Virtual reality turned me into a bunch of Marvel characters and it was really freaking cool
In case we needed another reason to get excited for Marvel's upcoming VR title, we now know the identity of a fourth character that will costar in the game: Deadpool.
That's right: everybody's favorite, foul-mouthed antihero will be taking centerstage, along with the Hulk, Captain Marvel, Rocket Raccoon, and several other unannounced characters.
Marvel Powers United VR won't officially release until 2018, but I was able to get an early demo of the game ahead of Comic-Con. I have to say, it was really freaking cool. Seriously. I've done a lot of VR demos and most of the time I'm left somewhere between nauseated and mildly interested.
Marvel Powers United VR was not like that.
As we saw in the trailer released last week, the multiplayer game lets you transform into the superhero of your choice as you battle Marvel villains and complete missions. Even though the demo I played was a more simplified version of what will be released next year, it's difficult to overstate just how cool it is to be transported into the bodies of superheroes.
The game really helps you appreciate the scale of the different characters and their respective strengths.
As Hulk, not only do you literally tower over all of your teammates, you really get a sense of his sheer power and strength. You can use special abilities like the Hulk Smash, Thunder Clap, and Seismic Pound, but you can also snatch rockets out of mid-air and lob them back at your enemies.
As Captain Marvel, you charge up photon beams to take out enemies from afar. You can also fly, of course. Rocket, meanwhile, is as crafty as you would expect. He has his two blasters, a scatter rifle and, yes, his jetpack. The Katana-wielding Deadpool heals faster than other characters.
The demo I tried out was just a small taste of what will be released next year -- there were only a few, relatively easy levels to get through and the only villain we battled was Guardians' Ronan -- but it was more than enough to get me excited for the real thing.
Topics Gaming Marvel Oculus Virtual Reality
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
