Marvel’s Avengers was one of the most highly-anticipated games of this year, and, finally, gamers could dive into the superhero action game early this month. The game opened to mixed reviews but still drew enough praise for its story and gameplay.
Played from a third-person perspective, Avengers is set five years after A-Day, a day of celebration dedicated to the Avengers which turns into a large-scale tragedy. The game also drew acclaim for focusing on Kamala Khan, a character that’s lesser-known in the recent Marvel zeitgeist. A Pakistani American teen with shapeshifting abilities, she’s the latest superheroine to adopt the mantle of Ms. Marvel. As is the case with any comic book game, Marvel’s Avengers also features plenty of details and references that one would find out while playing—or most probably replaying—its missions.
Daily Bugle Live
While Spiderman doesn't feature in Avengers, gamers get subtle hints of the Daily Bugle, the newspaper in which the hero’s alter ego Peter Parker works as a photojournalist. Apparently, the newspaper has its own online channels by now, as, in the Avengers’ helicarrier, one can get a glimpse of ‘Daily Bugle Live.' Even on the streets of New York, the news agency’s building is visible in the background even though characters can’t enter the building.
A Classic Marvel Speech
In one of the cutscenes, Kamala is asked to vacate the premises of a museum dedicated to Captain America. Khan responds with a dramatic speech. On multiple viewing, people would notice that her words resemble that of Captain America in Amazing Spiderman #537. The Captain had said words like, "when the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world 'No, you move'." This quote in itself is apparently inspired by something similar said by American author Mark Twain.
Dum Dum Dugan
The game name-drops and mentions several S.H.I.E.L.D agents in unlockable files. These include Maria Hill and Jimmy Woo, who was otherwise portrayed as an FBI agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
An old S.H.I.E.L.D agent that's mention was also one of Captain America's earliest allies from the Second World War. Timothy Cadwallader, aka Dum Dum Dugan, was a Howling commando that's referred to by Nick Fury in the game and his details are also available in a collectible file. His physical features, as well as his iconic mustache and bowler hat, accurately resemble his comic-book avatar, as well as the on-screen portrayal by Neil McDonough.
Black Widow's Ballet History
In the mission in which Black Widow rescues Kamala from the forces of Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM), players get a glimpse of the Avenger's room. Initially, players can get a glimpse of the heroine's clothes and weapons.
But, if one watches closely enough, one would find a ballerina music box lying on a table. This would clearly be a call-back to Black Widow's past when she built a cover of being a ballet dancer while training to be a Soviet assassin.
Hawkeye In A Group Photograph
While the game features most of the popular Avengers, the archer Hawkeye still seems to be missing in both the main gameplay as well as any bonus content.
However, in one particular scene when Kamala is looking for Jarvis, she chances upon an old group image of the Avengers that includes regular heroes like Captain America and Iron Man, and crouching somewhere in the middle is Hawkeye. He even dons a tee-short sporting archery targets. Hawkeye was later announced as free DLC playable character.
Phil Sheldon Makes An Appearance
Phil Sheldon often appears in scenes as a Daily Bugle journalist, but only dedicated comic geeks would recognize him at first. Sheldon was first introduced as a photographer in the cult comic miniseries called Marvels.
In fact, the video game's creators also cited Marvels as a thematic influence on the game's plot. Featuring artwork by Alex Ross and a story by Kurt Busiek, Marvels focused on Sheldon as an American everyman who documents the adventures and misadventures of the heroes around him.
Tony Stark's Guitar For Pepper
Kamala examines the various shields and costumes of Captain America in the Olympia Archive. She finds out his very first costume from the 1940s and a shield that is pointier than his current spherical variant. However, if players explore more of the Archive, Kamala also encounters a cup used by Thor and an exhibit that proves Pepper Pott's existence in the game's universe.
She sees a guitar sporting red and yellow, with a note attached to it. The character reads aloud the note as, "to Pepper, from Tony." Tony's fascination with guitars is often explored in both his film and comic book apperances.
Cheap Thrills
Sia, too, exists in the Marvel Universe, as is evident from her song Cheap Thrills being featured. When Kamala retires to her quarters in the helicarrier, she can interact with the various gadgets she finds. This includes a laptop.
If she plays the laptop, she can choose between some generic rock music to the Australian songstress Sia's hit dance single. One can even play the song in its entirety in the game.
A She-Hulk Villain In A Poster
While She-Hulk doesn't make an appearance, one of her antagonists gets a subtle Easter Egg in the form of a movie poster. James David, aka the Rumbler, was a popular antagonist in She Hulk's comic series in the 1990s, with the ability manipulate the ground. In his non-villain life, he's also an actor.
In some of the game's locations, one can have a glimpse of a poster of a film starring David. The film, fittingly, is titled The Rumbler.
Captain America Lifting Mlojnir
This moment in the game is being heavily discussed among fans since its release, but players would be able to see Captain America lifting Thor's hammer only if they play as the Captain's character on the S.H.I.E.L.D helicarrier.
The moment is a clear reference to the MCU films in which Captain America attempts to lift Thor's hammer Mjolnir, with the hummer budging a little—which is recreated in a similar fashion in the game.