Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has received plenty of praise, and for good reason. The narrative adapts a different comic book story from the ones seen in the MCU, with strong writing and good facial animations bringing it to life. A memorable soundtrack full of standout original music and licensed tracks fills quiet moments with catchy songs, ensuring that the expected Guardians of the Galaxy vibe is felt throughout every scene. However, it is the characters that steal the show.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy manages to give each of its heroes a moment, whether it be Star-Lord’s final chat with Nikki, Rocket overcoming his fear of water, or Gamora’s reveal about Nebula. Drax gets his moment too, though he shines throughout the entirety of the story on top of that. A consistent source of humor that also offers the sincerest scenes in the story, this version of Drax is right on par with the one in the MCU - and in some ways is even better.
What Makes Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s Drax So Good
From the moment players see the menu screen of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, it becomes clear that Drax has the same sense of humor that he does in the films. Seen reading “Sarcasm for Dummies” on the couch with some laughably small glasses on, players witness Drax grappling with a concept that the movie version has also yet to grasp. Throughout the game, Drax delivers lines that are just as funny as the ones in the MCU, with the dialogue being just like what fans would hear in James Gunn’s films.
Outside of nailing Drax’s humor, the performance from Jason Cavalier Leboeuf is deserving of plenty of praise. While Dave Bautista’s Drax is unforgettable, as scenes like his sit-down with Mantis are tough to top, Leboeuf does a fine job of making Drax his own. While the comedic sections are obviously worthy of praise, it is the more serious sequences where the actor truly shines.
Drax breaking through The Promise is undoubtedly the most emotional moment in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, with players getting to see The Destroyer at his weakest. While it is sad hearing Drax bring up his family in the movies, fans have yet to actually see what he lost through a flashback or dream sequence. In the game, they see him reliving the moments he spent with them, and every line hits hard when it is delivered. From asking why Quill is trying to pull him away from his wife and daughter to his final goodbye, there is plenty to love about the sequence. However, he gets other moments on top of this, such as a stellar optional conversation on Knowhere.
While Drax’s actor fits well and the comedic moments live up to the MCU version’s outstanding humor, there are other ways that the character gets to shine. For starters, he is made out to be more formidable. While the movie version lost his family to Thanos, he never had the chance to get that revenge. In the game, he goes one-on-one with The Mad Titan, successfully defeating him. While he firmly believes Thanos survived the fight, the fact that his death is even a question shows just how powerful The Destroyer is. With Drax’s hatred for Thanos being one of the few moments in the MCU that lacked a proper payoff, this is an area where the game gets an edge.
The other area where Drax gets to shine is through his Guardian Collectibles. These optional conversations give a deep look into Katathian culture, with his scars, historical figures, and views on the afterlife all discussed in detail. In the films, his peoples’ beliefs are rarely talked about, and whenever they are, it serves as comedic relief. By making Drax stronger and more in tune with his culture, and making sure he is still funny and well-acted, the in-game version of the character surpasses expectations.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
