you aren't grouped, you can still play with others.

And lastly, in the missions that aren't opened world, where you play with teammates, if it really bothers you to see 5 hulks you can just all agree to run different toons.

I want to see bonuses and combo effects for running certain characters together, like x-men or avengers, or more dinstinct like Asgardians if you were run Thor with Sif(when/if released) and others.

No it's not like Diablo.  In Diablo we had seperate inventory for EACH character and a shared bank.  There's a big difference.  From the preview it looks like ALL of our characters will share ONE inventory.  For me, I like to be able to put stuff I am not using in an unused character's inventory so it's not cluttering up my shared bank space.

Of course this MMO is still in beta, and things can change, and hopefully will but for right now thats a HUGE concern, and I am very thankful the previewer mentioned it.

Originally posted by jimdandy26

Originally posted by PPharoah

If it's not soloable that will present a problem for many.

Thanks for the preview, definitely concerned about the one inventory for all characters (and lack of slots for loot, frequent returns to HQ KILL the immersion) and the ability to solo when friends are not available to group.

I solo'd everything but "world bosses" as Scarlet Witch. And yes, that is up through the final teir. However, they are still doing numbers tweaks, and many of those battles took quite a long time.

That's excellent news Jim thanks for sharing that, I had already planned on Scarlet Witch as my starting hero.:)

Originally posted by Razeekster
I'm not in Beta but I think DC Universe Online looks better than this.

Its a different kind of game, what is your measure of comparison?

Take anything you read about this with a grain of salt. Most of the ppl posting probably only spend a few minutes in beta.

No one has played all the way to the end of the game because the end of the game isn't even in the beta yet.

The game has changed a lot in the 5 months I've been in beta and always for the better. It's still going to change a lot till it comes out. It's a work in progress and should be looked at as such.

The devs are great ppl and are active members of the beta forums. They actually do come in and chat to the players and ask questions. It's a very unique experience as far as betas go. If you like arpgs this is going to be a good one imo.

Originally posted by Lahuzer
[mod edit]

My thoughts exactly... I usually try to post only constructive stuff and stay away from games I don't like, but as a Marvel fan I need to post in here that I'm sad every time I see MH...

"Few gamers would question the impact the Diablo franchise has had upon PC gaming. Many of us fondly recall staying up late into the night bashing demons"

True, there was a huge impact, no question about it sadly. But there were many of us on the other side as well who loathed what Diablo and its truckload of clones done to the genre and in some aspect the whole gaming scene. So when the first news arrived that the official Marvel (quasi) mmo will be a frikkin diablo-clone, I admit I hoped it's only a bad joke. Turned out it wasn't... :I

And the worst thing is not even that. Many of us were waited for an official Marvel mmo since CoH. With MH those hopes are gone forever. If MH will be a failure (with official Marvel back-up and support, and with Bendis), there's no way that a better / real Marvel mmo will see the light in the future. And if MH will succeed, then the suits will be convinced that they're on the right track, and the crappy console action games like ultimate a**liance & co. is the place where Marvel should be.

I think I check back to CO and sling around Millennium City with my Spidey, seems that's all the only Marvel-ish gameplay I'll have in the next few years...

isnt this kinda like marvel ultimate alliance that was on the ps3 and xbox....or xmen legends on the ps2????

i hope it its a great game....one that has longevity like diablo if they gonna put in in the same category as it...also i hope they have more than lets say...10 heroes too..

What I find discouraging about this game are the prices. I would really love the writer of the above article to do a review of the rather costly "packs." 

Yes these packs exist in other games, but in things like SMITE or LoL they just aren't at that $59.99 price you see from Marvel Hereos. Which to me is just far too high, regardless of the 4 characters, 8 costumes and $25 of in-game cash or what have you.

Maybe $60 for all hereos and no costumes, or half of the current heroes all with 1 alternate costume, but these prices I feel will be the biggest barrier to drawing players.

I'm still on the fence with this one.  I enjoyed the Ultimate Alliance games, so this one should be a no-brainer, but there's a few technical aspects of the game that are stopping me from buying a starter pack (I don't see an issue with spending a little money up front if I'm not actually being charged for the game itself).  As others have stated, there's the issue of inventory space (or lack thereof), and I'm wondering if, like the God-awful SWTOR free-to-play model, you'll have to buy what is otherwise considered basic perks of a game, like inventory and travel abilities.

My other concern is the control scheme.  Now, I haven't had the opportunity to get hands-on with this game (hopefully I will before launch), but it seems like it's click to move, click the baddie and continue clicking to fight.  That doesn't strike me as immersive combat.  

As a Marvel fan, I hope that my concerns are eliminated once I get a chance to play.