The upcoming turn-based strategy Marvel’s Midnight Suns, which was first revealed with a cinematic trailer, has now shown extended gameplay footage for the first time, focusing on the title’s card-based combat mechanics and characters. Additionally, developer Firaxis clarified that Midnight Suns will feature microtransactions only for cosmetics—the cards you use for combat will not be available for real money—and said that loot boxes will not be part of the game.
Extending over six minutes long, the gameplay trailer reveals that Marvel’s Midnight Suns will feature tactical turn-based combat similar to Firaxis’ other strategy series XCOM. However, one of the most notable differences is the card-based abilities system that provides your team’s characters with a random hand of attacks to utilize. Furthermore, instead of starting with a default team of four soldiers, players can pick up to three Marvel superheroes.
Players control Hunter, a fully customizable character and brand new Marvel hero resurrected by a mysterious group known as the Midnight Suns. As Hunter, players can also cultivate relationships at the Abbey, the group’s headquarters. Firaxis also reveals that there will be a wide variety of activities to participate in, such as taking a stroll with Iron Man or sparring with Ghost Rider. Interacting with your superhero comrades in the downtime between missions can unlock special abilities in combat, new HQ features, and upgrades. If you pick the right team members, you can even dole out some powerful attack combos.
Some are concerned about the card-based abilities system and the all-too-real possibility of microtransactions that could go along with them. Fortunately, Firaxis stated that there will be no microtransactions to unlock these ability cards. By the look of the trailer, these card abilities will instead be unlocked through character relationship progression. The only microtransactions in the game, Firaxis says, will be for cosmetic skins for the game’s characters.
You can take a look at the Marvel’s Midnight Suns extended gameplay trailer below:
Marvel’s Midnight Suns is coming March 22.
[Source: VGC, Gamingbolt]
