Marvel Super Hero Squad Online was a massively multiplayer free-to-play online game for younger audiences based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad, developed by American video game companies the Amazing Society and Gazillion Entertainment. The open beta version of the game was released on April 29, 2011 (although a closed beta was released in early 2011). It was a freemium in-browser game that offered two types of microtransactions: To purchase in-game currency, or a monthly subscription that gave the player additional perks.
Players collected heroes to form their own Squad. They were able to choose a hero from their Squad to play in a number of games and activities. As they played, the heroes increased not only their power in combat, but unlocked animated emotes for use in the social game world zones. Many characters from the Marvel Universe appeared in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online in a traditional Super Hero Squad "super-deformed" style.
Marvel Super Hero Squad Online was the first MMO game developed in Gazillion's and Marvel's 10-year exclusive game publishing agreement. The second was Marvel Heroes.
Marvel Super Hero Squad Online was shut down on January 11, 2017. Gazillion Entertainment itself shut down on November 22, 2017.
Gameplay Marvel Super Hero Squad Online had alternate controls, in which with one click the player could move from one place to another, or use the arrow keys or the traditional WASD keys on a keyboard. When the player creates an account and enters the game, they are given four starting heroes: Cyclops, Ms. Marvel, Falcon, and the Thing. The object of the game was to unlock and collect other Marvel heroes so the player can form their own unique superhero team. As an MMORPG, the game is split into 5 primary types of gameplay:
Zones: These were the games main overworlds for the player to select what they choose to do next. Players may of emoted or have chosen text options to interact with other players in real time using the Marvel heroes as their avatars. The zones included the Daily Bugle, the Baxter Building, and Asgard. A fourth zone titled Villainville was later made available. Certain characters (such as Falcon and Ms. Marvel) could fly, by clicking on blue or green circles on the ground. If the character was unable to fly, that character could have a double jump or a high/long jump. Missions: The main form of gameplay that had players choosing a hero and entering a beat 'em up style action-adventure stages, tasked with defeating hordes of enemies to reach the final boss. To attack, players clicked on the enemies or pressed a certain button to perform a special attack. Missions could have been completed solo or with other players, and were unlocked at the in-game shop. Headquarters: Each player is given a virtual Headquarters, where they could watch their collected heroes interact with the environment or feed them. The player could have purchased things such as furniture. Card Games: A collectible card game was made available to play in early August 2011. The object was to deplete one's opponent's card deck by attacking with their own cards. The opponent could have been either another player in real-time or an NPC. Each card had a uniquely designed illustration and affect, and upon drawing, was accompanied with an often humorous visual in an arena setting. Arcade: An arcade was developed where players could play as Deadpool, She-Hulk, Black Panther, Daredevil, Captain America, Thor, Doctor Strange and Jean Grey in selected mini-games. Two characters such as Deadpool and She-Hulk were featured in each mini-game.
The games in-game currency was separated into two compartments: Gold and fractals (originally, called "Silver"). Both gold and fractals could be used to buy other items heroes at the games in-game store, such as other Marvel heroes, the difference being that fractals could be earned over time or from in-game activities while gold had to be purchased with real money as microtransactions. The game made it an incentive to become a Junior SHIELD member, which was a monthly micropayment subscription that gave the player additional rewards.
An achievement system was released that allowed players to complete several challenges such as greeting other players, buying new heroes, beating missions or card game quests. Each challenge completed awarded the player fractals, and a new hero.
The game was released in Europe on November 4, 2011. On November 1, 2012, the European server was merged with the North American server and expanded to encompass more European countries.
