After the controversial Marvel's Avengers, fans did not know what to expect from Square Enix's next outing into the superhero universe. Many were worried that Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy would suffer from the pitfalls of the previous title, and that it would feel like another microtransaction-heavy experience. But when Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy hit store shelves, that skepticism vanished. Instead of a live-service title riddled with things to buy, Eidos Montreal delivered an engaging and well-made title focused on the dysfunctional Guardians.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy took the single-player action-adventure route, and was better for it. The story was engaging with an emphasis on player choice, and it won Best Narrative at The Game Awards 2021. The characters felt like they were ripped straight from the movies, and gameplay wasn't half-bad either. Even with all its praises, the title did not meet sales expectations, and it is unknown if a sequel will ever be made. However, if one does get made, the studio should consider expanding upon its offerings by including an optional co-op mode for those who want to save the galaxy with friends.
Where Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Worked Well
One of the strong suits of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was its single-player narrative, and that should continue into a sequel. The game put players in control of Peter Quill, who barks orders to other members of the team. The rest of the Guardians were unplayable, but players could interact with them, and they played pivotal roles in the story.
The story that Eidos chose to tell was focused heavily on Peter Quill, and the combat system worked around it. While there were plot points tied to other members, much of the events were directly tied to Peter and his journey. He must protect the galaxy against the Universal Church of Truth while also figuring out how to become a father figure. The story involved many popular characters, as well as references to others, and it was the strongest portion of the game.
The Guardians Team is Perfect for Co-Op
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was built around Peter Quill, but the game did receive some criticism for not letting players control fan-favorite characters like Rocket, Groot, or Drax. Those characters played major roles in the story and went through their own struggles, but the only control that players had over them was when they ordered special moves. Players are interested in the Guardians not just for Peter Quill, but for all the characters that make up the team.
When players hear that a Marvel game may have multiplayer, they may be skeptical given Marvel's Avengers was built for four-player co-op gameplay, and that was not received very well. The Avengers are a perfect fit for a co-op game, but the way the game handled it was not good. The studio chose to turn the game into a live-service title with heavy grinding and lackluster maps. If Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was to add co-op, it would have to avoid almost everything Marvel's Avengers did.
The Guardians are as much a perfect fit for co-op as the Avengers. Fans are drawn to the interactions of the different characters and their unique personalities, and that was on full display in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. However, players want to feel like the other members of the Guardians. On top of that, many want to be able to play games like this with their friends. If a sequel ever comes out, Eidos should consider both of those wants and deliver on a fun co-op experience.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Should Give Players the Choice
Not every player wants to a co-op experience, so if the sequel to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy were to add co-op, it needs to be a choice. The studio should not force that mode on the player, and the game should work without it entirely. There are many games that are able to balance the want for single-player and co-op, and Eidos would have to figure out that balance for itself.
The LEGO games are a good example of juggling the two options. Players who want to experience LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga solo have the ability to do so. The game does not handicap them if they decide to go this route, and it even has an AI take over the second player. If someone wants to play the game in co-op they can, and the game will work much the same as it did when it was single-player.
The Borderlands series works the same way, the Diablo series offers a choice, and almost every survival game like Minecraft or Raft offers one too. A Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy sequel also needs to offer a choice so people can play co-op if they wish, and those that do not want to can play alone. The game could let players choose what Guardian they want to take on, and an AI can take over the Guardians that are not being played. It would be hard to mold the fighting from the first title into this new format, but combat needed some changes anyway,
There is no indication that a Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy sequel is on the horizon, but if one does come out, Eidos needs to offer co-op. At the very least, the game needs to let players control more than just Peter Quill. Fans are pulled to the entire team, not just the man with pistols from Earth.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.