For years, NetherRealm Studios has been considered one of the premier developers for fighting games. Primarily known for its work on the Mortal Kombat franchise, the studio has also shown its skill via the DC-focused Injustice series. Based on the latest rumors, however, it may now be looking to the other source of superhero comics for inspiration. With Ed Boon recently teasing Marvel fans about the possibility of a NetherRealm-made fighting game focused on the heroes, the future is looking bright for those wanting this type of game to be made.
While a NetherRealm Studios Marvel game oozes with potential as far as gameplay is concerned, it would also likely have a great story to tell. The recent narratives of the Mortal Kombat games have been excellent, as have the stories for Injustice — with the latter even being expanded upon via an official comic book run. As such, seeing what NetherRealm could do with Marvel’s universe of heroes and villains would be truly exciting, as there are many different directions that a story could go. If this heavily rumored game does happen, it could satisfy fans with a comic-inspired or fully original tale.
Option 1: Civil War
One of Marvel’s biggest comic events of all time, Civil War involved the entirety of the Marvel universe in its main arc. From the X-Men to the Avengers, the story saw two sides of heroes duking it out over The Registration Act. With superheroes deemed unsafe, this law saw heroes forced to unmask and reveal their secret identities to the public. With huge twists taking place due to the Registration Ace, like Spider-Man showing his face to the world, the event was a game changer. It saw Team Captain America becoming outlaws, fighting against the government. Team Iron Man took blame for the failures of superheroes, revealing themselves publicly and fighting against Cap’s group.
While this story has already been adapted via the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the live action version of the event was on a far smaller scale than the comic book run. While this was understandable given the number of casted heroes that could be used on-screen, a video game would not need to hold back in terms of its roster. NetherRealm could include a massive lineup of characters, ranging from speedsters like Quicksilver to magical characters like Doctor Strange. DLC could see factions like The Fantastic Four and The Guardians of the Galaxy focused upon, with the main game prioritizing The Avengers and The X-Men.
Further, the story writes itself, and it allows NetherRealm to stick with the style established inside its most recent games. In every fight, players could switch between a member of Team Captain America or Team Iron Man. They could take one side the entire way through, seeing the team at its best and worst. Players could also switch back and forth, getting the best of both worlds as they try out all the characters. The chapter setup could return, only with two fighters on offer for each segment — giving players a choice to make. Wins could shape the story, giving Iron Man or Captain America an advantage in the final battle. Just like Injustice 2’s story, the game could feature two different endings, with each playing depending on whether Cap or Iron Man is victorious.
Option 2: Secret Wars
Another option would see the Marvel story Secret Wars adapted. While this could eventually be seen in the MCU, as the Russo Brothers have said they would be willing to direct the film, NetherRealm could beat the movies to the punch. Intriguingly, there have been two different versions of Secret Wars, with both crossover events being perfect for a Marvel game. Regardless of whether NetherRealm goes with the 1984 version of the crossover or the 2015 variant, fans would surely have a lot of fun with the campaign.
In the 1984 version of the story, a cosmic figure known as The Beyonder shows interest in Earth’s superheroes. Seeing their potential, he teleports them to a new planet called Battleworld, bringing the biggest Marvel supervillains along with them. A mixture between The Hunger Games and a Mortal Kombat-like tournament, Secret Wars saw the characters making use of alien technology as they battled against each other. Allowing for NetherRealm to go back to its Mortal Kombat roots, making the Battleworld fights into a tournament of some kind could work well. The Beyonder could also serve as a great final boss for the game.
The 2015 re-telling of Secret Wars is similar, only a bit more refined. Combining several comic book universes together via the destruction of their respective earths, the planets collided to form Battleworld. In the comics, readers get to see several versions of each hero, something that NetherRealm could play with just like they did in Mortal Kombat 11’s story. While the iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom briefly steals the Beyonder’s power in the original story, his role here is much larger, as he serves as the “big bad” of the modern Secret Wars. The cosmic-powered “God Emperor” Doom would serve as a more recognizable antagonist for most Marvel fans, something that could make the story a bit more appealing to a general audience. Still, just like Civil War, it fits perfectly with NetherRealm’s style of storytelling.
Option 3: Other Events Or Something Brand-New
Marvel’s long history of comics provides even more possibilities, with another great option being 2012’s Avengers vs. X-Men. Sure to be a sales hit, seeing the mutants battle the iconic tram could be a ton of fun. At the same time, NetherRealm has shown that it can make some stellar, original stories with established characters. Injustice is a prime example of this, with the core storyline being heavily praised by newcomers and DC fans alike. While there is no telling what this story could look like, there is a whole universe that could be pulled from.
Lesser-known characters like Adam Warlock and Nova could get some time to shine via a Cosmic-focused Marvel game. Something like the Axis event works, too, with that comic run seeing the morality of heroes and villains flipped. As a result, Superior Iron Man and other dark versions of the heroes fought against former villains like Magneto, providing an entirely fresh spin on the usual storylines. The Thunderbolts could get involved, as could The Dark Avengers. Gamers could choose a side between Atlantis and Wakanda in a massive war, while The Inhumans could go rogue and try to spread their empire further.
Even some more straightforward angles could work, with heavy hitters like Thanos, Ultron, and Loki uniting. A time travel-focused villain like Kang also opens a whole new world of possibilities, while the world-eater Galactus serves as the safest choice available for a final boss encounter. NetherRealm’s clever storylines and smart use of its characters, both original and licensed, are proof that it could make just about anything work. As such, while Civil War and Secret Wars are perfect fits for this unannounced game, there are many more options available to the studio. With Injustice also proving that taking risks can pay off, a story not based off any specific comic book runs could be a ton of fun, too. With even a Marvel vs. DC game on the table, NetherRealm's Marvel game seems like a surefire success.