Though its commercial performance was well below the expectations of publisher Square Enix, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was a game that received huge critical acclaim, and for good reason. The gameplay was familiar, but strong, its story was simply superb, and the presentation was thoroughly in keeping with the Marvel property. Developer Eidos-Montreal was demonstrating its singleplayer prowess once again, as its past with franchises like Deus Ex and Tomb Raider gave the company a decent chance at success with one of Marvel's most beloved ensembles.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a fine example of what Marvel can bring to the video game sphere, and is one of the few video game adaptations that faithfully recreates the characters that have become so very beloved in the comics and on the silver screen. By bringing players along on a galaxy-wide journey that's littered with memorable moments and lovable characters, Eidos-Montreal has reaffirmed its position as one of the best developers for singleplayer, linear-natured games. Further, Guardians of the Galaxy shows that it is more than capable of taking on more Marvel properties.
A Sequel Is Not Guaranteed
Unlike director James Gunn's films about the misfit group, Eidos-Montreal has yet to be given the green light on a follow-up to its 2021 release, though it thoroughly deserves one. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a satisfying experience from beginning to end, and though it leaves room for a sequel, it doesn't assume that one will be commissioned, so it works beautifully as a self-contained experience. However, the toy-box of Marvel Comics allows for so many new villains, companions, stories, and settings to be explored. Though Eidos-Montreal does well to shine a light on some overlooked Marvel characters, in doing so it doesn't use the full potential of Guardians of the Galaxy lore.
It would be a shame to not have its take on the Guardians battle with Thanos-sized villains, as it would put more eyes to the franchise and gives the Square Enix-owned company more appreciatio and credit for its ability to craft a memorable game. The Guardians are already masterfully developed, and their antics in the first game have done well to keep players, Marvel fans or not, satisfied throughout. The blueprints for a sequel are all there, so passing on the chance to do so would be a missed opportunity.
Eidos-Montreal's Stellar Reputation
Should a sequel to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy come to fruition, the underwhelming sales of the previous project shouldn't take away from the developer's positive reputation. Its proficiency in crafting great gameplay and telling a well-paced, engaging story extends far before 2021, as Shadow of the Tomb Raider rounded out the Survivor Trilogy gracefully and Deus Ex: Human Revolution was a much-loved reboot for a simply iconic gaming franchise. Finding a developer without a blemish on its resume is becoming increasingly difficult, and though Eidos-Montreal's list of games is relatively short and it hasn't ever reinvented the wheel, the releases that come from the team from Canada have never been anything below decent.
Unlike Crystal Dynamics, which sullied its reputation somewhat with the release of the bland and uninteresting Marvel's Avengers, Eidos-Montreal's catalog is largely untarnished since its founding in 2007; it has yet to put out a game that damages fans' hopes that it can release another great experience under the Marvel umbrella. In fact, Marvel's Avengers' failure may very well be the reason Eidos-Montreal's attempt wasn't as commercially successful as it should have been. Poor marketing certainly didn't help matters, and though Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy hasn't seen much recognition since its release, it's not for anything the developer itself did wrong.
Character Development is Eidos-Montreal's Greatest Strength
Eidos-Montreal's best moments are usually character-focused, from Shadow of the Tomb Raider showing a new side of Lara Croft to Peter Quill's desperate attempt to stop the rest of the Guardians from killing each other as well as taking the fight to the Universal Church of Truth. The narrative of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is so dependent on its characters, and player engagement through the story would be severely dampened if the personalities on display weren't as enjoyable as fans initially expected. The gravity of any situation is made all the more tense when those who are in danger are characters that players have come to love.
Both of the above characters were born from other creative minds, so while Eidos-Montreal undoubtedly has the potential to undertake a brand-new IP, it understands how to develop upon the strengths and background of an established personality while never deviating too far from what existing fans expect. Marvel would do well to recognize this, as the rich lineage of some of the company's most beloved characters, like Captain America, Daredevil, Nova, or Spider-Gwen, would require a delicate touch should they ever find themselves getting a video game adaptation.
Guardians of the Galaxy's Failure Should Be Avenged
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a game that did not deserve the lack of attention it initially received. Despite players' hesitation after the underwhelming Crystal Dynamics Avengers title and the sparse marketing starting with its announcement at E3 2021, Eidos-Montreal earned a better response. Though the Guardians of the Galaxy license may be collateral damage from the aforementioned game's reception, a sequel would surely be far more welcomed, as it has the quality of the first game to build promotion upon.
Eidos-Montreal's pedigree with previous offerings would put it in prime position to take on any number of Marvel properties, and the multi-billion-dollar company should give it the freedom to explore any number of iconic characters. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is the perfect example of how Marvel games should be done, and with Insomniac taking on both Wolverine and Spider-Man, Eidos-Montreal have shown that it also deserves the privilege of developing games based on multiple beloved Marvel heroes.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
