Marvel’s Avengers is set to receive its latest hero on June 28, with Jane Foster making her big debut. While fans are still waiting to see some raw gameplay of the hero and her abilities, she has received a story trailer that highlights her character design and backstory. This version of Jane Foster's origins is incredibly memorable, though in a way this is almost a negative.
Because the story trailer for Jane Foster is so strong, and features such a unique premise, Marvel’s Avengers fans are left to ponder what could have been. Actually playing out the events shown in the motion comic would have made for a stellar DLC that took players to Asgard and gave them a unique boss to fight - rectifying the game's issues with location and enemy variety. Unfortunately, players only get to see Jane’s story, highlighting a key issue with Marvel’s Avengers’ new post-launch approach.
What Happens in Jane Foster’s Story Trailer
From the second Jane Foster’s trailer begins, Marvel’s Avengers fans learn that she is from an alternate universe. This is a smart way to explain the existence of a second Mjolnir, and fans get a good look at Jane’s outfit. Boasting intricate armor and a gold mask instead of a full helmet, the design is distinct but still feels like Jane, and it should be fun to see it in-game.
Jane’s backstory is tied directly to the fall of Asgard, and at its center is a twisted version of Odin. This alone is an exciting change of pace, as Odin going mad due to the death of his son is an interesting twist on the usual stories involving the character. After trying and failing to beat him on her own, Jane turns to Loki, getting the Trickster god’s help to overthrow his father. While they succeed, Jane does not want to join Loki’s side. Luckily for Jane, a portal suddenly opens, pulling her into the main Marvel’s Avengers universe. She is shown standing side by side with the original Thor as the trailer comes to an end.
Jane Foster’s Backstory Was Begging To Be an Operation
For so many reasons, Jane Foster’s story was begging to be an Operation. While seeing it play out in a motion comic is better than not having it told at all, a DLC that adapted the exact same story featured in this trailer would have been ideal. The shots of Jane with cancer could have made for particularly emotional cutscenes, with players getting to see her origin story and transformation into the Mighty Thor.
A corrupted version of Asgard would make for an incredible setting in a game desperate for more distinct locations. Part of the reason why War for Wakanda was received so well has to do with the jungle biome, as it boasted far more personality than the generic deserts and woodland areas that were previously used for missions. The rainbow bridge of Asgard and its golden city would be thrilling areas to fight through, and an Asgard region could easily serve as the most visually stunning area in the game.
Alongside a playable Asgard area, an Odin boss fight could have been a huge draw. Being able to fight him in a singleplayer section resembling Future Imperfect’s intro mission could have been a fun way to showcase his power, with the final mission seeing Jane and The Avengers finally defeat the Norse god. It is easy to imagine fun attacks for Odin involving his Ravens and his staff, but unfortunately, fans will likely never get to battle him.
If the Operation's story played out like it did in the trailer, Loki could have been set up for the next Marvel’s Avengers raid, too. Considering that Loki has already been teased in Marvel’s Avengers, a battle against him is a long time coming, and using him as a second boss for the Operation could have been perfect. Unfortunately, it seems like players will not be fighting Loki or Odin at all. This is a genuine shame, as a proper Operation could have brought two unique bosses to the game alongside Asgard. It also could have been a more exciting way to tell Jane’s story, as right now, it seems like this trailer, collectibles, and elevator conversations will be the only way fans learn about her universe.
The Jane Foster Problem Could Become a Recurring Issue
This will likely be the new norm for Marvel’s Avengers. Operations full of new missions and cutscenes are likely expensive to create, and given the game’s struggles, it is unlikely that Crystal Dynamics has the resources needed to make proper Operations anymore. Further, Marvel’s Avengers’ future post-Embracer acquisition os still up in the air, so Crystal Dynamics may just want to get characters like Jane in the hands of players quickly in case the plug is pulled on the game.
Marvel’s Avengers’ June development update touched on a new post-launch style for the game that will see hero and villain-focused content added regularly. Jane Foster and a co-op version of the MODOK boss battle are the first examples of this new style, and while it is nice to see new heroes and villains coming more regularly, this does mean that there will likely be less significant content drops going forward. Considering how long the wait was between Operations and Expansions, this new approach could absolutely be beneficial in the long term, but the more cinematic experiences and larger batches of content will still be missed.
Still, it is hard to argue against the idea that Jane Foster deserved story content like Kate Bishop and Clint Barton - especially after this story trailer. While some players have automatically been down on her inclusion instead of fully new heroes like Doctor Strange, the motion comic shows that Crystal Dynamics had great ideas for Jane’s narrative and could have swayed any doubters with a thrilling Operation. Unfortunately, players will not be able to experience her story in-game, something that makes her arrival a lot less exciting than the debut of heroes like Black Panther.
Marvel’s Avengers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.