Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context VideoGame / MarvelContestOfChampions

Go To

1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6_star_announcement.jpg]]
2''Marvel: Contest of Champions '' is a 2014 free-to-play mobile game developed by Kabam for the [=iOS=] and Android platforms set in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. The player takes the role of an unseen Summoner for The Collector, who opens the game by abducting ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} for his contest and imprisoning him in a crystal.
3
4The game is a standard MascotFighter game that has several different modes, including a Story Mode, Duel (where players fight another player's top Champion) Arena and Alliance Modes, with special events frequently taking place. Each player's champions can be leveled up by using ISO-8, gold and catalysts, which are all gained when fighting in story quests and special events.
5
6The game also has a [[ComicBook/ContestOfChampions2015 comic tie-in]] set in the mainstream Marvel Universe that expands on several characters introduced in the game, such as Guillotine and White Fox.
7
8In December of 2020, a sequel game, ''Marvel: Realm of Champions'', was released, a 3-VS-3 {{MOBA}}-lite that details the original Champions’ self-founded civilizations struggling to fill the power vacuum left by [[spoiler:the assassination of Maestro]].
9
10[[folder:The Champions]]
11!! Cosmic class
12* '''[[Characters/MarvelComicsHeraldsOfGalactus Air-Walker]]'''
13* '''ComicBook/{{Angela|AsgardsAssassin}}'''
14* '''[[Characters/FantasticFourCentralRoguesGallery Annihilus]]'''
15* '''ComicBook/BlackBolt'''
16* '''[[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Captain Marvel]]'''
17* '''ComicBook/{{Carnage}}'''
18* '''[[ComicBook/BlackOrder Corvus Glaive]]'''
19* '''[[ComicBook/BlackOrder Cull Obsidian]]'''
20* '''ComicBook/DraxTheDestroyer'''
21* '''ComicBook/{{Gamora}}'''
22* '''ComicBook/{{Groot}}'''
23* '''[[Characters/MarvelComicsAsgardians Heimdall]]'''
24* '''[[Characters/TheMightyThorGiants Hela]]'''
25* '''[[ComicBook/SquadronSupreme Hyperion]]'''
26* '''[[ComicBook/{{Groot}} King Groot]]'''
27* '''[[Characters/VenomRoguesGallery Knull]]'''
28* '''[[ComicBook/TheInhumans Medusa]]'''
29* '''[[ComicBook/KamalaKhan Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan]]'''
30* '''[[ComicBook/MsMarvel Ms. Marvel/Carol Danvers]]'''
31* '''[[ComicBook/{{Nova}} Nova/Richard Rider]]'''
32* '''[[ComicBook/JeanGrey Phoenix]]'''
33* '''[[ComicBook/BlackOrder Proxima Midnight]]'''
34* '''[[Characters/{{Carnage}} Red Goblin]]'''
35* '''[[ComicBook/GuardiansofTheGalaxy Ronan]]'''
36* '''ComicBook/SilverSurfer'''
37* '''ComicBook/SpiderMan''' ([[Characters/VenomMainHosts Black Suit]])
38* '''[[ComicBook/{{AXIS}} Superior]] ComicBook/IronMan'''
39* '''[[Characters/MarvelComicsHeraldsOfGalactus Terrax]]'''
40* '''ComicBook/{{Thanos}}'''
41* '''[[Characters/EldersOfTheUniverse The Champion]]'''
42* '''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'''
43* '''ComicBook/{{Venom}}'''
44* '''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}''' ([[Characters/VenomMainHosts Venompool]])
45* '''Characters/InvadersWWIIRecruits Vision (Aarkus)'''
46
47!! Mutant class
48* '''[[ComicBook/WarrenWorthingtonIII Archangel]]'''
49* '''ComicBook/{{Beast|MarvelComics}}'''
50* '''[[Characters/XMen90sMembers Bishop]]'''
51* '''ComicBook/{{Cable}}'''
52* '''ComicBook/{{Colossus}}'''
53* '''ComicBook/{{Cyclops|MarvelComics}}'''
54* '''ComicBook/{{Cyclops|MarvelComics}}''' ([[WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries '90s]])
55* '''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'''
56* '''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}''' (ComicBook/XForce)
57* '''ComicBook/{{Domino|MarvelComics}}'''
58* '''ComicBook/{{EmmaFrost}}'''
59* '''ComicBook/{{Gambit|MarvelComics}}'''
60* '''[[Characters/XMen60sMembers Havok]]'''
61* '''ComicBook/{{Iceman|MarvelComics}}'''
62* '''ComicBook/{{Magneto}}'''
63* '''ComicBook/{{Magneto}}''' (ComicBook/MarvelNOW)
64* '''[[Characters/XMenMarauders Mister Sinister]]'''
