After the purchase by Embracer Group, there is uncertainty about which direction crystal dynamics will go with its IP in the future. a new Tomb Raider title was recently confirmed, and Perfect Dark is being made alongside The Initiative, but the acquisition raises questions about how the company’s design philosophy will change. Marvel’s Avengers was a different approach for the developer, with a live service model that didn’t do well enough to maintain a strong player base in the long run. It’s clear that the California outfit is at home in the third-person action/adventure genre, and at the height of superhero popularity, there’s one franchise it would be perfectly suited for.
Invincible is Image Comics’ standout superhero epic, focusing on the development of Mark Grayson as the titular character. Protecting Earth while managing his teenage responsibilities takes up much of the first few parts, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that he’s destined for much more than college deadlines and dead-end jobs. Robot, Atom Eve, Oliver and Omni Man are at the heart of the story, and while they all have plenty of time to shine, Mark takes center stage. Like Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, he is complex enough to warrant sufficient attention to his own game. Crystal Dynamics’ past, present and potential future make it a studio that takes on the challenge of customizing a character that is only growing in popularity.
Crystal Dynamics Needs Superhero Redemption
For all the buzz at the release, Marvel’s Avengers didn’t live up to high expectations, as the unspectacular gameplay, performance issues, and uninteresting character models made it a largely disappointing experience. The property is more popular than ever thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and there was a lot of potential in a game aimed at Earth’s mightiest heroes, but the reality was it didn’t reach the heights it could easily, and probably should. . Updates have been frequent but 2021’s Guardians of the Universe showed that an ensemble-based title can have a gripping story, high production value, and satisfying gameplay. Marvel’s Avengers wasn’t good enough, but Crystal Dynamics has the talent to excel in the superhero genre, and Invincible would be a suitable way to attain salvation.
While his laundry list of skills is seemingly endless, Invincible is a character that is much more than the sum of its parts. He has a depth that can be explored by Crystal Dynamics, as the company has done well to show Lara Croft’s development from curious adventurer to deadly predator. Mark Grayson starts out as a naive, excited teenager, but over the course of 144 songs develops into a well-rounded, morally complex man who wears his almost limitless strength on his sleeve. Marvel’s Avengers are known by millions, so it’s hard to make them stand out uniquely. Mark Grayson is more obscure, and his limited exposure in other media beyond the pages of comics means Crystal Dynamics can recreate his story in innovative and exciting ways.
Invincible is the answer to Marvel and DC Woes
Marvel is making significant strides in video games, only Insomniac is working on both Spider Man 2 and Marvel’s Wolverine. DC Comics is more established on the medium and emerging titles Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League show it’s yet to be overtaken by its rival company, but Image Comics is different enough in approach to feel truly unique in the gaming space. Invincible might just seem like a superhero trait on the surface, but the way it approaches adult themes like violence, betrayal, family disputes, and death is largely different from the way a Marvel or DC game has handled them. Invincible is in the superhero genre in which both of the aforementioned publishers excel, but it is arguably better than many of their properties.
Robert Kirkman’s works have been edited in video games before and to sublime results like those of 2012 The living Dead from Telltale Games was one of the best titles of that year. Crystal Dynamics is a very different company than Telltale, but offers the same quality of character development, and with Invincible being such a character led property it is a match made in heaven. Comics are such a diverse platform for plenty of great stories to tell, and Image’s wide range of series are ripe for video game adaptations. The living Dead got its time to shine, and InvincibleIts rising popularity thanks to the Amazon Prime series makes it a suitable successor. Crystal Dynamics could use it to offer something new to rival the Marvel/DC dominance.
Invincible fits the Crystal Dynamics gameplay model
While Crystal Dynamics has dabbled in a litany of features each differing in visual style, tone, gameplay and storytelling, the niche the company occupies is typically third-party action/adventure titles. From Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver to the abundance of Tomb Raider offering, the developer has done well to create memorable experiences that feel character-centric thanks to a third-person perspective. Invincible unfolds in a way that brings the development of Mark Grayson to the fore, with side characters sprinkled in all-important context where necessary. Each Invincible project wouldn’t work in first-person, as Mark himself is too complex for players to project himself onto.
Epic set pieces is an area where Crystal Dynamics rivals even Naughty Dog, as Lara Croft’s exploits in the Survivor trilogy are dotted with thrilling action sequences such as her desperate escape from the cave in the 2013 title and the tsunami that begins. Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Invincible will take moments of similar magnitude as Mark’s story is far from calm. Epic battles with Viltrumite enemies, cities destroyed by evil forces, and story beats that take the titular character to space are common occurrences in the series. crystal dynamics has all the tools needed to Invincible magic, and Kirkman’s superhero epic is more than ready for the leap into video games.
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