Marvel’s Avengers is showing signs of a comeback, with several announcements made about upcoming features and additions. Not only is a new villain sector on the way, but Patrol mode will introduce a fresh way to play that removes the constraints of a mission. A special Red Room event will see the HARM room transformed, while the much-requested MCU suits will finally be making their debut inside the game. Finally, and most importantly, a Black Panther-focused expansion called War for Wakanda will be arriving later this year.
While this expansion has been described as the biggest content drop for Marvel’s Avengers thus far, that does not mean it should take nothing from past content releases. Hawkeye’s recently released Future Imperfect operation is full of highs and lows, with plenty of good and bad moments to see inside the DLC. However, one thing that it absolutely nails is its opening, as players get to control an old version of Hawkeye in a standout single-player mission that sets the tone for the entire narrative. If War for Wakanda takes one thing from Future Imperfect, it should be this introduction.
Properly Introducing T’Challa To Players
While there are many strengths to the way that Future Imperfect began, one of the most obvious is that it properly introduced Clint Barton’s move-set to the player. Focusing on the Clint Eastwood-like Old Man Hawkeye as he explored a distant future devastated by the Kree, players spend the first 30 minutes of the expansion on their own. With no other Avengers to help, Hawkeye gets the chance to shine, as players deal all the damage to the AIM bots themselves. They get the chance to try out all of his abilities, learning the different arrow types and sword strikes at their own pace.
A single-player section within Black Panther’s DLC could do the same. Players could quickly familiarize themselves with Black Panther’s in-game appearance and movement style, while Crystal Dynamics could use the section to slowly introduce his mechanics to the player. Whether it be his Vibranium discharge attack from the MCU movies, basic combos with his claws, an ability to pounce, or some other piece of Wakandan tech, every ability could be shown off in an entertaining way. Much like Future Imperfect’s intro, it would essentially be a tutorial that feels nothing like a tutorial, giving players freedom instead of holding their hands every step of the way.
The other thing that Hawkeye’s DLC intro excels at is setting up the Wasteland. Players start off in an old highway tunnel before walking through a destroyed cityscape. Pieces of Kree sentries can be scattered throughout the Wasteland, with broken AIM bots roaming the area like zombies. Scattered rusty cars join markers that hint at the reign of supervillain Maestro, giving off the vibe of a desolate world completely ruined by a global war. By far Marvel’s Avengers’ most unique setting yet, the single-player mission does a great job of establishing the vibe of the area.
While Marvel’s Avengers fans will surely have fun patrolling the Wasteland later this Summer, its top position of best setting will likely not last much longer. If the in-game version of Wakanda is anywhere near as impressive as the MCU or comic book version of the country, players should have a blast exploring its jungles and cities. A single-player portion could perfectly establish the setting, with T’Challa being given a royal welcome as he walks through his kingdom. Under the guise of Black Panther, the king could trek through the jungles as well, giving players the best of both worlds in the DLC’s opening hour.
Expanding On Black Panther’s Story
With Marvel’s Avengers War for Wakanda expansion offering much more content than what was seen with the DLCs for Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, it can be assumed that the main story will be longer as well. As such, if a single-player portion was added, it would likely be longer than the one seen in Future Imperfect. Crystal Dynamics could use this length brilliantly, telling a separate story that perfectly builds up the expansion’s protagonist.
A prequel story can be told that shows T’Challa’s younger years, with Crystal Dynamics able to show off a young king and a rookie Black Panther. On the other hand, another tale can be told that establishes this Black Panther as an experienced hero, with the veteran fighter taking down a threat to his throne. Either scenario can establish T’Challa’s relationship with the Dora Milaje, his father T’Chaka, and his sister Shuri. Rather than just randomly throwing them into a co-op mission, a single-player intro can show players why the characters are so close, with T'Challa's love for the nation of Wakanda also depicted.
Most importantly, Marvel’s Avengers’ villain problem could be improved upon further via a single-player intro. While Klaw is confirmed to have his own faction and serve as the main antagonist of the DLC, the supervillain should not be the only new threat that players fight inside War for Wakanda. A single-player section could be capped off with a separate fight of its own, giving players two separate boss battles in the expansion. Both of these fights could become their own Villain Sectors as well, adding more replayable content to the game — something that Marvel’s Avengers desperately needs.
As for who this extra villain in the intro could be, there is no shortage of fun options. The classic villain Killmonger could appear, as could T’Challa’s longtime rival M’Baku. Players could also start off in the middle of a war between Wakanda and Atlantis, with Black Panther taking on Namor like he does in recent comics. While an appearance from a big name like Doctor Doom is unlikely, as the villain would need to be a minor threat due to their screen time being limited, capping off Black Panther’s intro with a proper boss fight against a unique threat would be thrilling.
Even if a single-player intro sees Black Panther taking down more AIM bots instead of someone from his rogues’ gallery, so much could be done with a proper introduction. Laying the groundwork for a great expansion is a tough task in live service games, but the Future Imperfect DLC has shown that Crystal Dynamics knows how to do it properly. If Black Panther gets a brief solo outing inside War for Wakanda, players could end up with an intro that gives T'Challa a backstory on par with Marvel's Avengers' other heroes. Further, gamers could get to play out their fantasies of a proper Black Panther game, even for a brief moment. As a result, a single-player opening to War for Wakanda could be something that Marvel fans remember for years to come.
Marvel’s Avengers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.