65* '''ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}}'''
66* '''ComicBook/OldManLogan'''
67* '''[[Characters/{{Wolverine}} Omega Red]]'''
68* '''ComicBook/{{Psylocke}}'''
69* '''ComicBook/{{Rogue}}'''
70* '''ComicBook/{{Sabretooth|MarvelComics}}'''
71* '''ComicBook/{{Storm|MarvelComics}}'''
72* '''ComicBook/{{Sunspot}}'''
73* '''ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'''
74* '''[[ComicBook/{{X 23}} Wolverine]]''' (X-23)
75
76!! Mystic class
77* '''[[Characters/FantasticFourCentralRoguesGallery Diablo]]'''
78* '''ComicBook/DoctorDoom'''
79* '''ComicBook/DoctorStrange'''
80* '''ComicBook/DoctorStrange''' (ComicBook/MarvelNOW)
81* '''[[Characters/DoctorStrangeSupportingCharacters Doctor Voodoo]]'''
82* '''[[Characters/DoctorStrangeEnemies Dormmamu]]'''
83* '''[[Characters/FutureFoundation Dragon Man]]'''
84* '''[[ComicBook/BlackOrder Ebony Maw]]'''
85* '''ComicBook/GhostRider'''
86* '''[[ComicBook/ContestOfChampions2015 Guillotine]]'''
87* '''ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist'''
88* '''ComicBook/{{Juggernaut|MarvelComics}}'''
89* '''ComicBook/{{Loki}}'''
90* '''ComicBook/{{Longshot}}'''
91* '''ComicBook/{{Magik}}'''
92* '''ComicBook/{{Mephisto}}'''
93* '''[[Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR Mojo]]'''
94* '''[[Film/DoctorStrange2016 Mordo]]''' (Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse)
95* '''[[Characters/AlphaFlight Sasquatch]]'''
96* '''ComicBook/ScarletWitch'''
97* '''ComicBook/TheHood'''
98* '''ComicBook/{{Thor|2014}}''' (Jane Foster)
99* '''ComicBook/{{Tigra}}'''
100* '''[[ComicBook/FearItself Unstoppable Colossus]]'''
101
102!! Science class
103* '''[[Characters/IncredibleHulkCentralRoguesGallery Abomination]]'''
104* '''[[Film/AntMan1 Ant-Man/Scott Lang]]'''
105* '''[[ComicBook/{{Venom}} Anti-Venom]]'''
106* '''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'''
107* '''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica''' ([[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger WWII]])
108* '''[[Characters/SpiderManCentralRoguesGallery Electro]]'''
109* '''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'''
110* '''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk''' ([[Film/ThorRagnarok Ragnarok]])
111* '''ComicBook/HumanTorch'''
112* '''ComicBook/InvisibleWoman'''
113* '''[[Characters/MarvelComicsBruceBanner Joe Fixit]]'''
114* '''ComicBook/LukeCage'''
115* '''ComicBook/MisterFantastic'''
116* '''ComicBook/{{MODOK}}'''
117* '''[[Series/AgentsOfShield Quake]]''' (Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse)
118* '''ComicBook/RedHulk'''
119* '''[[Characters/SpiderManCentralRoguesGallery Rhino]]'''
120* '''ComicBook/TheSentry'''
121* '''ComicBook/SheHulk'''
122* '''ComicBook/SpiderGwen'''
123* '''ComicBook/SpiderMan''' (Classic)
124* '''ComicBook/SpiderMan''' (ComicBook/MilesMorales)
125* '''ComicBook/TheThing'''
126* '''ComicBook/TheSentry''' (The Void)
127* '''ComicBook/TheWasp'''
128* '''[[Film/AntMan1 Yellowjacket]]'''
129
130!! Skill class
131* '''[[Characters/MarvelComicsFlashThompson Agent Venom]]'''
132* '''ComicBook/BlackPanther'''
133* '''ComicBook/BlackPanther''' ([[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar Civil War]])
134* '''ComicBook/BlackWidow'''
135* '''ComicBook/{{Blade}}'''
136* '''[[Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar Crossbones]]''' (Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse)
137* '''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'''
138* '''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}''' (Devil of Hell's Kitchen)
139* '''ComicBook/{{Elektra}}'''
140* '''[[ComicBook/{{Bloodstone}} Elsa Bloodstone]]'''
141* '''[[ComicBook/TheUnbelievableGwenpool Gwenpool]]'''
142* '''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'''
143* '''ComicBook/HitMonkey'''
144* '''[[ComicBook/TheInhumans Karnak]]'''
145* '''[[Film/BlackPanther2018 Killmonger]]'''
146* '''ComicBook/TheKingpin'''
147* '''[[Film/ThorRagnarok Korg]]'''
148* '''[[Characters/SpiderManCentralRoguesGallery Kraven]]'''
149* '''[[Characters/FantasticFourCentralRoguesGallery Mole Man]]'''
