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Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:24 pm
by Max Peck


The player character is a new hero designed by Firaxis and Marvel, with a supporting cast of established Marvel characters.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:29 pm
by NickAragua
No X-Com no sale.

But seriously, that's a nice movie trailer, but what about gameplay? I assume since it's Firaxis, it's some kind of turn-based squad thing.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:30 pm
by coopasonic
March 2022.

Like Nick I need to see gameplay before I am in.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:32 pm
by Smoove_B
That trailer music is just...ugh.

I'm intrigued. Want to see more.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:33 pm
by Sudy
I hate cinematic game trailers. It's like a movie trailer that's only audio. Or a radio ad that's unspoken text. Or a restaurant menu that only lists nutritional data. Or an IKEA assembly manual that pops out a robotic hand that just slaps you repeatedly.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:38 pm
by coopasonic
I heard gameplay reveal coming 9/1. Not sure where they got that, but I'll be looking.

Also 100% with Smoove on the music, that may have been the worst cover I have ever heard.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:42 pm
by Max Peck
There is a gameplay premiere scheduled for 1 Sept 2022. They didn't get into that today, but there was a short interview following the cinematic trailer.

I'll replace this Twitch link if the segment shows up on Youtube later:


Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:47 pm
by Sudy
The costumes look cool though. Tangentially they remind me of these, which are also awesome:

Enlarge Image

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Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:53 pm
by coopasonic
https://www.polygon.com/22641096/marvel ... escom-2021
“There are zero mechanics shared between XCOM and the Midnight Suns,” Solomon said.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:55 pm
by Sudy
Damn it, this better not be a Huniepop clone....

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:57 pm
by Isgrimnur
Players will embark on turn-based missions with three other superheroes. They and their compatriots’ skills will level up and improve over time. How those skills are advanced is perhaps the biggest departure from the XCOM franchise. In between missions, players will have free rein to explore The Abbey, an all-new headquarters area designed in partnership with Marvel Comics, and its grounds. Solomon said players will explore it in third person, using their time to develop relationships with the other superheroes.

“Robbie Reyes, the new Ghost Rider — he may want to play video games. Captain Marvel may want to go spar with you. Tony Stark may want to go play cards,” Solomon said. “You choose how to hang out with them, choose how you talk with them, give them gifts. There are [also] social clubs around The Abbey that you can join, and that affects your friendships with heroes. [...] Some of these are pretty lighthearted [since] the story is dark enough.”
Hey, Hunter! Let's go bowling!

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:58 pm
by coopasonic
Read the article I posted, but it's still turned based tactics with a 4 person team with skills growing over time. The dynamics are just very different from xcom so it doesn't play out in the same way.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:20 pm
by Freyland
I really didn't get who was being awakened, and who is the villain from that.

Edit: nm, the link cleared that up.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:28 pm
by Max Peck
Freyland wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 3:20 pm I really didn't get who was being awakened, and who is the villain from that.
The player character ("The Hunter") is being woken. The villain is your mom -- Lilith, Mother of Demons (which presumably tells us something about The Hunter's origin story).

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 4:15 pm
by LordMortis
coopasonic wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:53 pm https://www.polygon.com/22641096/marvel ... escom-2021
“There are zero mechanics shared between XCOM and the Midnight Suns,” Solomon said.
So you're saying it's a new Alpha Centuri?

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:55 pm
by Grifman
It's described as sort of a TB Mass Effect.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:13 pm
by Smoove_B
Grifman wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:55 pm It's described as sort of a TB Mass Effect.
So like...XCOM?

I'm so confused.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:26 pm
by Max Peck
Well, XCOM without the strategic layer, base building, R&D or personnel management.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:02 pm
by Grifman
Smoove_B wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:13 pm
Grifman wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:55 pm It's described as sort of a TB Mass Effect.
So like...XCOM?

I'm so confused.
Why would you say XCom when I just described it as a cross between XCom and Mass Effect? :) The combat will be TB but you will have a base of operations where you go back, hang out with your team, talk to them, etc. Like the Normandy in Mass Effect. This of an XCom/ME mashup.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:03 pm
by Grifman
Surprised no one has posted the IGN interview with Jake Solomon, lots of good info here:

https://www.ign.com/videos/marvel-midni ... by-firaxis

An interesting take away is that we haven’t seen all of the heroes in the trailer. Jake says that 12 heroes will be available, but there are only 10 (including the “Hunter”) in the trailer so there will be 2 to 3 more available to play.

This should clear up some stuff about the game but I'm certain the game play trailer next week will tell us a lot more.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:25 pm
by Smoove_B
Grifman wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:02 pm Why would you say XCom when I just described it as a cross between XCom and Mass Effect? :)
Because of the earlier quote provided by our resident XCOM expert:
“There are zero mechanics shared between XCOM and the Midnight Suns,” Solomon said.
I'm doing a whole "Who's on First" routine here. :D

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:10 pm
by Max Peck
At least this isn't an EGS exclusive.


Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:56 pm
by Isgrimnur
Yet.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:24 pm
by Max Peck
I'm pretty confident that Marvel doesn't need Epic's money.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:53 pm
by Victoria Raverna
Max Peck wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:24 pm

The player character is a new hero designed by Firaxis and Marvel, with a supporting cast of established Marvel characters.
Who is the person in the coffin that they resurrected?

