Phoenix from Marvel Rivals Draws Me Back from Overwatch 2

Phoenix just dropped in Marvel Rivals. So guess what? I might ditch Overwatch 2 for a bit and dive back into NetEase’s universe. Not because I’m a Phoenix fanboy or something—far from it. Honestly, all I know about her comes from a frantic Wikipedia dive after her announcement for season 3 and something I noticed in her trailer. She struts like a regular human—okay, mutant—and it’s wild ‘cause, let’s be real, this game didn’t exactly wow me before.

When Rivals hit the scene in December 2024, Reddit exploded with folks whining about sluggish character speeds. Some likened it to wading through molasses, while others chalked it up to a perspective illusion—thinking, of course, games like Overwatch feel snappier in first person. I was on team Molasses, slowly losing interest as each character sauntered like it was a Sunday stroll. Less playing, more grumbling.

Overwatch 2 threw its third-person Stadium mode into the mix and seeing Phoenix zoom around got me curious. Was Rivals really as slow as I remembered? Kinda, yeah.

I hit the practice arenas—distance markers everywhere, perfect for testing my theory. Bouncing between characters, I discovered Rivals’ heroes take a smidge longer than Overwatch 2’s to hit five meters. Seems dire? Funny thing is, Rivals scales distance differently. Five meters there equals about 11.5 inches, compared to Overwatch 2’s 10 inches. Weird, right?

You’re like, “Who cares?” But that tweak means Rivals’ folks are moving as fast as—or faster than—most Overwatch 2 dudes, covering more ground in about the same number of steps. Speed’s not the real issue. It’s all in the vibe.

Cloak, Dagger, Namor, Spider-Man—they strut like they’re auditioning for some slow-mo drama flick, bounding in grand arcs down the field. Iron Fist is the only one keeping things snappy, while everyone else drags battles into slo-mo elegance. It’s like a ballet, complete with weapon sounds dampened to pops and snaps. Seriously, Winter Soldier’s pistol could double as a Nerf gun, and Scarlet Witch’s magic is as lively as a nap. Pretty, yeah, but not hero material.

Phoenix shakes it up. Her attacks come with this blazing whoosh and mini-explosions if you hit the same enemy thrice. Her other move? Bigger bang. She morphs into this fiery bird and zips around the map—no endless cooldowns. Her dodges and direction shifts are sharp and snappy, adding this sense of urgency, like she means business. Even if her speed matches Cloak and Dagger, she looks faster.

Finally, NetEase nailed it—a combo of style and oomph that’s far from snoozeworthy. Phoenix might not reinvent the wheel, but she fights like a powerhouse, and you feel it. And that, my friends, is good enough for me.