150* '''ComicBook/MoonKnight'''
151* '''ComicBook/NickFury'''
152* '''[[Characters/NewWarriors Night Thrasher]]'''
153* '''ComicBook/ThePunisher'''
154* '''[[Film/AvengersEndgame Ronin]]'''
155* '''[[Film/SpiderManFarFromHome Spider-Man]]''' (Stealth Suit)
156* '''ComicBook/SquirrelGirl'''
157* '''ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}}'''
158* '''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]''' ([[Film/ThorRagnarok Ragnarok]])
159* '''ComicBook/WinterSoldier'''
160
161!! Tech class
162* '''ComicBook/{{Darkhawk}}'''
163* '''ComicBook/DoctorOctopus'''
164* '''[[Film/AntManAndTheWasp Ghost]]'''
165* '''ComicBook/GreenGoblin'''
166* '''[[Characters/AlphaFlight Guardian]]'''
167* '''ComicBook/HowardTheDuck'''
168* '''[[ComicBook/IronMan Hulkbuster]]'''
169* '''ComicBook/IronMan'''
170* '''[[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Iron Patriot]]'''
171* '''ComicBook/KangTheConqueror'''
172* '''ComicBook/{{Mysterio}}'''
173* '''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014 Nebula]]'''
174* '''ComicBook/ThePunisher2099'''
175* '''ComicBook/RedSkull'''
176* '''ComicBook/RocketRaccoon'''
177* '''[[Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ Sentinal]]'''
178* '''[[Film/SpiderManHomecoming Spider-Man]]''' (Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse)
179* '''ComicBook/StarLord'''
180* '''ComicBook/{{Ultron}}'''
181* '''ComicBook/{{Ultron}}''' ([[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron Age of Ultron]])
182* '''ComicBook/TheVision'''
183* '''ComicBook/TheVision''' ([[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron Age of Ultron]])
184* '''[[Film/SpiderManHomecoming Vulture]]'''
185* '''ComicBook/{{Warlock|1999}}'''
186* '''ComicBook/WarMachine'''
187* '''[[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014 Yondu]]''' (Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse)
188
189!! Non-playable
190* '''Adaptoid'''
191* '''Symbioid'''
192* '''[[ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} Deadpooloid]]'''
193* '''ComicBook/{{Maestro}}'''
194* '''[[Characters/MarvelComicsEldersOfTheUniverse The Collector]]'''
195* '''[[ComicBook/{{Ultron}} Ultron Drone]]'''
196
197[[/folder]]
198
199----
200!! This game contains examples of:
201* AlternateSelf:
202** Black-Suit Spider-Man is from a world where the symbiote completely took over its host, and is more sinister and brutal than Classic Spider-Man.
203** Black-Suit Spider-Man, Agent Venom, classic Venom, and Venompool are all bonded to alternate versions of the Venom symbiote.
204** Several versions of characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe show up.
205** King Groot and Civil Warrior mix this with OriginalGeneration, being alternate versions of Groot and Steve Rogers created specifically for the game.
206* AmbiguouslyBrown: Electro is noticeably darker-skinned than Caucasian characters but not as dark as explicitly black characters like Storm and Luke Cage, presumably referencing how he was played by a black actor in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'' but is a white guy in the original comics. Averted by Guillotine, who's explicitly described as half-French and half-Algerian.
207* AntiPoopSocking: Quest energy depletes as the player moves through the level and replenishes over time, though players in an Alliance can ask for help and certain items can regenerate part of all of it. Likewise champions used in Arenas must cool down and can also be recharged with Alliance help or for 5 units.
208* ArtificialStupidity: CPU controlled enemies will noticeably not use their special attacks even if the bar is full when close to death, when that's the first thing a human opponent would do. The level of this seems to vary depending on the game mode, as Duels play out much closer to what fighting an actual human would be like (and are thus much harder).
209* AssistCharacter: During Groot's third special attack Rocket Raccoon (who is a character in his own right) appears out of thin air and fires his gun from Groot's shoulder at the enemy.
