FROM ZEROES TO HEROES
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Review

In the expansive tapestry of Marvel's vast universe, few teams have resonated with audiences quite like the unconventional ensemble known as the Guardians of the Galaxy. Renowned for their irreverent humor, unexpected heroism, and heartfelt camaraderie, these cosmic misfits have endeared themselves to fans across comics and cinema alike. Now, Eidos-Montréal invites players to embark on an exhilarating new chapter alongside Star-Lord and his eclectic crew in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. This third-person action-adventure promises an intoxicating mix of sharp-witted banter, pulse-pounding combat sequences, and a narrative brimming with unexpected twists and emotional depth.


GAMEPLAY (8/10):
The player takes on the role of Star-Lord (Peter Quill) but commands the entire team, utilizing each member’s unique abilities in combat and puzzle-solving scenarios. The combat system is dynamic and encourages strategic thinking. As Star-Lord, you can use your elemental guns, jet boots, and melee attacks. Simultaneously, you issue commands to Rocket, Groot, Drax, and Gamora, each with distinct skills such as heavy attacks, healing, and crowd control. The Huddle mechanic allows for mid-battle pep talks, which can provide temporary buffs based on your dialogue choices. The game features semi-open levels where exploration is rewarded with collectibles, crafting components, and hidden lore. Puzzles are integrated into the environment, often requiring the Guardians to work together, leveraging their specific talents to progress. Throughout the game, players collect resources to upgrade abilities and equipment. While the customization is not as deep as some RPGs, it offers enough variety to tailor combat and exploration styles.

GRAPHICS AND ATMOSPHERE (9/10):
The game excels in its visual presentation, offering a vibrant and colorful universe. Character models are detailed, capturing the essence of the Guardians without relying on the likenesses from the MCU. The diverse alien environments are lush and imaginative, bringing the cosmic setting to life. The atmosphere is enriched by detailed environments, from bustling spaceports to eerie alien landscapes. Each location feels unique, with attention to detail that adds depth to the world-building. The game runs smoothly on next-gen consoles and high-end PCs, though there may be occasional frame rate drops on older hardware. The visual effects, especially in combat, are impressive and add to the chaotic fun.

SOUND AND MUSIC (10/10):
The voice acting is top-notch, with each actor bringing their character to life with humor, emotion, and personality. The dialogue is witty and true to the Guardians' banter, making interactions feel genuine and engaging. The sound design is equally impressive, with satisfying auditory feedback for combat, environmental sounds that enhance immersion, and unique audio cues for each Guardian’s abilities. The soundtrack is a highlight, featuring a mix of licensed '80s hits and an original score that captures the spirit of the Guardians. The licensed tracks are used effectively, especially during key moments and the Huddle mechanic, providing a nostalgic and energetic boost to the gameplay.

STORY AND CHARACTERS (8/10):
The story is a compelling space adventure that balances humor, drama, and action. It explores themes of family, trust, and redemption, giving each Guardian a moment to shine. The plot is well-paced, with twists and emotional beats that keep players invested. Each member of the Guardians is well-developed, with personal arcs that add depth to the narrative. The dynamic between the characters is a core strength of the game, driving much of the humor and emotional resonance.

GAME LENGTH AND COMPLETION TIME (6/10):
The main campaign typically takes around 15-20 hours to complete, depending on the player’s pace and exploration habits. For those who enjoy completing side missions, finding all collectibles, and unlocking all upgrades, the game offers an additional 5-10 hours of content. Completionists can expect a total playtime of around 20-30 hours.

CONCLUSION AND SCORE:
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a delightful and engaging adventure that successfully captures the spirit of the beloved misfit team. Its strong narrative, excellent character work, and thrilling combat mechanics make it a essential experience for fans of the Marvel universe. The game's vibrant visuals, superb sound design, and nostalgic soundtrack further enhance the experience, creating a well-rounded and memorable journey through the cosmos. However, the game is not without its shortcomings. The main campaign, while engaging and well-paced, may feel a bit short for players who prefer longer, more expansive adventures. While the side missions and collectibles add some additional playtime, the overall experience feels like it ends just as the player is fully immersed in the Guardians' universe. Despite these minor criticism, Guardians of the Galaxy remains a highly entertaining and heartfelt game that fans of the franchise and newcomers alike will enjoy.

SCORE: 8.1/10

Really fun game, wish i played it earlier as its been sitting in my library for a couple years now.
Combat is very fun and comboing is very satisfying.
Story is really good, and the characters are entertaining.
Soundtrack is great, though I did get rickrolled many times throughout the game

However it doesnt have huge replayability as some of the walking sections with dialogue can be fairly long, which is fine the first time round but on replaying it can be a bit of a slog at times (definitely try to find all the collectibles and get all the call to action achievements the first time round so you dont have to replay if you plan to 100%)

Got it on sale was WAAAAAY WORTH IT. pretty fun and rocking soundtrack.

This game is a master piece. It makes players feel as if they are Starlord in a universe that mixes comedy, tragedy and adventure and it just feels right. Even if you are not big fun of marvel, you will enjoy this jewel.
Big yes for this one.

Great story and gameplay, as long as you don't mind a relatively linear story. Didn't run well at all on Steam Deck OLED. Tried putting all settings to low and capping FPS at 35! Waited 1:30 for one cut scene to end, have screen shot to prove it. If you're buying for SD, don't! Ruined what would have been a good experience.

I’m using a steam deck to play this game. 2/3 of the way into the game, the frame rate dropped significantly to the point that the movements were so far apart that it looked like it was frozen. I was disappointed because I was close to completing it.

Actual ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ slop

I honestly wasn't expecting to love this game at first, I tried to pick it up a few times but always got distracted by another game and no one I knew had said anything about this one to make me really want to lock in on it, especially with Peter being the only playable character. But once I did, I fell completely in love.
The story takes so much inspiration from the comics while giving you the comedy and character dynamics you know from the movies, and adds incredible game play and music that ties in amazingly (the music does get repetitive but all the story beats they hit with the songs they have makes up for it imo)
The story is amazing. The fighting and gameplay is amazing. The comedy is amazing. If you've doubted this game, don't. I got goosebumps and laughed out loud more times playing this than my first time playing Spider-Man PS4, and that's saying a lot.

Fun but short

The best Marvel experience in recent years. The action and story is fun and engaging.