Undoubtedly, one of the biggest success stories of the 2020s is the Invincible franchise. What started as a relatively niche comic book series that released in the early 2000s has quickly developed into a multimedia franchise, primarily due to the Invincible Amazon Prime series. People now carry the series with the same sort of value once reserved for Marvel and DC, and, as such, characters from the franchise have frequently made the jump to video games as well. Whether crossovers or dedicated games, if you want to experience the world of Invincible, you have plenty of options.
One of the most promising announcements as part of the “Invincible Universe” was Invincible VS. Published by Skybound Games and developed by Quarter Up, it promises to be an assist-based fighting game that can stand alongside some of the genre’s best. Combining the talents of former Killer Instinct (2013) developers with bloody gameplay designed to be accessible to both fighting game veterans and newcomers, and the Invincible universe, should be a match made in heaven. After playing the game for myself as someone who’s a relatively casual fan of both Invincible and fighting games, I can confidently say that, despite a few issues here and there, Invincible VS is truly worthy of the name—
INVINCIBLE!
For those who’ve been living under a rock, Invincible focuses on the titular superhero, also known as Mark Grayson. Despite his title, he is frequently beaten and bloodied by the likes of the Viltrumites, a group of alien warriors that his father, Omni-Man, belongs to, as well as more human threats. Invincible VS continues this narrative with a story mode that is “ambiguously canon.” It starts with him and his friends, such as Atom Eve, Rex Splode, and Robot, fighting against a group of Viltrumites. However, as they fight more and more, they realize that there is more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye. It’s up to Invincible to figure out who’s manipulating him, his friends, and enemies to fight each other, and stop them before they can complete their goals.
For the most part, the story mode of Invincible VS is pretty bare bones. The full playthrough will last around 3 hours, give or take, depending on what difficulty you choose. While it’s a great way to get used to the overall gameplay mechanics, the narrative in particular is fairly lackluster. There are some pretty fun nods and additions that fans of the comic will get a kick out of, but it still feels very anti-climactic. Right as the story starts to build towards a showdown with these characters as higher stakes are introduced, it ends on a cliffhanger, and the credits roll. There may be more additions to the story mode in future updates, but as of right now, it’s a disappointing addition to the broader Invincible universe and feels more like a filler episode of the show rather than a well-thought-out arc worthy of the comic.
That said, one of the best things about Invincible VS is how it shows off the game’s stunning graphics and animations. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful fighting games I’ve ever played in my life. The colors pop, characters move in dynamic and fluid ways, and even in cutscenes, fight scenes are fast-paced yet still easy to follow. In some ways, it does a better job of adapting the comic-style visuals than the show, thanks to the use of cel-shading and stunning character models. Even if the story itself is less than stellar, the visuals alone are enough to make it worth it if you’re a fan of the Invincible franchise.
Still, even if you are disappointed by the story modes, you may find yourself more drawn to the bonus features and modes. For starters, there’s the arcade mode, a mainstay of any fighting game. Here, you can play through ladders of varying difficulty with your team of characters. Upon completion, you get a special cutscene for your lead team member. While these don’t necessarily expand the lore or broader Invincible story, they still serve as a great way to show off the characters on display. Plus, they feature some fun nods to the show itself. You can find more nods in the Extras menu, with comic covers, concept art, and cosmetics you can unlock as you level up each of your characters.
Something else you’ll notice, especially if you’re a fan of the show, is that not all the original voice actors have been able to reprise their roles. Some have, such as Gillian Jacobs as Atom Eve, J.K. Simmons as Omni Man, and Michael Dorn as Battle Beast, but others, like Cecil Stedman, Conquest, and Invincible himself, have been recast for the game’s purposes. It’s an unfortunately unavoidable problem, especially as said characters are voiced by major Hollywood actors, like Walton Goggins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Steven Yeun, who likely weren’t available or feasible for the game’s budget. Still, in certain cases, it’s hard not to be distracted by the absence since the voices of certain characters are so key to their identity. However, in other situations, it does highlight just how impressive the replacement voices are, as Aleks Le in particular does a fantastic job imitating Steven Yeun’s voice as Invincible.
My biggest issue with Invincible VS, though, is related to the aforementioned roster. Specifically, the choices of characters available at launch. Upon release, Invincible VS has 18 characters, which is par for the course for most modern fighting games. Yet, the variety of characters chosen leaves something to be desired. Five members of the roster belong to the Viltrum Empire, with two of them being fairly obscure in the grand scheme of things. Further, while the introduction of original character Ella Mental is a great touch, considering the lack of other major characters from the series, such as Oliver Grayson and Angstrom Levy, her addition to the roster alongside the Viltrumites feels like a wasted opportunity.
While these characters will likely be available in post-launch DLC content, it does make me slightly worried for the game’s success upon release. It feels like Invincible VS is more of a fighting game based on the show, rather than the original comic, which could work to both its benefit and detriment. What this means is that, as future seasons of the show are released, new characters could immediately debut in the game and give it a life cycle that could last years. On the flip side, it means that the roster and story are inherently limited, as both are dependent on the release of new episodes rather than making the perfect love letter to all of Invincible from day one.
Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least interested to see what characters and updates we get post-launch. The possibilities for the former in particular are endless, as it’s only a matter of time before major antagonist Thragg is added as DLC. Part of my excitement for the future of Invincible VS is because the gameplay is absolutely fantastic and makes me, a fighting game novice, want to get better at understanding its mechanics.
“I Defy The Crooked Little Smiles of Them”
The fighting game genre has always been one that I’ve wanted to get into, but one that has evaded me due to a lack of interest in “getting good.” There haven’t really been many that have had interesting characters and systems that I wanted to learn and unravel to such an extent that I struggle to even consider playing online, let alone playing in tournaments. Invincible VS, however, is one of the few that have been released in the last few years that have genuinely grabbed me because of just how satisfying the mechanics are.
It takes the best elements from the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise, Killer Instinct, and Mortal Kombat to make something new and fresh. Invincible VS follows the assist-based format, in that you can pick three characters to switch between or summon for a brief attack. Each member of the roster follows a specific “archetype.” For example, Invincible is a balanced all-rounder while Powerplex focuses on ranged “pressure” attacks. All characters have various basic attacks, specials, and supers, as well as plenty of combo potential. Rather than having dedicated buttons for light, medium, and heavy punches and kicks, each button just corresponds to a light, medium, heavy, and special attack.
Despite the seeming simplicity of the controls and implementation of auto-combos for those starting, there are a lot of unique elements that more skilled players will need to master in order to reach peak performance online. For instance, if you time an assist just right, you can use it to break a combo. There’s also a way to push back attacks with a block, rather than your opponents pushing you back. Even though I’ve put several hours into the game already, I feel like I haven’t even come close to understanding all of the more advanced techniques I could pull off. That said, I do wish there were combo trials in the training mode, so that I’m not constantly having to consult the move list in order to figure out how to maximize damage. The lack of a feature to play training mode while in matchmaking is also disappointing.
Where Invincible VS brings in elements from Mortal Kombat is in the emphasis on brutality. Those who are familiar with the original series will know just how bloody fights tend to get, with characters being maimed or killed in increasingly twisted ways. Each battle in Invincible VS reflects this style, as fighters will frequently get bloodied as the fight continues. If you use a super or are halfway through a combo when your opponent’s HP meter runs out, their body explodes in a mess of blood and guts in an “overkill” move. It’s a genuinely great mechanic and helps to make the game feel even closer to an episode of Invincible. The fantastic sound design and soundtrack also help to make each battle feel even more invigorating.
Despite my issues with the choice of characters in the roster, I will say that each of them feels great to control. No one character feels similar to another, and even the most obscure inclusions have some downright absurd potential. Take Thula, for instance. Despite being one of the many soldiers in the Viltrum Empire, who occasionally plays a role in both the comic and show, Quarter Up was still able to give her an extremely versatile hair whip, which makes her deadly at both short and long range. Even the characters from the show that I never thought I would care about, like Anissa, I found myself adoring when it comes to their gameplay.
At the end of the day, that’s the greatest masterstroke at the heart of Invincible VS. You may not be the biggest fan of the original series, and even if you are, you may find an issue with the compromises to the roster and story offerings. Yet, the rich gameplay systems, the unique playstyles that each character offers, the fantastic presentation, and the overall satisfying controls will keep you coming back over and over again. Plus, the netcode is absolutely fantastic, so you are sure to have a fantastic experience regardless of if you’re playing against others online or locally. While there perhaps isn’t as many offerings on day one as you’d expect, Invincible VS is already shaping up to be one of the best fighting games of the last few years.
Invincible vs. the Universe
Much like the fighting game genre, I’ve frequently found myself struggling to truly fall in love with the Invincible series. Even though I’ve watched all the seasons, there was always something about the series and its subject matter that kept me from becoming a die-hard fan or even reading the original comics. As such, when I first learned about the prospect of an Invincible fighting game, while I thought it could be fun, I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to play it. However, once I played Invincible VS for myself, it helped me to see the broader franchise in a new light.
This is a truly fantastic fighting game, regardless of your experience with Invincible or the genre. The overabundance of unique systems and gameplay options means that no two battles will play exactly the same. Even if you’re someone who prefers not to play online, the addition of a story and arcade mode means that you won’t be running out of things to do anytime soon. If you do prefer the multiplayer options, then the brilliant netcode ensures that each battle will feel as smooth as butter, whether or not you’re playing with someone right next to you or halfway across the world.
Certainly, Invincible VS isn’t perfect by any means. The short story mode means that you may not get too much long-term enjoyment out of the experience. Further, the lack of combo trials or the ability to train while queuing up for matchmaking feels like a case of missed potential. Most notably, the limited roster is very frustrating, and I wish that more spots were given to more notable characters rather than the likes of Thula and Lucan. However, these problems are minor compared to just how fun Invincible VS is as a whole.
The greatest accomplishment of Invincible VS is that it made me appreciate the original series even more. After playing this game, I now want to rewatch all of the older seasons and even read the comic at some point. I cannot wait to see how this game continues to evolve in the coming months and years, as it will undoubtedly flourish through tournaments and numerous post-launch updates and DLC additions. For now, I can confidently say that this game is worthy of the name “Invincible” and is a must-play even if you’re not a die-hard fan of the genre or the original series.
Disclaimer: Skybound Games provided a PlayStation 5 copy of Invincible VS for review purposes.
