Phoenix in Marvel Rivals Drew Me Away from Overwatch 2

Okay, so here’s the scoop—Phoenix is in Marvel Rivals now, right? And suddenly I’m tempted to let Overwatch 2 gather some dust. Not ’cause I’m like, obsessed with Phoenix. Nah. I just skimmed her Wikipedia page after hearing she’s in Marvel Rivals season 3. But one thing caught my eye: she moves like, well, a real person—or mutant, whatever—which is rare for Rivals. Weird thing to notice, but there it is.

Ever since Rivals launched back in December 2024, it’s been a thing on Reddit—people saying the characters move like they’re wading through molasses. Some folks argue it’s just a perspective thing. You know, Overwatch is first-person so it feels zippier. I was team molasses. Got tired of the sluggish pace, and yeah, started playing less because of it.

Now that Overwatch 2 brought in this third-person Stadium mode, I got curious after seeing Phoenix. Was Rivals really that slow? So, I check it out. Kind of got my answer.

Both games have practice arenas where you can measure stuff, like how fast or slow a character moves. So I tested a bunch, and yep, Rivals folks take a smidge longer to hit five meters than Overwatch characters. But—plot twist—Rivals measures distances differently. Five meters is like 11.5 inches there, and it’s about 10 in Overwatch 2.

“So what?” you might ask. Well, it means Rivals characters are technically on par with, or even quicker than, their Overwatch counterparts. It’s all about style, not speed.

Characters like Cloak, Dagger, Namor, and Spidey—man, they strut like they belong on a Baywatch reboot or something, all dramatic-like. Attacks feel like ballet, the way they pause between moves. Iron Fist kinda saves face with his martial arts flair, but otherwise? Meh. Sounds in the game don’t help either. Winter Soldier’s gun might as well be a cork popper, and Scarlet Witch? Her powers lack, well, power.

Enter Phoenix. She’s got this satisfying “whoosh” to her moves, and every third hit pops off with a bang. Her skills stack explosions and she can zoom around like a flaming bird. She doesn’t have those agonizing cooldowns, either. Her dodges feel like, urgent. She’s not faster, technically—Cloak and Dagger cover the same ground with fewer steps—but still, her agility just feels right.

NetEase finally balanced style with action. Phoenix feels like a proper fighter. Maybe not groundbreaking, but she makes the game exciting again. And honestly? That’s all I needed.