Invincible VS Review

Invincible vs., developed by Quarter Up, a team largely comprising the core group behind 2013's Killer Instinct reboot, is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, mechanics-driven 3v3 tag fighter. While its style might be polarizing and ancillary modes underwhelming, its unique fighting system sets it apart. Similar to Killer Instinct, combos in Invincible vs. are a two-way street, involving a mind game between attacker and defender. The attacker builds combos while managing a meter to prevent it from filling and dropping the combo. The defender also watches this meter, as filling it prompts the attacker to reduce it, primarily by tagging in a teammate. If the defender reacts to a tag before being hit, they can execute a counter tag, halting the combo and resetting to a neutral state. This creates a mind game: an attacker anticipating a counter tag can delay their own tag or feint it, potentially leaving the opponent vulnerable if they fall for the bait. Conversely, if the opponent doesn't counter tag, the attacker becomes vulnerable. When this system works as intended between two knowledgeable players, it's highly satisfying, especially successfully baiting a counter tag. Beyond counter tags, an assist break can also interrupt combos, but at a steep cost: two meter bars, a lengthy assist cooldown, and 50% health reduction for one assist character. This health refills if the character isn't tagged in. The current implementation of this mechanic is criticized for being uncapped, with each character starting with three full meter bars. This often leads to repetitive assist breaks, as other characters on the team have their own full meters, potentially prolonging matches unnecessarily, especially against players who don't realize they are effectively sacrificing their characters' health. Another point of frustration is the sudden death mechanic when the timer runs out. Instead of the player with more combined health winning, a sudden death match occurs between the two active characters. Their health bars are restored based on inactive fighters' life, and both players suffer constant damage over time, which can feel unfair if a player was in the lead. The game's movement and animation feel stiff, akin to Mortal Kombat and Killer Instinct. Players accustomed to smoother games like Guilty Gear Strive or Street Fighter 6 might take time to adjust. However, Quarter Up successfully made the 18 launch fighters feel authentic to their TV show counterparts, with fast characters feeling lightning fast and hard hitters feeling powerful. Characters like Cecil offer unique playstyles with teleportation, while others like Monster Girl and Titan have obnoxious armored moves. For Invincible fans, there's a full story mode with an original narrative co-written by Quarter Up's narrative director and a writer/producer from the Amazon Prime show, with input from series creator Robert Kirkman. This authenticity makes the compact campaign feel like an unaired filler episode. The story mode, lasting only an hour, is well-paced with well-contextualized fights and excellent cutscenes using an animation style similar to Spider-Verse movies. Most of the show's voice cast returns, and replacements are also fantastic. The main issue is the unsatisfying cliffhanger ending, leaving hope for a DLC continuation. Other aspects of Invincible vs. meet modern fighting game standards but don't exceed them. There's an arcade story mode with character endings, but fighting the CPU feels bad due to the game's focus on conditioning opponents. A basic training mode exists, but lacks combo trials or character guides. A replay viewer is available for personal matches, but no search function for other players' replays or replay takeover for labbing solutions. Customization options for profile tags, badges, titles, backgrounds, and frames, all drawn from the show and graphic novel, are a positive. The rollback netcode is stellar, providing smooth online matches. Invincible vs. is a respectable 3v3 tag fighter with a unique, interactive combo system that encourages mind games, despite its stiff feel. The story mode is an authentic, albeit short, experience, but its cliffhanger ending is a drawback. The game's potential for a community is high, especially for Killer Instinct fans and those seeking a 3v3 tag fighter. Its presence at Evo suggests continued developer support, potentially for at least two to three season passes. While the story mode is a highlight for Invincible fans, its importance in a fighting game review is weighed against the online experience, where players spend most of their time. The game's strong combat system and potential for a dedicated community make it an intriguing contender in the tag fighter landscape.