Marvel Cosmic Invasion Switch 2 Review: Dotemu and Tribute Games Deliver Another Arcade Beat 'Em Up Classic
Marvel Cosmic Invasion launches as a new benchmark for modern beat 'em up games on Nintendo Switch 2, brought to life by the acclaimed teams at Dotemu and Tribute Games.
Following the critical and commercial triumph of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge in 2022, the expectations for this Marvel-branded brawler were sky-high.
Dotemu and Tribute Games have quickly built a reputation for reviving classic genres with authenticity and innovation, a legacy that continues with this new Nintendo Switch 2 release. When Tribute Games and Dotemu announced Shredder’s Revenge, many in the gaming community—including this reporter—were skeptical, given numerous past attempts to capture the magic of classic Konami TMNT arcade games.
However, Shredder’s Revenge not only met but exceeded those lofty expectations, earning accolades as one of the most enjoyable beat 'em ups in recent memory.
With that track record, the reveal of Marvel Cosmic Invasion was met with far less doubt and much more excitement within the industry. Marvel Cosmic Invasion, out now on Nintendo Switch 2 and available via the eShop, draws notable parallels to Shredder's Revenge.
It boasts classic, sprite-based scrolling gameplay reminiscent of arcade golden-age brawlers.
Players can choose between campaign and arcade modes, with campaign mode offering a robust leveling system for each of the 15 playable Marvel heroes, while arcade mode provides streamlined, challenging action.
The soundscape is once again composed by Tee Lopes, whose energetic music and the opening animation set the tone for a nostalgic yet fresh Marvel adventure. Diving into the gameplay, Marvel Cosmic Invasion distinguishes itself through its significantly diverse character roster.
Each of the fifteen heroes features unique abilities—some can fly, others wield ranged projectiles, while a few excel at hand-to-hand combat.
The game cleverly manages these powers with cooldown systems and encourages players to fully utilize both offensive and defensive techniques.
For instance, Iron Man can temporarily unleash a barrage of repulsor blasts if he successfully blocks an enemy projectile, adding strategic depth to the combat. Unlike most beat 'em ups, players can select two characters at a time and switch between them during gameplay or call in their partner for combo attacks.
The campaign mode’s structure motivates experimentation, referencing canon character pairings and tying stage-specific challenges to those duos.
Points accumulated through play unlock content such as alternate costumes, arcade modifiers, database lore entries, and a full soundtrack—enhancing replayability, especially for solo or multiplayer sessions supporting up to four players locally. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is saturated with Marvel fan service.
Whether through cameos, in-jokes, or visual nods to Capcom's classic fighting games, the title crafts a celebratory romp across the Marvel Universe—appealing to fans of comics, film, animation, and video games alike.
The story, while broad, manages to incorporate an impressive array of heroes and villains. However, some drawbacks were observed during the review process.
Unlike Shredder's Revenge, six-player mode has been trimmed down to four, and the game exhibits occasional slowdown during peak action—a surprising issue even on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.
Additionally, the absence of variety-breaking stages—such as vehicular segments found in TMNT—may leave players seeking more gameplay diversity.
Some notable Marvel characters are missing, which may hint at future downloadable content.
Still, a 15-character roster sets a high standard for the genre. Despite these minor issues, Marvel Cosmic Invasion stands as a testament to Tribute Games and Dotemu’s command of the beat 'em up format.
This game is a must-play for fans of Marvel and arcade action alike, proving the genre’s timeless appeal when executed with passion and respect for its roots.
For those about to brawl, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another co-op classic worthy of a spot in your Switch 2 library. Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Review Copy Provided by Dotemu Score: 8/10
Following the critical and commercial triumph of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge in 2022, the expectations for this Marvel-branded brawler were sky-high.
Dotemu and Tribute Games have quickly built a reputation for reviving classic genres with authenticity and innovation, a legacy that continues with this new Nintendo Switch 2 release. When Tribute Games and Dotemu announced Shredder’s Revenge, many in the gaming community—including this reporter—were skeptical, given numerous past attempts to capture the magic of classic Konami TMNT arcade games.
However, Shredder’s Revenge not only met but exceeded those lofty expectations, earning accolades as one of the most enjoyable beat 'em ups in recent memory.
With that track record, the reveal of Marvel Cosmic Invasion was met with far less doubt and much more excitement within the industry. Marvel Cosmic Invasion, out now on Nintendo Switch 2 and available via the eShop, draws notable parallels to Shredder's Revenge.
It boasts classic, sprite-based scrolling gameplay reminiscent of arcade golden-age brawlers.
Players can choose between campaign and arcade modes, with campaign mode offering a robust leveling system for each of the 15 playable Marvel heroes, while arcade mode provides streamlined, challenging action.
The soundscape is once again composed by Tee Lopes, whose energetic music and the opening animation set the tone for a nostalgic yet fresh Marvel adventure. Diving into the gameplay, Marvel Cosmic Invasion distinguishes itself through its significantly diverse character roster.
Each of the fifteen heroes features unique abilities—some can fly, others wield ranged projectiles, while a few excel at hand-to-hand combat.
The game cleverly manages these powers with cooldown systems and encourages players to fully utilize both offensive and defensive techniques.
For instance, Iron Man can temporarily unleash a barrage of repulsor blasts if he successfully blocks an enemy projectile, adding strategic depth to the combat. Unlike most beat 'em ups, players can select two characters at a time and switch between them during gameplay or call in their partner for combo attacks.
The campaign mode’s structure motivates experimentation, referencing canon character pairings and tying stage-specific challenges to those duos.
Points accumulated through play unlock content such as alternate costumes, arcade modifiers, database lore entries, and a full soundtrack—enhancing replayability, especially for solo or multiplayer sessions supporting up to four players locally. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is saturated with Marvel fan service.
Whether through cameos, in-jokes, or visual nods to Capcom's classic fighting games, the title crafts a celebratory romp across the Marvel Universe—appealing to fans of comics, film, animation, and video games alike.
The story, while broad, manages to incorporate an impressive array of heroes and villains. However, some drawbacks were observed during the review process.
Unlike Shredder's Revenge, six-player mode has been trimmed down to four, and the game exhibits occasional slowdown during peak action—a surprising issue even on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.
Additionally, the absence of variety-breaking stages—such as vehicular segments found in TMNT—may leave players seeking more gameplay diversity.
Some notable Marvel characters are missing, which may hint at future downloadable content.
Still, a 15-character roster sets a high standard for the genre. Despite these minor issues, Marvel Cosmic Invasion stands as a testament to Tribute Games and Dotemu’s command of the beat 'em up format.
This game is a must-play for fans of Marvel and arcade action alike, proving the genre’s timeless appeal when executed with passion and respect for its roots.
For those about to brawl, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another co-op classic worthy of a spot in your Switch 2 library. Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Review Copy Provided by Dotemu Score: 8/10
