Info about Marvel's Midnight Suns:

Official game description:
Marvel's Midnight Suns Legendary Edition
========================================
DARKNESS FALLS. RISE UP!  
Customize the look of the Midnight Suns team and extend your adventure with the Marvel’s Midnight Suns Legendary Edition!  
The Legendary Edition includes:  
\- Marvel’s Midnight Suns base game  
\- Marvel's Midnight Suns Season Pass, which includes 23 premium skins available at launch and four post-launch DLC packs  
The four playable post-launch DLC heroes included in the Season Pass are:  
\- Deadpool  
\- Venom  
\- Morbius  
\- Storm  
Season Pass Premium Skins available at launch:  
\- Captain America (Future Soldier)  
\- Captain America (Captain of the Guard)  
\- Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)  
\- Captain Marvel (Medieval Marvel)  
\- Magik (Phoenix Five)  
\- Magik (New Mutants)  
\- Nico Minoru (Sister Grimm)  
\- Nico Minoru (Shadow Witch)  
\- Wolverine (X-Force)  
\- Wolverine (Logan)  
\- Blade (Demon Hunter)  
\- Blade (Blade 1602)  
\- Iron Man (Iron Knight)  
\- Iron Man (Bleeding Edge)  
\- Ghost Rider (Spirit of Vengeance)  
\- Ghost Rider (Death Knight)  
\- Doctor Strange (Strange Future Supreme)  
\- Scarlet Witch (Boss Witch)  
\- Scarlet Witch (Fallen Scarlet Witch)  
\- Spider-Man (Symbiote Suit)  
\- Spider-Man (Demon Spider)  
\- Hulk (Fallen Hulk)  
\- Hulk (Maestro)  
With the inclusion of the Season Pass, the Legendary Edition lets you keep the pressure on Lilith and expand your roster of Marvel heroes. This extra dose of vengeance includes four post-launch DLC packs, each introducing a new fully playable hero, new missions, new enemies, and more. The Season Pass also includes 23 Premium Skins at launch so you can customize the look of the Midnight Suns team.  
Note: Premium skins must be used with the equivalent in-game character. Characters may require unlocking through gameplay. Post-launch Season Pass content and the premium skins will be automatically delivered in-game upon release. DLC release timing for post-launch DLC will be revealed at a future date. Terms apply.
Marvel's Midnight Suns Digital+ Edition
=======================================
DARKNESS FALLS. RISE UP!  
Customize the look of your Midnight Sun team with the Marvel’s Midnight Suns Digital+ Edition!  
The Digital+ Edition includes:  
\-Marvel’s Midnight Suns base game  
\-11 Premium Skins  
Premium Skins include:  
\-Captain America (Future Soldier)  
\-Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)  
\-Magik (Phoenix Five)  
\-Nico Minoru (Sister Grimm)  
\-Wolverine (X-Force)  
\-Blade (Demon Hunter)  
\-Captain America (Captain of the Guard)  
\-Iron Man (Iron Knight)  
\-Nico Minoru (Shadow Witch)  
\-Ghost Rider (Spirit of Vengeance)  
\-Magik (New Mutants)  
Note: Premium skins must be used with the equivalent in-game character. Characters may require unlocking through gameplay. Premium skins will be automatically delivered in-game by 1 December 2022. Terms apply  
UNLEASH THE DARKER SIDE OF MARVEL  
When the demonic Lilith and her fearsome horde unite with the evil armies of Hydra, it’s time to unleash Marvel’s dark side. As The Hunter, your mission is to lead an unlikely team of seasoned Super Heroes and dangerous supernatural warriors to victory. Can legends such as Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Blade put aside their differences in the face of a growing apocalyptic threat? If you’re going to save the world, you'll have to forge alliances and lead the team into battle as the legendary Midnight Suns.  
With an array of upgradeable characters and skills allowing you to build your own unique version of The Hunter, you will choose how to send Lilith’s army back to the underworld.
About the Game
==============
Marvel’s Midnight Suns is the ultimate crossover event combining the rich story, character relationships, customization and progression of an RPG with the tactical strategy and combat mechanics of a revolutionary new card-based tactics game. Set in the darker side of the Marvel Universe, you will forge unbreakable bonds with legendary Marvel Super Heroes and dangerous supernatural warriors in the fight against the world’s greatest threat yet…the demonic forces of Lilith and the elder god Chthon.
Your Marvel Adventure
---------------------
You are the Hunter, the first fully-customizable original hero in the Marvel Universe. Personalize your appearance, choose your reactions to situations, and build friendships with Marvel legends spanning The Avengers, X-Men, Runaways, and more. Decide who to take with you on missions, which missions to embark on, and a host of other options to make this a unique experience.
Fight and Think like a Super Hero
---------------------------------
From the creators of the critically-acclaimed tactical XCOM series comes an engaging and deeply customizable card-based battle system that rewards clever thinking with Super Hero flair. Deploy a squad of Super Heroes on tactical turn-based missions to thwart the forces of evil. Use your environment, move around the battlefield lining up the perfect shot or combo, and then launch devastating hero abilities to gain the advantage in each epic encounter. The combat leverages the best elements from tactical games and card-based combat in a truly unique and thrilling experience.
Live Among the Legends
----------------------
Spend time exploring what Super Heroes do in their off hours. Explore The Abbey—your very own mystical secret base—to discover powerful hidden items and secrets to aid you in the conflict against Lilith and her minions. Befriend and get to really know some of your favorite Marvel heroes as you interact with them in ways beyond the comics or the films.

