![[PS5] Review of Choice of Life: Wild Islands](https://www.streamgamer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PS5-Review-of-Choice-of-Life-Wild-Islands-360x180.jpg "[PS5] Review of Choice of Life: Wild Islands")
Alright, so here’s the thing. Phoenix popping up in Marvel Rivals kinda nudged me to hit pause on Overwatch 2. Might dive back into NetEase’s playground. No, it’s not because I’m a Phoenix fan or anything—honestly, my knowledge mostly comes from a quick scroll through Wikipedia and a trailer that caught my eye. But hey, she actually moves like a regular person—well, mutant. That got me excited! Something fresh for Rivals, finally.
Since its debut in December 2024, players have been grumbling on Reddit. Think of molasses—yep, that’s how they describe the character speed. Some say it’s like being stuck in slo-mo; others argue it’s just about perspective—like, Overwatch is snappier ‘cause of its first-person view. I side with the slow-poke crowd. And gradually, the game’s pace wore on my nerves, so I wandered off.
Anyway—oh wait, no, let’s get back to my point. Overwatch 2 tossed in a third-person Stadium mode and seeing Phoenix in action made me curious. Was I onto something about Rivals being sluggish? Sort of, yeah.
Both games have these distance markers in their practice zones. Figure it’s a way to check damage drop-offs or whatever, but I used it to test speeds. A few character swaps later, turns out Rivals heroes take a smidge longer to cover five meters compared to Overwatch 2. But here’s a twist: in Rivals, five meters equals about 11.5 inches, while it’s 10 inches in Overwatch 2. A bit confusing, right?
“So why care about all this?” you might wonder. Well, turns out Rivals folks are as peppy as their Overwatch pals—maybe quicker, in a weird way. The style just feels off. Imagine superheroes running a Baywatch audition, all dramatic steps and posing. Heroic clashes? More like a ballet recital. Sounds and animations are dull. Winter Soldier’s gun? Like a toy popgun. Scarlet Witch’s skills? A bit lifeless. Elegant? Perhaps. Super? Not so much.
Enter Phoenix—finally shaking things up. Her moves come with sizzling sounds, mini explosions after repeated hits. Her flight? Swift, flaming-bird form, quick relocation vibes. She pairs this with another mobility skill without a crazy cooldown. Dodging seems purposeful, almost like there’s urgency—though, plot twist: she’s not actually faster. Cloak and Dagger can vouch for that!
In essence, NetEase jazzed up their game. Phoenix is like a breath of fresh air—moves and fights like the pro you’d expect. Alright, so maybe she’s not drastically different in essence, but her gameplay feels thrilling. And for now, that’s my jam.
