Oh man, so get this: Phoenix is popping up in Marvel Rivals, which got me thinking maybe it’s time to let Overwatch 2 gather some dust and dive back into the chaos that is NetEase’s hero shooter. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not exactly a Phoenix super-fan or anything. I basically just did a deep dive into Wikipedia after hearing she’s up for Season 3, and, oh, the character trailer. She moves, you know, like a normal person — okay, mutant — which is kind of refreshing because, let’s face it, Rivals hasn’t really mastered that yet.
Ever since December 2024 when the game dropped, folks over on Reddit (bless ’em) have been raving about how slow the characters seem. Honestly, it’s like moving through molasses, and I was starting to agree. There’s this whole debate — is it just some weird camera trick making Overwatch feel like a speedster in comparison? I mean, it sounds wild, but yeah, I’m all in with the folks who think Rivals is just slow. It was getting on my nerves. Each time I played, I’d get less patient with the whole thing. You know how it goes.
But, then Overwatch 2 came up with this genius third-person Stadium mode, and Phoenix… well, she seemed quicker off the mark. So, naturally, I put on my detective hat to find out if Rivals was really that slow. Spoilers: it kinda is. I mean, the practice arenas in both games have these measurement things — perfect for testing speed, right? So after tinkering around, turns out Rivals’ characters take like half a stride more to hit five meters compared to Overwatch 2. Uh-huh, that’s a thing. But Rivals also scales different… weirdly.
You’re sitting there wondering, “Why on Earth does this matter?” Well, buckle up. Basically, Rivals players are moving just as fast — maybe faster — because they’re hustling over longer distances in about the same number of steps. So, speed isn’t the issue. It’s more a case of style. Rivals characters like Cloak and Dagger or Spider-Man casually lope across the screen, it’s like watching a bad Baywatch audition. Attack combos have these awkward pauses unless you’re Iron Fist who gets it — kinda. Plus, the sound effects, I swear, Winter Soldier’s gun goes off like a cap gun.
But then you’ve got Phoenix, shaking things up. Her attacks come with this cool whoosh and kaboom if she lands three hits. That’s just fun! Her skills make you rethink dodging as she flies around all fiery and intense. It’s vibrant; the kind of buzz that gets your pulse racing. Her style actually makes you want to leap into battle, unlike others that feel like they’re wading through pudding. It’s like she’s in a constant boil of energy. Okay, Cloak and Dagger technically work faster in a stride count, but she just feels quicker.
Finally, NetEase nailed something — style and substance. Phoenix doesn’t make you feel bogged down. She moves like someone who knows how to throw a punch fast. Sure, she’s not breaking any speed records, but she keeps things exciting. And honestly? Sometimes, that’s all you really need.
