NetEase Games' commitment to releasing a new Marvel Rivals hero every half-season hasn't stopped a talented player from creating a playable Doctor Octopus.
Reddit user WickedCube recently unveiled a 30-second gameplay video showcasing a remarkably well-realized Doctor Octopus for Marvel Rivals. The footage, seemingly from a testing environment, depicts a pre-Hulk Bruce Banner and a surprisingly fluid, eight-armed Doctor Octopus. While rough around the edges, the character's design and movement are instantly recognizable. Doc Ock's abilities include "Havoc Claw" (melee) and "Wrecking Grip" (ranged), utilizing his arms to magnetically propel himself around obstacles, effectively granting him flight near structures. The impressive creation, boasting over 16,000 upvotes, is a testament to WickedCube's skill.
WickedCube explained his inspiration, stating that Doc Ock's tentacled abilities presented a unique challenge in 3D game development, a challenge he relished. The project was spurred by a recent PSN outage and the discovery of compelling Doctor Octopus fan art. He decided to create his own version in Unity.
The positive community response has been overwhelmingly supportive, with many urging NetEase to incorporate WickedCube's design. WickedCube expressed gratitude for the reception and indicated a willingness to share his ideas with NetEase. He plans to release a playable version and share the process through a YouTube tutorial series and open-source the code on GitHub.
NetEase's Marvel Rivals will receive its mid-season update on February 21st, introducing Human Torch and The Thing, further expanding the already impressive roster. While the future of WickedCube's Doctor Octopus within the official game remains uncertain, his creation highlights the game's potential and the passionate community surrounding it. WickedCube is already developing concepts for additional heroes, including Nightcrawler and Professor Xavier. He praised NetEase's design choices and the game's enjoyable experience.