“Marvel Rivals” has a problem. It's a problem that every hero shooter since the invention of the concept, and every MOBA before it, has suffered from. It's a shame, because I came into the game expecting a balanced team-up. You have Hawkeye, Black Widow, Magik, Psylocke, Spider-Man, and Punisher. You continue to die violently.

This has predictably led to calls for role-based queues, where players must commit to playing one of three roles (vanguard, strategist, duelist) before joining a game. In theory, this would be karmically balanced. One could, of course, play the DPS hero of one's choice, but one would have to endure a long queue to do so. On the other hand, tanks and healers get the VIP treatment, and the bottom line is that all games will be balanced as a result.

Unfortunately for these people, role queues will not be introduced in “Marvel Rivals” anytime soon, according to the developer in an interview with Dot Esports. Guangyun Chen, the game's creative director, said, “We are not thinking about role queues at the moment. The team's goal is not to limit players with role choices, but to offer a wider range of teaming options through team-up skills and unique designs to get people playing Marvel's superheroes.”

There's a saying I really like. You are not stuck in traffic. I don't know if the original author had hero shooters in mind when he wrote that phrase, but I think it's very applicable to hero shooters, especially since the phrase seems to be used in TomToms ads from 10 years ago, a satellite navigation device from the days before cell phones. I think the term is very applicable to hero shooters, since they were satellite navigation devices in the days before cell phones.

In other words, most of the people complaining about being on a team of six DPS heroes are often playing DPS heroes themselves. And I get it. Sometimes it's frustrating to be made to tank or support people when I really want to blow everyone away. But I need to be the change I want to see in the world, Venom, Jeff the Shark.

I also think part of the appeal of Marvel Rivals is its absolute chaos, that sense of unrestrained fun brought about by its bizarre balance and absurd team battles. When I play Spider-Man, the moment everyone understands that I have to watch my flanks, I am doomed. And my poor aim will not save me.

But what about competitive play?” well, if you are serious about improving, a good understanding of which roles do what would be healthy for your development anyway. Besides, Chen says, “Things are reasonable and within expectations.” In recent competitions, different compositions have emerged from the players.

Keep in mind, this song has been sung before; back in 2018, “Overwatch” was similarly opposed to the idea of role queues, and look how that turned out. For starters, pick up a strategist or two and you'll win a lot more. Or we could just commit to the bit and not get upset if we lose a couple of times. Squirrel Girl isn't real and doesn't care about your K/D ratio.