MultiVerse Preview Closed Alpha First Impressions – But Why?

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MultiVersus is the newest mascot platform brawler coming from publisher WB and developer Player First Games. However, unlike most others, MultiVersus is a free game with cross play and cross progression. So beyond the collection of characters from WB’s extensive library, how does she stand out? But why is that? writers Mick and Kyle were able to verify this during the closed alpha. Here are their first impressions of this game which is about to enter a genre with a very high success bar.

What marked you MultiVersus?

Kyle: What stood out to me the most was the fluidity of the game. I expected an alpha to feel a bit janky at times, but it felt very close to a full-version game.

Mike: I was impressed with the quality. This alpha felt like a final product. If that’s the starting point, I can’t wait to see what the final product looks like.

What features did you like the most, compared to other brawler fighting games?

Kyle: I really liked the focus on 2v2 gameplay. I’m terrible at fighting games, I mean downright horrible, but teaming up with others helps to enjoy it a little easier and even win sometimes! I also liked the character perks and I’m excited to see how they’ll be fleshed out in the full game once it’s released.

Mike: I was a fan of the different roles that each character focused on. From the “mage” class with Velma and Bugs Bunny to the tank-like Brawler like Garnet. This showed why they focused on 2v2 fights. Because with roles you can create unstoppable team compositions as long as you coordinate with your ally.

What features didn’t you like?

Kyle: I don’t like the way the characters are unlocked, although I understand why it’s done that way. Characters can be unlocked by playing around a bit and earning in-game currency to purchase them, but they can also be purchased with real money. So it’s not quite paying off, but it’s uncomfortably close for me.

Mike: I was not a fan of the talent system. I understand why it’s here. It’s to add variety to the gameplay and change the way you play. But it regularly felt pointless. So hopefully they will be tweaked in the coming months to feel like they have a more meaningful impact on gameplay.

Who was/were your favorite characters, and why?

Kyle: Shaggy, definitely. He’s also probably the only character I’ll play once the full game is out, except to briefly try out other characters. I don’t like him just because he’s a meme, although that’s a big part of it. I just found it really enjoyable to play. His move set was pretty simple to learn, which combined with his meme factor made Shaggy a win-win for me.

Mike: I had several go-tos. The first was Taz. He was chaotic and could pull off some great aerial takedowns. The second was Garnet. He’s not just my favorite character from Steven Universe, but her beefiness here made her a lot of fun beating up people who got too close. In other words, I loved the chaos these two brought to the table.

Do you plan to play more when it fully launches?

Kyle: I think I will, especially if I have other friends who decide to get into it. Not sure how much I’d love to play solo, but it’s an absolute blast with a friend.

Mike: I will absolutely play more. With its daily challenges (and, based on recent leaks, the full, insane roster), there’s a lot here that I know will take my time, especially when I find friends willing to fight.

Added dream character?

Kyle: It’s difficult because countless characters would make a great addition to MultiVersus. I should go with Mojo Jojo though, from The Powerpuff Girls. He’s one of the few characters that could dethrone Shaggy for me.

Mike: I would like to see some additions from the old cartoon network days, as Numbahs 1-5 of Code name: Kids Next Door or Rolph of Ed, Ed and Eddy. Even with Toonami Where adult swimming as potential pools there are so many wild characters i would love to see added.

Final thoughts?

Kyle: MultiVersus is a lot of fun, but like most fighting games, it might get stale pretty quickly. I’m not a competitive fighting game player, so a large player pool will be vital for players like me to have a good time months after launch. Still, I’m pretty optimistic, given the strength of the brand and the feel of the gameplay. I look forward to playing more soon!

Mike: Player First Games has clearly watched its competition as a hawk. Not just their games, but also player feedback. Plus, by ensuring players and pros are heavily involved in the development process, they’ve done everything they can to make sure this game is fun. All I hope is that this game can be kept alive, which I can see happening due to the huge playerbase possible due to all the platforms it launches on. But for now, I’m looking forward to playing more during the open beta just to see how it improves.

Are you looking forward to MultiVersus? Let us know and contact us if you want more friends to help you take over the WB multiverse.

MultiVersus will have an open beta in July on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.