Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy does not pull many punches when it comes to its storytelling. Players will stumble upon several references to comic book characters like Richard Rider, The Avengers, and Spider-Man as they play through each chapter. All of the Guardians’ backstories are explored thoroughly through dialogue, while some fun scenes with Mantis and exciting surprises tied to Adam Warlock keep the plot interesting.
However, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy truly shines in its most emotional moments. The game’s talented cast of actors all get a moment to show off their abilities in these scenes, making for some memorable exchanges that will stick with the player long after the credits have rolled. While there are many emotional moments to choose from, a few do stick out as particularly great. Obviously, SPOILERS for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy will be seen below.
Star-Lord, Drax, And Nikki Reject The Promise
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s narrative is full of standout moments, with a lot of scenes succeeding at making players feel something. Gamora revealing that she killed Nebula is a solid scene, even if it is a bit rushed. Likewise, Rocket overcoming his fear of water to save his friends is likely to make every player proud of him, especially when he reveals why he is so afraid of getting wet in the first place. Most of the Guardian collectibles come with a sad story attached, too.
However, the most unforgettable sequences come from the team of misfits rejecting The Promise. The first rejection players see is Peter Quill’s, where he finds himself back at home with his loving mother. Successfully defeating the Chituari, Quill gets to enjoy some brief moments of happiness with the Guardians and his long-lost parental figure. However, players eventually must break out of this promise, controlling Star-Lord as he pushes his fake mom away and shoots her until she dies.
While this is obviously a sad scene, it pales in comparison to Drax’s own breaking of the Promise. Through the help of Mantis, players enter Drax’s mind and see just how cruel Magus’ deception can be. After failing to defeat Thanos, gamers see Drax have a conversation with both his wife and daughter. His genuine confusion is devastating, as is the realization that this version of his family is not real. Drax commenting that he does not want to be alone again is a major gut punch, and the moment where he kills the fake versions of Hovat and Kamaria is heart-wrenching.
Lastly, there is Nikki’s rejection of the promise, a moment that leads to some of the best dialogue in the game. Not only does Star-Lord have to accept that his former love interest Ko-Rel is dead, but he needs to convince Nikki that her mother is gone for good. Nikki’s grief feels incredibly real here, with Guardians of the Galaxy fans needing to help her understand that she is not at fault for what happened. With this coming right after the realization that Quill isn’t Nikki’s real dad, there is plenty of emotion in the exchange.
Even Cosmo being stuck in The Promise is sad, as players learn of the cosmic canine’s time as a regular dog. While Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has many strengths, the presentation of its story is the game's defining feature, with The Promise used as a brilliant narrative device. When players are not laughing at the playful banter between the various teammates, they are likely to be tearing up as the characters deal with their trauma.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.