The Avengers almost had a first-person co-op game and a newly uncovered trove of gameplay footage shows what could have been.
The new footage was shared by Andrew Borman, who specializes in preserved game prototypes and gaming history. The game as you can see it here is clearly in an unfinished state, with blocked-out environments and rough enemy models, though the heroes themselves look like they’re ready to go.
pic.twitter.com/pRBnhGemntJune 1, 2020
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You can see more extensive footage on PtoPOnline’s YouTube channel (opens in new tab), including gameplay from all four of the included heroes: Iron Man shoots beams, Thor throws his hammer, Captain America whips his shield around, and Hulk smashes. It was meant to be playable in both single-player or co-op, though it looks like you’d be assembling regardless – single-player mode brings in three AI partners to control the other Avengers.
Not to be confused with Marvel’s Avengers (opens in new tab), the third-person action game from Square Enix that’s set to arrive in September, this particular The Avengers game was being created by THQ to arrive alongside the original Avengers movie in 2012. That said, it wasn’t actually based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe – it would tell its own story inspired by the Marvel comics’ Secret Invasion crossover event. The game was canceled (opens in new tab) and its developer, THQ Studio Australia, was closed before work could be completed.
While this may be the most we see of the THQ Avengers game, you can check out our hands-on preview of Marvel’s Avengers or check out our look ahead at Marvel Phase 4 (opens in new tab).