Marvel’s Avengers Should Lead Into A Full Black Panther Game

The War for Wakanda expansion for Marvel’s Avengers not only contains some of the game’s best content to date, but it also shows just how much Black Panther deserves his own game. While Black Panther and his allies make interesting additions to the team in Marvel’s Avengers, the game doesn’t fully explore T’Challa and Wakanda in the same way that a single player story game could. While a story game featuring Black Panther could create its own version of the character (much in the same way Insomniac did for Spider-Man), it could be interesting to see Christopher Judge, the voice of Black Panther in Marvel’s Avengers, reprise the role and continue to expand upon the version introduced in Marvel’s Avengers.

Black Panther first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1966’s Fantastic Four #52 and has since gone on to become one of Marvel Comics’ most prolific heroes. In Marvel Comics, the Black Panther is the leader of Wakanda’s Panther Tribe, and also serves as the chief of Wakanda’s many tribes. The Black Panther’s abilities come from the Panther God, Bast, who provides them with enhanced strength, agility, and senses, after they consume a heart shaped flower. The current Black Panther, T’Challa, took over the mantle from his father, T’Chaka, after his murder by Ulysses S. Klaue. The character’s popularity was boosted after the highly successful MCU film, Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman as the title character. While Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther differs from the MCU in many ways, the characters’ honor, strength, and leadership skills make him a fan-favorite in both properties.

While Marvel’s Avengers does a fantastic job at adapting the character and making him, and his country of Wakanda, complex and interesting, a solo game focused on the hero could give him the deep dive he deserves. There are many characters and locations surrounding the Black Panther that Marvel’s Avengers doesn’t have the time or resources to touch on. In addition, a solo game could also follow Marvel’s Spider-Man and include alternate costumes for players to acquire. While there are some iconic suits in Marvel’s Avengers, like his Captain America: Civil War skin, there are many others from both the films and comics that could encourage players to explore in order to unlock them. This is only one of the many reasons that having a solo game would help build Black Panther and give him the game his storied legacy deserves.

Black Panther’s Supporting Cast Could Expand Marvel’s Avengers

T’Challa is not the only beloved fan-favorite character to come from Wakanda or have their stories built around the Black Panther. Many of his supporting cast members deserve a game that would allow them to breathe and develop. While the War for Wakanda DLC does include some of these characters, such as T’Challa’s genius sister, Shuri, and the leader of the Dora Milaje, Okoye, these characters are introduced primarily as cameos to help move along the story in Marvel’s Avengers. A Black Panther solo game could help give these characters their due through missions and cutscenes that develop their characters and introduce elements of their stories from Marvel Comics. In addition, it would be interesting to get moments where these heroes are playable, similar to the segments in Marvel’s Spider-Man where players take control of Mary-Jane Watson, helping players to see the world through her eyes.

Black Panther also has an impressive roster of villains that could play an interesting role in a solo game. While Marvel’s Avengers does introduce one of T’Challa’s most dangerous foes, Ulysses S. Klaue (also called Klaw), there are several of his most iconic nemeses that do not appear in the game. Marvel’s Avengers also includes Crossbones as a mini boss, but it would be interesting to see the frequent Captain America foe fleshed out and expanded upon. In addition, a solo Black Panther game could introduce Erik Killmonger, who was popularly portrayed by Michael B. Jordan in the MCU. Killmonger is a ruthless mercenary who was born Wakandan, but was raised outside the country after his parents were killed when he was young. He holds a grudge against Wakanda and has become the Black Panther’s most dangerous foe.

A Black Panther Game Should Have An Open World Wakanda

Wakanda is a fictional African nation and is one of Marvel’s Comics’ most prolific and beloved settings. With all the unique history and locations in Wakanda, the country could make for the perfect locale to set an open world Black Panther game in. While it still remains to be seen if Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine will feature an open world, the one seen in Marvel’s Spider-Man was one of its best features. A Black Panther game could capitalize on this aspect to deliver a rich world that fully explores many of Wakanda’s unique and iconic locations.

Marvel’s Avengers included many levels set in the jungles of Wakanda, but the iconic city of Birnin Zana still has yet to be truly explored. In Marvel’s Avengers, players are able to get a look at Wakanda’s capital city from the windows and balconies of T’Challa’s throne room but are unable to traverse through the streets of the city or meet its citizens, something that an open world game set in Wakanda could do. While Marvel’s Avengers’ Wakanda differs from the MCU in many ways, it would be interesting to see more locations from the film in-game. Marvel’s Avengers used its Klaw Raid to help showcase the impressive Vibranium mines, but never got a chance to send players into J’Abariland, the mountains home of the Jabari tribe, which played a big role in the Black Panther film. The Jabari Mountains would not only provide a varied location different from the rest of Wakanda, but it could also help to introduce its complex leader and his rival tribe.

A Solo Black Panther Game Could Showcase T’Challa’s Abilities

A solo Black Panther game could also help to expand upon Black Panther’s many unique abilities in a way that Marvel’s Avengers could not. While Marvel’s Avengers gives its version of Black Panther some interesting pounce abilities, and an intrinsic meter that allows him to use his suit Vibranium absorption feature, there are a lot of other abilities that a Black Panther game could use. While Black Panther’s abilities in Marvel’s Avengers allow him to utilize grapples and hand-to-hand combat, a Black Panther solo game could introduce martial weapons, such as a spear or short sword, that T’Challa could use against his enemies. In addition, it could include unlockable Wakandan gadgets and abilities for the suit that players could improve upon as they level up.

These are only some of the many unique elements that could feature in a Black Panther solo game. With the character’s rich history, unique culture, and powerful storylines, there are few superheroes more deserving of their own solo game. Many players would love the opportunity to fully explore the nation of Wakanda and meet with T’Challa’s many allies. While Marvel’s Avengers introduces some fascinating characters and locations, a Black Panther solo game could really flesh those elements out and give the character a AAA adventure that could rival Marvel’s Spider-Man.

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