Software:Marvel Super Hero Squad Online

Marvel Super Hero Squad Online
Promotional comic distributed as free handout during E3 2010. Cover motif is a pastiche on Secret Wars #1.
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Release	April 29, 2011 (US Beta) November 4, 2011 (Europe Beta) November 1, 2012 (server merge)
Genre(s)	Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

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're each given 4 playable heroes: Cyclops, Ms. Marvel, Falcon and Ben "the Thing" Grimm. The object of the game was 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 games zones included the Daily Bugle, the Baxter Building, and Asgard which were associated with Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and Thor, respectively. A fourth zone named Villainville was also 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 where players had to defeat hoardes 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 of 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 of 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 of 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 Characters
Abomination Agent Coulson Agent Venom American Dream Angel Archangel X-Force Archangel Annihilus Anti-Venom Arachne Beast Beta Ray Bill Black Cat Black Panther Black Widow Avengers Black Widow Blade Cable Captain America Avengers Captain America Captain America, Stealth Suit Captain America, Super-Soldier Captain Marvel Carnage Colossus Cyclops Astonishing Cyclops First Appearance Cyclops Daredevil Armored Daredevil Classic Daredevil Shadowland Daredevil Deadpool Pirate Deadpool X-Force Deadpool	Destroyer Dr. Doom Future Foundation Dr. Doom Dr. Octopus Dr. Strange Dracula Drax 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 Hawkeye Hope 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 Arctic Armor Iron Man Avengers Iron Man Hulkbuster Iron Man Iron Man 2020 Iron Man Midas Iron Man MK I Iron Man MK II Iron Man MK XLII Iron Man Silver Centurion Stealth Armor Iron Man Iron Monger Iron Patriot Jean Grey Dark Phoenix Phoenix White Phoenix Juggernaut Lizard	Loki Avengers Loki Luke Cage Magneto MODOK Monkey King Moon Knight Morbius Mr. Fantastic Future Foundation Mr. Fantastic Ms. Marvel Mysterio Mystique Nick Fury Avengers Nick Fury Nightcrawler Swashbuckler Nightcrawler Nighthawk Nova 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 Shadowcat She-Hulk Silver Surfer Dark Surfer SP//DR Spider-Girl Black Suit Spider-Girl Spider-Ham Spider-Man Armored Spider-Man 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 Spider-Man Iron Spider Spider-Man Noir Spider-Man 2099 Spider-Woman Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy) Squirrel Girl Star-Lord Storm Mohawk Storm Super-Skrull Superior Spider-Man Taskmaster Thanos Thing Future Foundation Thing Tuxedo Thing	Thor Avengers Thor Battle Armor Thor Classic Thor Ultimate Thor Tigra Titanium Man Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Ultron AU Ultron Valkyrie Venom Vision War Machine War Machine MK II Wasp Werewolf Winter Soldier Bucky Cap Wolverine Avenging Wolverine Classic Wolverine Samurai Wolverine Street Clothes Wolverine X-Force Wolverine Wonder Man
Mission Bosses
Abomination Annihilus Bullseye Dark Surfer Doctor Doom Doctor Octopus	Dormammu Dracula Enchantress Fin Fang Foom Green Goblin Impossible Man	Juggernaut Kingpin Lizard Loki Avengers Loki Magneto	Malekith MODOK Mole Man Mysterio Mystique Onslaught	Red Skull Sabretooth Super-Skrull Surtur Titanium Man Ultron	Venom Wendigo Winter Soldier Ymir

*^a Only available to monthly subscribers.

• ^b Only available after purchasing a one-year subscription.
• ^c Only available after purchasing the $95.95 gold bundle.
• ^d Only available through the in-game achievement system.
• ^e Only available through the in-game crafting system.
• ^f Only available through an in-game Mystery Box purchase.
• ^g Rotation character. Only available periodically for a limited time.

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 praised the presentation and voice acting, but noted that it lacked appeal outside of young children who were fans of the show.

External links

• Official International Website (archived)
• European Website (archived)
• Gazillion Website (archived)
• Marvel Super Hero Squad Online on IMDb