Release date: Dec 1, 2022

Categories: Card-based Gameplay, Turn-based Tactical, Character Customization, Character Progression, Story-driven Gameplay, Tactical Gameplay, RPG, Single-player

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 85; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The analysis of user reviews for the game reveals significant concerns regarding its monetization practices. Key issues include the sale of premium currency in a single-player game, the necessity of purchasing a season pass or DLC for additional content, and the locking of certain costumes behind premium currency or expensive DLC. Additionally, there are indications that the game was designed with potential for further monetization, including more DLCs and costumes. The presence of multiple currencies and unlockables also suggests a design geared towards microtransactions, which is criticized as predatory. Overall, these practices are viewed as greedy and detrimental to the user experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 15; verdict: Works Well; summary: Marvel's Midnight Suns has a generally positive experience on Linux with some minor issues. Users report that the game works well on Steam Deck but may require some tweaks like forcing Proton to run on other Linux distributions. There are minor performance issues like stuttering, but overall, the game is playable on Linux.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for Marvel's Midnight Suns reveals several critical issues impacting the user experience. The most significant problems include the 2K Launcher, which causes performance issues and launch difficulties, and Denuvo DRM, which leads to crashes and stability problems. Additionally, the inclusion of microtransactions and anti-cheat software in a single-player game has been poorly received. Compatibility issues with the Steam Deck and the need to force Proton for Linux support are also notable concerns. These issues collectively affect the game's accessibility, stability, and overall user satisfaction.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Performance varies across hardware cohorts, with higher VRAM configurations experiencing issues related to software policies, while mid-range VRAM setups report minor performance problems but generally positive experiences.
  - Sample size: 56 (3% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (negative, 19 reports): Users report issues with software policies affecting gameplay.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 14 reports): Users experience minor performance issues but generally recommend the game.
  - Caveats: 56 of 2173 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is heavily weighted toward Windows PCs with 10GB+ VRAM.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $9.00 - $45.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users find the game worth purchasing at a discounted price, typically around $9 to $45. Many reviews mention that the game is worth buying on sale, indicating that the community considers the fair price range to be lower than the full price. The repeated mentions of purchasing the game on sale and finding it valuable at those prices support this range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 70.0h
  - Story completion: 40.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime and gameplay experiences. The first quote mentions a total playtime of 100 hours, which includes story missions, side missions, and DLC missions. The second quote, while not directly mentioning playtime, implies a significant investment of time to reach a specific point in the game. The third quote explicitly states that it took 70 hours to complete the story, including optional missions and secret hunting. The fourth quote suggests that a full playthrough can easily exceed 40-60 hours if side content is explored. These quotes collectively provide a strong basis for estimating the typical playtime for game completion and story completion. However, there is limited evidence for session length and endgame playtime, leading to lower confidence in those metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a fun and engaging combat system, but the overall experience is marred by repetitive and tedious tasks that can make the gameplay loop boring.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Unlocking different features of the game
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive gameplay loop; Grindy experience; Tedious tasks
  - Unlock drivers: Unlocking different features; Learning curve
  - Conditions: Playing on higher difficulties; Focusing on the main storyline; Engaging with the story and characters
- Player Archetypes:
  - Completionist Tactic Master (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery and completion of all game content.
    - Playstyle: Thorough and methodical, aiming to complete all achievements and explore all aspects of the game.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Achievement Chasing; Tactical Master
    - Reference games: XCOM 2; Baldur's Gate 3
  - Strategic Marvel Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of strategic and tactical gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Strategic and thoughtful, focusing on planning and executing moves carefully.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Newbie; Strategy Enthusiast
    - Reference games: Spider-Man games; Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
  - Critical Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a fair and well-functioning gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Critical and discerning, focusing on the ethical and technical aspects of the game.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Veteran Gamer; Ethical Consumer
    - Reference games: None
  - Tactical Customizer (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of tactical gameplay and character customization.
    - Playstyle: Focused on strategy and customization, often skipping non-gameplay elements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Tactical Gamer; Customization Enthusiast
    - Reference games: Persona; XCOM