Characters There were 197 playable characters before January 11, 2017. Playable charactersAbomination Agent Coulson Agent Venom American Dream Angel Archangel X-Force Archangel Annihilus Anti-Venom Venom Arachne Beast Beta Ray Bill Black Cat Black Panther Black Widow Avengers Black Widow Blade Cable Captain America (Bucky Barnes) Winter Soldier Captain America (Steve Rogers) Avengers Captain America Captain America, Stealth Suit Captain America, Captain Marvel Carnage Colossus Cyclops Astonishing Cyclops First Appearance Cyclops Daredevil Armored Daredevil Classic Daredevil Shadowland Daredevil Deadpool Pirate Deadpool X-Force Deadpool DestroyerDoctor Doom Future Foundation Doctor Octopus Superior Spider-Man Doctor Strange Dracula Drax the Destroyer Electro Elektra Pure Elektra Emma Frost Enchantress Falcon Falcon Exo-7 Firestar Frankenstein Gambit Gamora Ghost Rider Classic Ghost Rider Goliath Green Goblin Dark Iron Patriot Groot Guardian Hank Pym Ant-Man Giant-Man Havok Hawkeye Avengers HawkeyeHope Summers Hulk Avengers Hulk Gladiator Hulk Indestructible Hulk Mr. Fix-It Human Torch Iceman Impossible Man Invisible Woman Future Foundation Invisible Woman Iron Fist Iron Man (Tony Stark) Arctic Armor Iron Man Avengers Iron Man Hulkbuster Iron Man Iron Man Midas Iron Man Iron Man Iron Man Iron Man Silver Centurion Stealth Armor Iron Man Iron Man 2020 Iron Monger Iron Patriot Jean Grey Dark Phoenix Phoenix White Phoenix Juggernaut Lizard Loki Avengers Loki Luke CageMagneto MODOK Monkey King Moon Knight Morbius Mister Fantastic Future Foundation Mr. Fantastic Ms. Marvel Mysterio Mystique Nick Fury Avengers Nick Fury Nightcrawler Swashbuckler Nightcrawler Nighthawk Nova (Richard Rider) Nova (Sam Alexander) Onslaught Psylocke X-Force Psylocke Punisher Thunderbolts Punisher Quicksilver Red Hulk Red She-Hulk Reptil Rescue Rocket Raccoon Rogue Avenging Rogue Ronan the Accuser Sabretooth Sasquatch Sandman Scarlet Spider Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) Scarlet Witch Sentry ShadowcatShe-Hulk Silver Surfer Dark Surfer SP//DR Spider-Girl Black Suit Spider-Girl Spider-Ham Spider-Man (Peter Parker) Armored Big Time Spider-Man Black Suit Spider-Man Bombastic Bag-Man Spider-Man Earth-8351 Ends of the Earth Spider-Man First Appearance Spider-Man Future Foundation Iron Spider Spider-Man Noir Spider-Man 2099 Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy) Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) Squirrel Girl Star-Lord Storm Mohawk Storm Super-Skrull Taskmaster Thanos Thing Future Foundation Thing Tuxedo Thing Thor Avengers Thor Battle Armor Thor Classic Thor Ultimate Thor Tigra Titanium ManUltimate Spider-Man Ultron AU Ultron Valkyrie Vision War Machine War Machine MK II Wasp Werewolf by Night Wolverine Avenging Wolverine Classic Wolverine Samurai Wolverine Street Clothes Wolverine X-Force Wolverine Wonder ManBossesAbomination Annihilus Bullseye Dark Surfer Doctor Doom Doctor OctopusDormammu Dracula Enchantress Fin Fang Foom Green Goblin Impossible ManJuggernaut Kingpin Lizard Loki Avengers Loki MagnetoMalekith MODOK Mole Man Mysterio Mystique OnslaughtRed Skull Sabretooth Super-Skrull Surtur Titanium Man UltronVenom Wendigo Winter Soldier Ymir
Reception Commercially and critically, the game underperformed. Erik Dekker of the Dutch gaming website XGN gave the game a negative review, criticizing the frequent coercion of microtransactions, "puppet show" combat areas, and lack of depth to the overall gameplay. Other critics were divided on the presentation, voice acting, and overall appeal.
References
External links Official International Website (archived) (archived) Gazillion Website (archived)