Marvel's recent gaming efforts have experienced some massive highs and disappointing lows, with standouts like Marvel's Spider-Man and missteps like Marvel's Avengers. Where Marvel gaming has excelled, however, is in the variety of its genres and narratives. One upcoming project that's turned a lot of heads for its uniqueness is Skydance's Marvel game, centering on Captain America and Black Panther's adventures during World War 2. Helmed by Uncharted creative director Amy Hennig, Skydance's Marvel game looks to provide a dynamic experience unlike anything fans have seen before.
Skydance's Marvel game has the chance to be a unique one for the company, but it could also be unique among games that cover World War 2. In franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield, the European theater typically gets the most attention, with decisive battles like D-Day getting the most attention. Behind that is the Pacific theater battles between Japan and the US, ultimately leaving the North African campaign of WW2 out of the gaming conversation. Skydance could change that conversation, however, by showing how the fighting in North Africa has affected Black Panther and Wakanda as a whole.
How an African Setting Could Help Skydance's Marvel Game Standout Among Other WW2 Games
The North African campaign isn't exactly a stranger to video games, but it frequently takes a back seat to stories that took place in Europe and the Pacific. The most prominent game in recent years to focus solely on the region is Sniper Elite 3, with Battlefield 5 also spending some time there during its campaign. If Skydance's Marvel game spent a large portion of its time in Africa, it could offer a refreshing perspective for those who enjoy WW2 games but don't want to retread familiar conflicts. The North African campaign lasted nearly three years, giving the game more than enough room to explore what took place in the region.
Explaining Black Panther's Involvement in the War
One of the biggest questions from the reveal of Skydance's Marvel game is why Black Panther is in occupied France at the same time as Captain America. Both the comics and the MCU have shown how Wakanda often avoids conflicts outside its borders unless it has no other choice but to act. It's already known that Hydra will be the antagonist in Skydance's Marvel game, and Black Panther may be forced to fight against this villain due to its interest in vibranium. Whether it's a preemptive defense or an invasion is attempted on Wakandan soil, it would put Black Panther right in the middle of the war.
In addition to Black Panther, players will also be able to play as a Wakandan spy named Nanali. Although she wasn't fully shown in the trailer, it's possible she will act as Black Panther's eyes and ears as he navigates the war, providing reconnaissance and taking out Hydra installations. Considering this layer of espionage, Skydance's Marvel game could have players travel with Black Panther and Nanali from Wakanda to France in search of a specific Hydra officer responsible for an attack near their home country. This could then have them cross paths with Captain America as seen in Skydance's reveal trailer.
Skydance's Marvel game has many fans eager for more information on the project, and there's hope that questions will be answered before the end of 2023. All eyes are on Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for the moment, but once Insomniac's sequel has its time in the sun, Skydance will have the perfect opportunity to reveal more about this ambitious project. For those looking forward to a unique World War 2 and superhero experience, hopefully, the game's next reveal will give the same attention to the North African campaign that the other theaters of war have received for decades.
Skydance's Marvel game is currently in development.