210* {{Badbutt}}: Especially compared to her appearance in ''Series/JessicaJones2015'', Jessica's dialog when she talks to the Summoner in the Contamination event is noticeably toned down, presumably to abide by the game's T rating even though the show she's from is definitely ''not'' family friendly. The same applies to Luke Cage and the [[Series/Daredevil2015 live action version]] of Daredevil.
211* BreakingTheFourthWall: Deadpool, [[FourthWallObserver as usual]], comments on aspects of the game when encountered in story mode. He also complains during the 2015 Holiday special about being classed as a Mutant, which causes The Collector to tell him to shut up. And his "Deadpoolpalooza" event is pretty much nothing but this.
212* CharacterClassSystem: There are six classes for the playable characters: Cosmic, Tech, Mutant, Skill, Science, and Mystic.
213** There is also the Combined class, though this is limited to only to non playable characters.
214* {{Freemium}}: Real money can be used to purchase units, and daily specials (often containing a class specific crystal and several catalysts) are offered for around $4.99. It's not strictly necessary to purchase but do help on higher difficulties.
215* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Present in several stages.
216** The New York City stage has a sign for [[Series/Daredevil2015 Nelson & Murdock]] visible on a building. The Avengers Tower can also be seen in the background.
217** The Spaceport stage has moving holographic wanted posters of [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014 Rocket and Groot]]. It also features of an advertisement of The Collector (depicted in SuperDeformed style) hawking items for the game.
218* GRatedDrug: The Black ISO-8 in the Contamination event (tied in with ''Series/JessicaJones2015'') is treated this way, with characters referring to it and craving it the same way one would become addicted to a drug.
219* KindaBusyHere: ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'s third special attack has his cellphone ring in the middle of the fight and he goes to answer it, while his opponent makes exasperated gestures and looks away while he yammers away on it, only to have Deadpool to shake his head, hang up and [[OffhandBackhand offhandedly shoot his opponent]].
220* {{Hammerspace}}: Used by champions who have weapons as part of special attacks but not normally visible on their model.
221** Winter Soldier and Punisher pull out two handguns and a ''bazooka'' for their third special (which [[OffModel inexplicably changes into a rifle]] when the camera cuts back after showing the shot hitting the opponent, though this was eventually fixed in an update so it's always a rifle).
222** Rocket Raccoon beats them both in his third special attack by first pulling out a handgun, which makes his opponent laugh at him, so instead he pulls out different components of a blaster that when assembled is ''larger than he is''.
223** Notably averted with Drax: originally, he would pull knives out of nowhere for a special attack, but an update changed his character model so that he is always using them.
224* HitboxDissonance: Rocket Raccoon has the same size hitbox as all other champions, so as not to give him an unfair advantage due to his relative smallness. This is also why he always floats using his jetpack and only gets down on the ground for his second special attack or his win pose so he's the same height as the other champions.
225* HostileShowTakeover: Around the time ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' was released Ultron took over the contest, with The Collector repeatedly grousing about this and referring to him as a "parasite".
226** Also PlayedForLaughs with the tie in to ''{{Film/Deadpool|2016}}'', which has Deadpool making his own series of quests titled "Deadpoolpalooza" but with blatant copying such as taping his face over the graphics for the story quests and the "Deadpooloids" being regular Symbioids with his mask and [[GoofyPrintUnderwear boxers with his logo on them]].
227* ImmuneToFlinching: The "Unstoppable" ability of Juggernaut and Unstoppable Colossus allows them to not be knocked back as long as it is active.
228* LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading: Planning to gun your way through a chapter in the campaign? Hope you've packed enough patience for a ''ton'' of loading screens. For each opponent you face in a chapter, you'll have to go through at least ''three'' loading screens: one to bring up character selection, another for the actual fight, and a third to take you back to the map once you win (and more if the character you picked gets KO'd). Do the math and you'll be looking at having to go through '''over a dozen''' loading screens to finish up the chapter - but unfortunately for those who are aiming for OneHundredPercentCompletion, that's just the beginning - virtually ''every'' chapter has '''''multiple''''' unique routes that have to be cleared to be fully "explored". That means that you'll have to get through '''''dozens upon dozens of loading screens''''', not to mention two additional loading screens that you must go past to exit and re-enter the chapter map between each unique route cleared, which will be more than enough to rile up anyone who's short on patience.
229* MirrorMatch: Referenced by champions in Story Mode when they mention that they may end up fighting themselves. The colors of the champions do not change, unlike in most Mirror Matches, but because the camera is fixed the side of the screen they're on and how they face during special attacks stays the same.