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Enjoyable story and gameplay (weight 0.58): Players find the story interesting and well-made, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. The combination of story and gameplay is frequently highlighted as a strong point.
- Beautiful graphics (weight 0.24): The graphics and visuals are consistently praised for being beautiful, impressive, and polished. Players appreciate the high-quality animations and overall visual presentation.
- Enjoyable character interactions (weight 0.22): Character interactions are noted for being well-written, humorous, and engaging. Players enjoy the conversations and relationships between characters, which add depth to the story.
- Rich dialogue content (weight 0.2): The game features a vast amount of well-written and meaningful dialogue. Players appreciate the depth and quality of the dialogues, which are fully voiced and contribute to the story.
- Good value for money (weight 0.2): The game is considered worth the purchase, especially at a discounted price. Players feel they get good value for money, particularly when the game is on sale.
- Variety of characters (weight 0.19): Players appreciate the wide variety of characters and heroes, each with unique abilities. The diversity in characters adds depth and replayability to the game.
- Character customization options (weight 0.17): The game offers a range of customization options for characters, allowing players to tailor their experience. This includes costume customization and character progression.
- Long gameplay time (weight 0.16): The game offers long gameplay with many side missions and exploration, providing high replayability value. Players report spending numerous hours engaged in the game.

Common complaints:
- Excessive and poor dialogue (weight 0.43): The game features an overwhelming amount of dialogue that players find lengthy, unnecessary, and often boring or immature. This includes repetitive and cringe-worthy conversations that detract from the overall experience.
- Repetitive gameplay mechanics (weight 0.32): Gameplay is criticized for being repetitive, including combat, daily routines, and overall structure. This repetitiveness makes the game feel bland and uninspired over time.
- Poor graphics and optimization (weight 0.31): The game suffers from terrible graphics, weak visuals, and significant optimization issues. Players report performance problems, frame drops, and inconsistent graphics that affect gameplay.
- Technical issues and bugs (weight 0.2): Players encounter various technical problems, including bugs, performance issues, and translation issues. These issues detract from the overall gaming experience.
- Not worth the price (weight 0.11): Many players feel that the game is not worth its full price, suggesting that it may only appeal to dedicated fans or should be purchased at a discount.
- Grinding for resources (weight 0.1): The game includes grindy elements that require players to spend excessive time collecting resources, which can become tedious and frustrating.
- Poor voice acting (weight 0.1): The voice acting in the game is criticized for being inconsistent, ranging from bad to good, and overall detracting from the story and character interactions.
- Language-specific criticisms (weight 0.09): Some players have criticized the game for having a steep learning curve, repetitive gameplay loops, and forced romantic interactions that cannot be skipped, which can be frustrating for certain types of players.
- Tedious Abbey sections (weight 0.08): The Abbey portions of the game are found to be tedious and drag on, making these sections less enjoyable compared to other parts of the game.

