Marvel's Midnight Suns
Marvel's Midnight Suns is a 2022 tactical role-playing game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. The game features comic book characters from multiple Marvel Comics properties, such as Midnight Sons, Avengers, X-Men, and Runaways. Players are able to create their own superhero named "The Hunter", who must lead other characters to rebel against Lilith, the "mother of demons", as she attempts to bring her master, Chthon, back to life. Combat in the game is turn-based and mixed with deck-building. Between combat missions, players manage their base of operations called "The Abbey" which they can walk around in a third-person view, research upgrades, interact with the game's cast of characters and build friendships with them.
Marvel Games approached Firaxis Games for the development of a new Marvel project in 2017, after being impressed by their work on the modern XCOM games. Initially, the team attempted to apply the XCOM gameplay formula, such as a focus on cover system and permadeath, on Midnight Suns, though they were scrapped as they realized that they did not make thematic sense in a game centered on powerful superheroes. Its deck-building gameplay was inspired by games such as Slay the Spire, while its social elements were inspired by Japanese role-playing games such as Fire Emblem and Persona. The game was inspired by Saturday morning cartoons, and Rise of the Midnight Sons and Inferno were the comic book events that influenced the game's setting and characters.
Midnight Suns released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on December 2, 2022. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released on May 11, 2023. A Nintendo Switch version was also planned but later canceled. The game received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the game's strategic gameplay, narrative, and its focus on relationship building with Marvel heroes. Its writing, however, has been criticized. It was nominated for Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year at the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Despite the game's strong critical reception, it was a commercial failure for its publisher. Firaxis released four downloadable content packs, which follows the Midnight Suns as they fight against Dracula and his forces of vampires.
Gameplay
Midnight Suns is a tactical role-playing game. Players take the role of "The Hunter", the child of Lilith, as they lead a selection of heroes in various missions to defeat her. Combat is turn-based, mixed with deck-building. Each hero, including the Hunter, has their own customizable deck of eight cards. At the start of each mission, players choose three heroes to take into battle, with their decks combined into one that is to be drawn from each round. In each turn, players have three Card Plays, two opportunities to redraw cards, and a chance to move and reposition one of their heroes. The heroes will automatically move to attack their enemy after a card is chosen.There are three types of cards: Attack, Skill, and Herioc. Attack cards deal damage to enemies, some of which have a "knockback" effect, allowing players to push them towards environmental hazards or other allies for additional damages. Skill cards play a support role, such as healing characters, redrawing cards, and applying status effects on both the heroes and enemies. Heroic cards are powerful attacks that resemble the iconic abilities of each hero. Using Heroic attacks consumes "Heroism", a resource that is generated through using Skill and Attack cards. Players can also take advantage of items in the battlefield to launch environmental attacks, which consume Heroism but do not consume a card. Combat typically occurs in an arena where the player's squad of heroes must battle several waves of enemies. Some cards have a "quick" property, which refunds a Card Play to the squad if the card defeats an enemy. This allows players to chain the use of several cards together without using up any Card Plays.
The base game includes 13 playable characters, with four additional characters released as DLC. Each hero has their own unique skills and abilities, and plays different roles in combat. For instance, Scarlet Witch specializes in abilities that can deal area of effect damage, Blade has cards that allow him to attack enemies and drain their health, and Magik can reposition enemies by sending them through portals. Players can customize the Hunter and their superpowers from over 40 different abilities. The Hunter has three types of abilities: Light skills, which focus on supporting the team and generating heroic points; Dark abilities, which deal powerful damage to enemies at the cost of the Hunter's health or heroic points; and Power skills, which provide a balanced mix between offense and defense. Eventually, players will obtain a neck collar and outfits, which also grant them passive perks. While the Hunter exists as a blank slate for the player, players can align them towards the light side or the dark side for role-playing purpose through ability usage and interacting with other heroes. Players can also play as The Hunter's pet, Hellhound Charlie, in specific missions.