230* MovesetClone: Common among champions of the same class, for instance Winter Soldier and Punisher both have identical movesets and special moves. Both versions of The Vision, Deadpool and Captain America also use the same movesets since the characters are just {{Palette Swap}}s of each other. Eventually averted with ComicBook/IronFist, who at first used a standard Skill attack set but after an update gained unique animations (and [[OffModel lost the gloves]] on his model).
231* MythologyGag: Anti-Venom's "Time Travellers" synergy with Spider-Man 2099 and Doctor Octopus is a reference to ''VideoGame/SpiderManEdgeOfTime''.
232* NoFlowInCGI: Mostly averted by the cape physics of many Champions, and while the hair on certain characters like Captain Marvel and Storm's mohawks used to be stiff as a board and prone to clipping, later updates added jiggle bones to it so it moves more naturally.
233* NormallyIWouldBeDeadNow: ComicBook/ThePunisher has a special ability called Defy Pain that gives him a change to endure an otherwise lethal blow for several seconds, the exact length determined by his level.
234* NoSell: Bleed damage does not affect most Tech champions (i.e. Vision, Ultron, or others who are robots) or certain other heroes like Colossus with his metal skin and Luke Cage with his SuperToughness. Robots are also immune to Poison damage.
235* OnlyOneFemaleMold: While the male heroes have several different body types (including "Beast" like Hulk, Juggernaut and Abomination, "Heroic" like Captain America, Black Panther and Electro, and "Slim" like Spider-Man) all the females have the exact same body type and PaintedOnPants style clothing. Eventually averted in the update that added ComicBook/SpiderGwen, who has a noticeably smaller and thinner frame than the other female characters, and [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Kamala Khan]], who's shorter and less curvy than most of the other females. ComicBook/SheHulk is also much taller and muscular than other female models and has a different winpose than the standard.
236* OriginalGeneration:
237** Guillotine is a wholly original character created for this game and its tie-in comic.
238** [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] with King Groot and Civil Warrior, who are based on canon characters, but are alternate versions not based on any specific incarnations from the comics or films. King Groot is a [[ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Groot]] who never met Rocket and rose up to become a GalacticConqueror, and Civil Warrior is a [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Steve Rogers]] who became TheAtoner after his AccidentalMurder of Tony Stark.
239** Venom the Duck is a version of Howard the Duck using the Venom symbiote as a Lovecraftian MiniMecha, created by the Symbiote Supreme.
240** The Symbiote Supreme is a ComicBook/{{Spawn}}-esque version of Dr. Strange bonded to a powerful symbiote, channelling the power of the dark gods Chthon, Set, and Null.
241* PaletteSwap: Several champions are obvious palette swaps for each other, often an alternate version of the same character. For instance, X-Force Deadpool has the exact same power set as regular Deadpool with a different colored uniform, and WWII Captain America is this for regular Captain America. The Vision also has both a comics version of his costume and one based on the movie version in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''. Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel also have the exact same attributes.
242* PoisonousPerson: Abomination's ability Irradiate has a chance to inflict poison on his opponent.
243* ThePowerOfFriendship: Having heroes who are friends, allies or lovers on the same team will often grand them boots and bonuses to certain abilities. On the flipside, pairing up rivals or enemies will have similar effects.
244* PowerFloats: Magneto (both versions) and Doctor Strange both float by default. Magneto always did while Doctor Strange had this added in an update. Rocket Raccoon floats too, but he's just using a jetpack.
245* ReliablyUnreliableGuns: Star Lord's third special attack has him kick back his opponent then level his gun at them, only for it to fizzle and spark when he pulls the trigger. He then frantically starts [[PercussiveMaintenance hitting it]] and finally manages to get a shot off just as the opponent rushes at him again.
246* SpecialAttack: Each champion can have up to three, with the 3 star or higher champions having access to the highest immediately while lower starred players need to unlock them by leveling up.
247* StealthPun: During Rocket & Groot's Holiday Special the first level has The Collector refer to Groot as a tree, and the first map is laid out like a Christmas tree. What makes this stealth is one has to zoom out on the map in order to see its shape. And by extension the entire quest can be seen as a hunt for a Christmas tree, since one of the prizes for completing it is a 3 Star Groot.
248* SuperMode: Agent Venom's Signature Ability, '''Klyntar Rage''', has him randomly lose control of the Venom symbiote after being attacked once he hits 50% health, greatly increasing his damage output.
249* UseYourHead: A default forward attack for several "brute" types champions including The Hulk, Abomination, Drax and Luke Cage.

Top