Guardians of the Galaxy is looking to bring to gaming what the movie of the same name did for the MCU. A cast of misfits coming together (however reluctantly) to save the galaxy from cosmic-level threats all while delivering a specific brand of comedy. The formula for its success involves quite a few different elements working in tandem, and this will prove even more complex if the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy game is to be successful. One big opportunity the game has to shine in the ever-more populated Marvel game space is with its recently revealed spaceship gameplay.

Many different games have tried to incorporate both standard action-adventure gameplay in one of its different forms or another with vehicle-based travel or combat. Some games pull this off better than others, but in general, it tends to feel like the vehicles end up taking a backseat to the primary gameplay loop and can feel a little tacked-on for some players. But after a reveal, the new Marvel game has a chance to one-up this trend. The recent PlayStation Showcase featured a new trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy that revealed even more elements of its story and some new gameplay shots. One brief but major reveal was a short clip of a playable spaceship.

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The Potential of Ship Gameplay in Guardians of the Galaxy

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Square Enix has not been shy about revealing major plot points for Guardians of the Galaxy. That's part of why the playable ship was such a surprise, very little about the game has been kept from fans. But what's most exciting about the reveal is just the potential of spaceships in Guardians of the Galaxy. Spaceships play an obvious and critical role in the story of the Guardians, serving as both their home and some of their most powerful weapons. It's also the primary form of conveyance across the galaxy, so solid execution here could add a very satisfying diversion from the more terrestrial elements of the gameplay.

That's not to say featuring space traversal and combat doesn't have its challenges, but it has far more potential if done well. Using the ships for their primary function, travel, alone can be a fun break in the action. A good example of this is actually in Kingdom Hearts 3 where the updated version of the Gummi Ship exploration was one of the best side activities in the game. Blending exploration with combat scenarios could work well for the new Marvel game. It could also provide a fun way to encounter different Guardians of the Galaxy villains in a smaller capacity by maybe running across them in self-contained ship battles.

It seems like the ship will also serve as a social hub of sorts where players will be able to interact with the other Guardians in a more intimate way. A group of space-faring misfits is going to need a place to sleep and a way around the galaxy, so this feature feels natural. It remains to be seen just how in-depth the ship combat systems will be, but based on the level of polish seen in the other elements of the game so far it's got a big chance at shaking up the formula. Hopefully when fans will be treated to a full suite of gameplay options with the ship when Guardians of the Galaxy releases later this year.

Guardians of the Galaxy releases October 26, 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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