Tried to google for it but can't find a group of superheroes called Midnight Suns. Found Midnight Sons which is about Dr. Strange and his team of heroes against Lilith. Are they the same? They changed Sons to Suns to be more PC? :)

There is a Midnight Sun which is a villain and Shang Chi's adopted brother.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:35 pm
by Grifman
Victoria Raverna wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:53 pm Who is the person in the coffin that they resurrected?
She's a totally new superhero developed by Firaxis working with Marvel who will be your avatar/character. They wanted a hero with sort of a blank slate that you could develop how you wished. She's an expert on the evil they are fighting and sort of becomes the de facto leader of the group.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 11:14 pm
by Max Peck
Victoria Raverna wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:53 pm Found Midnight Sons which is about Dr. Strange and his team of heroes against Lilith. Are they the same?
Yes. Jake Solomon (design lead for the game) explicitly stated that Midnight Sons is one of his favorite Marvel story arcs. I'm not sure whether the name change to Midnight Suns is intended to be "PC" or simply to reflect that the team is no longer an all-boys club.

The blurb for the game on Steam sets up the story:
After centuries of sleep, Lilith, Mother of Demons, has been revived by Hydra through a twist of dark magic and science. Lilith stops at nothing to complete an ancient prophecy and bring back her evil master, Chthon. Pushed to the brink, the Avengers desperately look to fight fire with hellfire and enlist the help of the Midnight Suns - Nico Minoru, Blade, Magik and Ghost Rider - young heroes with powers deeply rooted in the supernatural, formed to prevent the very prophecy Lilith aims to fulfill. Together, they resurrect an ancient warrior - the Hunter, Lilith’s forsaken child and the only hero known to have ever defeated her. In the face of fallen allies and the fate of the world at stake, it will be up to you to rise up against the darkness!

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2021 11:18 pm
by Max Peck
Grifman wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:03 pm An interesting take away is that we haven’t seen all of the heroes in the trailer. Jake says that 12 heroes will be available, but there are only 10 (including the “Hunter”) in the trailer so there will be 2 to 3 more available to play.
I believe he said that there would be that many at launch, which implies that we can expect to see more added down the road.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:09 pm
by rittchard
I'm embarrassed as a Marvel fan that I couldn't figure out who the main chick in the middle with two swords on her back is. EDIT: oh I guess the main character is you lol.

The ones I recognized for sure were: Ghost Rider, Dr Strange, Wolvy, Magik, Iron Man, Blade, Cap, Captain Marvel... looks like a pretty cool ensemble.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:37 pm
by Smoove_B
Just needs Gambit and I can pre-order with ease. :D

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 3:39 pm
by IceBear
Friaxis, TBS and Marvel is a sure buy for me. Have a bad feeling I won't be able to run it on my machine though. Really need to upgrade but no free $$$

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 5:10 am
by Formix
Paste Pot Pete reference in 3 . . .2 . . , oh, wait.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 1:13 pm
by Sudy
Do you want hepcats? Because that's how you get hepcats.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 9:24 pm
by hepcat
Laugh all you want. Triple P will get his own Triple A game.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:26 am
by Grifman
Unfortunately (IMO), it looks like the game is going to use a card mechanic for powers per a preview in Game Informer:

Image

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:02 am
by Max Peck
The gameplay premiere is today, so we should know for sure how it plays in a few hours (11:30am PT/2:30pm ET/18:30 GMT).

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:47 am
by Sudy
As long as packs aren't monetized, I don't have a problem with this. I presume the primary concern about a card mechanic is randomness? (Outside of personal preference.) You'd get the randomness somewhere, whether it was visible or not. But I guess randomness with a card-based mechanic can potentially be worse if it's not designed well, especially before your "desk" is optimized. But well designed difficulty should account for that.

Could be fun. Firaxis has continued to be pretty reliable, haven't they? But we'll see.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:25 am
by Grifman
Sudy wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:47 am As long as packs aren't monetized, I don't have a problem with this. I presume the primary concern about a card mechanic is randomness? (Outside of personal preference.) You'd get the randomness somewhere, whether it was visible or not. But I guess randomness with a card-based mechanic can potentially be worse if it's not designed well, especially before your "desk" is optimized. But well designed difficulty should account for that.

Could be fun. Firaxis has continued to be pretty reliable, haven't they? But we'll see.
I just find card battlers to be contrived and "unrealistic" (yes, I know, it's a game but still). Does Ironman have to draw a card in real life before he can use his repulsor beams? Does Cap have to draw a card before he uses his shield throw? No, that's just silly, they use their abilities when the tactical situation requires it.

Iron Man: "I need to use by chest ray, oops, don't have the card for it. Hey, Cap, could use a shield throw about now."
Captain America: "One shield throw coming right - oops, sorry, I don't have the card for that either."

You get the idea :doh:

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:35 am
by Sudy
I do. I guess I've just come to accept the convention. Buttons and APs aren't "realistic" either. This doesn't have to be Marvel: The Simulation. We can have Marvel: Street Fighter Clone, or Marvel: Puzzle Quest, or whatever.

Re: Marvel's Midnight Suns [Firaxis]

Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:47 am
by malchior
Smoove_B wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:32 pm That trailer music is just...ugh.
Exactly my reaction. When your advertising budget only allows for the crappy cover...move on.
Max Peck wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:02 am The gameplay premiere is today, so we should know for sure how it plays in a few hours (11:30am PT/2:30pm ET/18:30 GMT).
I'll probably check it out. I'm skeptical but curious.