The Abbey
Between combat missions, players manage their base of operations called "The Abbey" which they can walk around in a third-person view to explore the grounds and interact with other heroes. At the Forge, players can analyze gamma coils collected from each mission, and unlock new cards for the heroes who participated in the preceding mission. Some missions also reward players with "artifacts"; analyzing them raises the research level, allowing players to upgrade the Abbey with new rooms and areas, and build an item station that allows players to craft cards for single-use items for combat. In the yard, the Hunter can spar with other heroes, heal injured characters, and upgrade their cards. Upgrading cards requires the player to have at least two copies of the same card, and consumes "essence", which are also earned through missions or recycling duplicated cards. Mods can also be applied to each card to add additional perks. Players can also send characters for Hero Ops through the C.E.N.T.R.A.L. workstation, and start main and optional missions by accessing the Mirror Table at the War Room.After each combat mission, players can interact with other heroes, or participate in a "Hangout" or a "club meeting" in the Abbey. Players must select the activities that cater to the interest of a hero in order to gain maximum friendship with them. Purchasing an appropriate gift, as well as choosing the response that align with that hero's morality, will further boost the friendship XP gained in a hangout. With a high relationship level, the hero will open themselves up to the Hunter, and unlock additional costumes, the hero's legendary skills, and challenge levels. The area surrounding the Abbey can also be explored. As players progress, they will gain "Words of Power", which allows the Hunter to use magical powers to open up blocked paths. Through exploration, players will encounter optional puzzles, treasure chests, Tarot Card collectibles, and Havens, which are locations for special Hangouts.
Synopsis
scientist Doctor Faustus uses dark magic and science to resurrect Lilith in the hopes of using her to help Hydra conquer the world. Six months later, a star called the "Midnight Sun" approaches Earth, destabilizing magic and heralding the return of Lilith's master, Chthon.Doctor Strange and Iron Man attempt to get a page of the Darkhold called the Parchment of Power from Johnny Blaze, but he refuses. After being alerted to magic converging at the Sanctum Sanctorum, the two are joined by Carol Danvers and return to aid Wanda Maximoff in fighting Lilith and a Hydra squad until Strange can create a mystic shield to repel them. Realizing the Avengers are outmatched, Strange leaves Maximoff to maintain the shield while he takes Stark and Danvers to the Abbey to recruit the Midnight Suns — Nico Minoru, Magik, Blade, and Robbie Reyes — and Lilith's estranged sister, the Caretaker, to resurrect the Hunter, Lilith's child and killer. During the resurrection ritual, the Hunter's collar emits dark magic, forcing Minoru to complete the spell. Strange attempts to contact Maximoff for help in restoring the Hunter's memories, but learns she is in trouble. He, the Hunter, and Blade travel to the Sanctum, where they learn Lilith has enthralled Venom to help her destroy the shield and abduct Maximoff. Venom overpowers the Hunter until Spider-Man intervenes, allowing the heroes to retreat.
After learning the Midnight Sun's gamma energy is preventing Bruce Banner from transforming into the Hulk, the heroes recruit Spider-Man before capturing Faustus to learn Lilith's next objective. Although Hydra operative Crossbones kills him before he can talk, they find Faustus' journal and learn Hydra is stealing artifacts from the Sanctum. Meanwhile, Crossbones hires Sabretooth to kill the Hunter, but he is wounded by Wolverine and later enthralled by Lilith, who destroys Avengers Tower to steal a gamma accelerator and enthralls Banner. The Hunter and Stark recruit Steve Rogers, and the Hunter joins Minoru and Magik in using a divination spell to teleport to a Hydra base, where Banner uses the accelerator to empower an enthralled Maximoff. Unable to reason with her, the heroes retreat.
While stopping an attack by Lilith's demons, the heroes recruit Wolverine and fashion a new suit for the Hunter so they can bypass the Hydra base's mystic defenses. With the help of the upgraded suit, The Hunter can use the accelerator to destroy the Parchment, and free Maximoff. Blaze contacts Reyes and gives him the Parchment, but also attempts to give the Hunter to Mephisto, trapping them in Limbo and preventing Lilith from reaching the Hunter. Nonetheless, Magik frees them so the heroes can enact their plan, banishing Sabretooth to Limbo along the way. Blaze sacrifices himself to destroy the Parchment via the accelerator and free Maximoff, but Banner uses the device to transform into a smarter, demonic Hulk.
The heroes track Hydra and Lilith to her tomb, where Reyes tries to seal her and the Hulk in a cave before they can restore the Darkhold, but she unleashes demons around the world. After defeating Crossbones and his forces, the heroes steal a dagger imbued with Chthon's power while Maximoff and the Hunter subdue and free Banner. The heroes confront Lilith, who reveals her plot to destroy Chthon upon learning of his plans for her child and destroys the Hunter's collar, learning too late that it kept Chthon from possessing them. Nonetheless, the Hunter expels him while Lilith uses the dagger to destroy the Darkhold, restoring her human form. Realizing she and her child were corrupted by the grimoire, Lilith sends the heroes back to the Abbey while she, the Hunter, and Chthon's realm are consumed by the Darkhold. Although the heroes mourn the Hunter's death, the Caretaker believes that they are still alive. Elsewhere, Doctor Doom witnesses the events that transpired and takes the Darkhold for himself, deeming the other users "amateurs".