Gameplay feedback:
- Card-based combat system (weight 0.64): The game features a combat system that revolves around cards, including deck-building mechanics, turn-based tactics, and puzzle-like elements. Players use a deck of action cards to engage in tactical battles.
- Mission-based and strategy gameplay (weight 0.36): The game offers a variety of missions, including main and side missions, with a focus on strategy and tactical depth. The gameplay loop is challenging and engaging.
- Dating and social simulator elements (weight 0.26): The game includes dating sim and social simulator mechanics, focusing on character relationships and interactions. Players can build friendships and engage in social interactions.
- Strategic and tactical combat (weight 0.24): The combat system is strategic and tactical, with a focus on turn-based mechanics and character-specific abilities. Players must use strategy to succeed in battles.
- Character customization and progression (weight 0.22): Players can customize and upgrade their characters, with additional options available through DLC content. This includes unlocking new characters and enhancing their abilities.
- Story-driven exploration (weight 0.16): The game emphasizes story exploration and discovery, with a main story design that drives gameplay. Players can explore environments and make story choices.
- Character relationships and interactions (weight 0.14): The game focuses on character relationships and interactions, with mechanics that allow players to build and strengthen these relationships.
- Strategic use of abilities (weight 0.07): Players must strategically use hero abilities and environmental attacks to succeed in combat. The game emphasizes the strategic use of resources and abilities.
- Character synergy system (weight 0.07): The game features a character synergy system that allows players to combine abilities and strategies for enhanced combat effectiveness.

Performance notes:
- Severe optimization issues (weight 0.2): The game suffers from significant optimization problems, leading to poor performance and a subpar gaming experience. This includes general performance issues and specific complaints about the game running terribly.
- Frame rate issues (weight 0.2): There are noticeable frame drops and stutters, particularly in certain parts of the game. This includes severe frame drops in specific sections like the final Underworld part.
- Graphical glitches (weight 0.16): There are various graphical issues reported, including glitches and texture problems. Some textures fail to load properly, and there are issues with lighting and shadows.
- Frequent crashes (weight 0.15): Players experience periodic and occasional crashes, which disrupt gameplay. This includes abrupt crashes and freezes that can be quite frustrating.
- Frequent technical bugs (weight 0.12): Players report various technical issues, including visual bugs and general bugginess. These bugs affect the overall gameplay experience and can be quite disruptive.
- Animation problems (weight 0.11): The game has issues with animations, including wooden facial animations and stiff movements. Some animations also glitch out, affecting the visual quality.
- Slow loading times (weight 0.1): The game has slow loading times for save files and scenes, which can be inconvenient for players. This includes long load scenes and short loading screens.
- Compatibility and setup issues (weight 0.1): There are various compatibility and setup issues, including the need to run the game in Windows 8 compatibility mode and disconnect it from the 2K launcher. This can complicate the initial setup process.
- High GPU usage and intensity (weight 0.07): The game is GPU-intensive and can cause high GPU usage, leading to performance issues. Players report that the game demands a lot from the PC, which can be challenging for some setups.
- Average graphics and requirements (weight 0.07): The graphics are considered average, and the game has modest hardware requirements. This makes it accessible to a wider range of players but may not impress those seeking high-end visuals.
- Sound and visual quality (weight 0.07): The game has weak visuals and poor sound quality, which can detract from the overall gaming experience. Some cutscenes also had low resolution, affecting the visual quality.

Recommendations:
- Buy on sale (weight 0.28): Many reviews suggest purchasing the game, especially when it is on sale. This includes various editions and DLCs.
- Modding recommended (weight 0.1): Several reviews recommend playing the game with mods, suggesting that mods enhance the gaming experience.
- Worth checking out (weight 0.08): The game is described as worth checking out, even for those who are not necessarily Marvel fans, due to its unique gameplay loop.
- Worth trying despite issues (weight 0.07): Some reviews mention that the game is worth trying despite some issues, indicating that it has redeeming qualities that make it worthwhile.
- Recommended by friends (weight 0.05): The game is often recommended by friends and others, indicating a positive word-of-mouth reputation.
- Future support and updates (weight 0.05): Some reviews express hope for more characters and stories, indicating a desire for future updates and support for the game.
- High replay value (weight 0.03): Some reviews suggest that the game has high replay value, making it a game that players will likely return to.
- Not for button-mashers (weight 0.03): The game is not recommended for those who prefer simple, button-mashing gameplay, as it requires strategic thinking.

