‘Marvel Snap’ marries maps and comics into one clever concept

As a new father, “Marvel Snap” is the perfect game for me right now. It doesn’t ask for much, it keeps me entertained, and best of all, it’s built for smartphones from the ground up. This means that I can integrate the collectible card game into free time slots that emerge in my life.

This is what I turn to when I try to rock the baby to sleep at 2:37. I have one arm rocking the baby and the other trying to figure out where to put my card Rocket Raccoon for maximum efficiency. Matches move quickly, with each bout lasting about five minutes. By the time my boy dozes off, I’ve played four or five games, which could have been a trying part of my day a little better.

A MASH-UP THAT WORKS
Because I used to play collectible card games in my pre-baby days, I knew the mechanics. The best way to describe “Marvel Snap” is that it’s a cross between poker and “Foyer.” The latter should come as no surprise as Second Dinner, the team behind “Snap”, has several members who worked on Blizzard’s card game, including co-creator Ben Brode.

Players form a deck of 12 cards. They’re all characters or gear from the Marvel Universe, with some having powers that are interpretations of their abilities. For example, Wolverine can be destroyed or discarded but he will reappear somewhere on the game board, which is a nod to his regenerative mutation. The Hulk Buster can fuse with a friendly card when the character dons the costume created by Tony Stark.

Players must watch two numbers on each card: its energy and its power. Energy is how much it costs to play and its power is the strength of the card. Both are important because energy determines when players can lay down a card and power means its strength. In case you were wondering, Hulk has one of the highest base powers at 12.

A TOUCH OF TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
So where did poker come from? This happens when players put the cards into play. They see three slots, almost like the community cards in Texas Hold’em. They’re revealed every turn of a match, and they all have game-changing traits. The goal of a “Marvel Snap” match is to win two of the three slots and this is done by having the most powerful cards in place.

Most of the time, the contest takes place over six rounds and each round gives players more energy to play. As the match progresses, they can Snap, which essentially increases the bet. Games are played for Cosmic Cubes, which basically shows your ranking. If players want to get to the top, they need to know when to raise and when to fold. Due to the random nature of the location and card draw, not all wins are guaranteed, even if players have the most best cards.

Just like in poker, players deal with all these little judgments that over time materialize into a win or a loss. Players can lay down a 1-cost card on the first turn in hopes of getting an early lead, but an opponent can counter with Elektra, which destroys a random 1-cost card that kills their advantage. A play has the ability to move blindly to an unrevealed location in hopes of scoring an advantage, but this move can also backfire by giving an opponent a boost of energy.

EASY TO LEARN BUT HARD TO MASTER
Similar to “Hearthstone”, the depth of “Marvel Snap” is bottomless. With a smaller deck to build, it’s easier to build a group of usable heroes and villains. The variety of cards and slots means there’s a lot of creativity when it comes to building a deck. Players must adapt to circumstances, which extends their analytical and mathematical skills.

Best of all, Second Dinner crafted “Marvel Snap” in a way that doesn’t feel like it pays to win. Players do not get new cards by purchasing virtual packs. Instead, they spend credits, which they can earn by completing missions. By using this virtual currency, they improve the appearance of their cards. This increases their collection level and unlocks new cards.

It’s complicated, but after updating a map and going through the menus, it’s easy to understand. Players can spend real money to buy gold and convert it into credits, but they will still need booster energy obtained from playing matches for upgrades.

Overall, it’s a better system that allows players to spend money while keeping the field relatively level. It’s a better system compared to virtual packs, in which players get repeated cards that they grind to dust. The money you spend on “Marvel Snap” doesn’t feel wasted and thrown around haphazardly.

The focus is only on the cards, where all eyes should be. (It helps that the artwork is gorgeous.) The way Second Dinner adapts each character and considers their relationships makes “Marvel Snap” unusually cohesive and refined. Fans will notice that card combos such as Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur have synergy, but they might not realize that the pairing goes beyond the cards and into the actual comics. The same goes for Cloak and Dagger.

When working on “Hearthstone”, game designer Brode talked about creating the soul of a map. With “Marvel Snap”, he and his team have brought the same philosophy and care to the game and it shows.

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‘Marvel Snap’

4 out of 4 stars
Platform: iOS, Android and PC
Evaluation: teen