Other player notes:
- Cosmetic microtransactions (weight 0.03): The game includes microtransactions for cosmetic items, which can be a point of contention for some players.
- No pause during cutscenes (weight 0.03): Players cannot pause during cutscenes, which can be frustrating for those who need to take breaks or attend to something else.
- Season Pass and DLCs (weight 0.03): The game features a Season Pass and additional downloadable content, which can enhance the gaming experience.
- Forced running mechanic (weight 0.03): The game forces players to run everywhere, which might not be appealing to all players and can feel unnecessary.
- Cross-platform compatibility (weight 0.03): Players have successfully run the game on multiple devices, indicating good cross-platform support.
- Accessible with limited mobility (weight 0.03): The game is accessible and playable with 1.5 hands, making it suitable for players with certain physical limitations.
- Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.03): The game is mentioned to be compatible with Steam Deck, appealing to players who use this device.
- Free distribution on EPIC (weight 0.02): Some players received the game for free on the EPIC platform, which might have influenced their decision to play it.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the game's unique combat mechanics, strategic gameplay, and character interactions. The blend of gameplay elements, such as deck-building and tactical combat, along with the engaging story and familiar Marvel characters, contribute to a fun and immersive experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated with the game's technical issues, including frequent crashes, bugs, and performance problems. Additionally, repetitive gameplay mechanics, excessive dialogues, and tedious aspects such as grinding and forced RPG elements contribute to the frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Players express disappointment with the game's shallow storytelling, lack of depth in combat mechanics, and repetitive missions. Additionally, issues with character interactions, poor writing, and the game's overall quality not meeting expectations contribute to this sentiment.
- Joy (weight 0.09): Players find joy in the game's unique combat mechanics, strategic gameplay, and engaging story. The enjoyable interactions with Marvel characters, along with the fun and addictive nature of the gameplay, contribute to a positive and entertaining experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players are excited about the game's unique blend of tactical and strategic gameplay, along with its engaging story and character interactions. The potential for future content, such as sequels or additional characters, also adds to the excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players are satisfied with the game's tactical elements, strategic gameplay, and overall quality. The depth of character writing, solid mechanics, and the game's value for money contribute to a fulfilling experience.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players love the game for its tactical and strategic aspects, as well as the overall experience of interacting with Marvel characters. The combat mechanics, customization options, and the engaging narrative contribute to a deeply enjoyable experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's deep strategy, engaging combat, and well-done character interactions. The variety of tactics, dynamic card system, and the overall positive aspects of the game contribute to a highly enjoyable experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Players are surprised by the game's quality and enjoyment, often finding it better than expected. The unique blend of gameplay elements and the overall positive experience contribute to this sentiment.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game's unique mechanics, engaging gameplay, and the possibility of future content. The variety of characters and abilities, along with the game's story and character relationships, add to the excitement.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed with the game's innovative gameplay, excellent character development, and strong core elements. The modern graphics, addictive card system, and original story contribute to a highly regarded experience.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the game's design, immersion, and tactical battles. The meta progression, story, and lore, along with the gameplay and value for money, contribute to a fulfilling experience.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players experience boredom due to the game's repetitive nature and excessive dialogues. The lack of variety in missions and the tedious aspects of gameplay contribute to this sentiment.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players express anger over game-breaking bugs, balancing issues, and intrusive software. The forced farming and buggy settings, along with the game not being worth the price, contribute to this sentiment.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for future content, expansions, and potential sequels. The desire for more games with similar mechanics and the potential for additional Marvel games contribute to this sentiment.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Players are addicted to the game due to its engaging combat and strategic gameplay. The fun and addictive nature of the gameplay loop contributes to this sentiment.
- Annoyed (weight 0.01): Players are annoyed by excessive dialogues and poorly designed mechanics. The repetitive and tedious aspects of the game contribute to this sentiment.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Players regret not trying the game sooner or not giving it a fair chance initially. The realization of the game's quality and enjoyment contributes to this sentiment.}