Land shark Jeff is one of the most beloved characters in the Rivals of Marveland, quite possibly, will remain in this position for a long time. More puppy than ferocious shark, his animation, audio and overall character design made him the main attraction; it even attracted a lot of non-Marvel fans to the game. However, Jeff's land shark kit is included Rivals of Marvel this is where all the action takes place, including the ultimate that has almost single-handedly made him both a joy and a threat in matchups.
The shark's presence came as a surprise to many fans, especially given his obscure origins and less popular adventures. This addition is another point that sets the game apart from the competition, as it shows that NetEase Games isn't afraid to experiment with lesser-known characters for Rivals of Marvel' mass list. At the end of the day, it's important to have choices where the characters really play differently and create new experiences – although how unique NetEase becomes may be affected by the reaction to Jeff.
Relatives
Marvel Rivals: Who is Jeff the Land Shark?
Jeff the Land Shark is one of the new faces coming to the Marvel Rivals closed beta, and he's already won over the hearts of many fans.
Jeff's presence in Marvel Rivals sets a precedent for unique characters
The rapid rise in popularity of Land Shark Jeff through Rivals of Marvel showed that fans are open to niche characters, even with a roster filled with legendary names like Spider-Man and Wolverine. It's not all sunshine and rainbows though, as Jeff's ultimate is pretty controversial. Not everyone loves his power, as the shark eats everything in sight, even with enemies flying over it, leading many to call for a major nerf to his ultimate. It may well happen in due time, but its uniqueness has already shown that new and distinctive ideas are the way forward, even if one ability has divided the player base.
Jeff's Ultimate in Marvel Rivals is far from unstoppable
Land Shark Jeff is the best game Rivals of Marvel is an AoE attack that causes him to swallow everyone in the area. Players can safely splash allies and either knock enemies off the map or pop out with them for guaranteed team destruction. It does have a few issues that plague fans: the ult's radius is quite large, there's a hitbox issue where characters out of range are swallowed, and the ability's duration is very long at eight seconds.
Jeff's kit, especially his ultimate, makes him unique Rivals of Marvel. He is naturally victorious, but so are many others. For example, Iron Man's Invincible Pulse Cannon, Scarlet Witch's Reality Erasure, and The Punisher's Final Judgment have the same level of effectiveness. Players can even go further and use different team abilities Rivals of Marvel or come up with new combos of moves, like combining Jeff's ultimate with the Scarlet Witch. Alternatively, they can use the ultimates of Cloak and Dagger, Groot, Adam the Warlock, and others to fight.
Having a potentially controversial mechanic shouldn't be a reason for a developer to skip characters that break the mold. Heroes that are more linear and “safe” may seem like the best choice at the moment, but additions to the roster that feel refreshing are key to the longevity of a hero shooter.
Why Marvel Rivals Should Go All-in on Unique Characters
New Rivals of Marvel Characters with potentially conflicting ultimates can seem like a risk at this point. However, such abilities add a touch of gameplay, allowing new metas to take shape. For example, Susan Storm's potential ult can make her team invisible while increasing melee damage and movement speed. This can make enemies more susceptible to attacks and wary of invading. Alternatively, an earlier version of Professor Xavier may come with a particularly unique ult: one that makes enemies look like allies and forces players to risk harming their teammates.
Having too many conflicting characters is bad for business, but there is still room for positive interactions. Rivals of Marvel has been growing steadily since its official launch, and its diverse roster is perhaps the main reason for this. Going forward, this diversity should continue to be favored with bolder additions like Jeff. At the end of the day, sets can be successful even if they are hotly debated, as long as there are enough characters to create new and interesting plays.
Rivals of Marvel
Marvel Rivals is a team-based superhero PVP shooter!
Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, develop countless strategies by joining forces to form unique Team-Up skills, and fight on devastating, ever-changing battlefields in the ever-evolving Marvel Universe!
Marvel's deep and diverse roster
Choose from a wide variety of fan-favorite and iconic Marvel superheroes and supervillains from The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.
Fast and fun 6v6 action with constantly changing game dynamics
With challenging environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, Marvel Rivals is never boring! Fight as superheroes and supervillains with incredible abilities and join forces to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in seconds.
Dynamic Hero Synergy
Coordinate unique combinations between characters to trigger amazing teamwork skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and discover new tactics that can turn the tide of battle. Ride on Groot's back as Rocket Raccoon to take on enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash gamma energy as the Hulk to charge up Iron Man's armor for massive damage, and more!
Destruction of the creative environment
Make your way through iconic Marvel worlds through destructible environments! From Asgard to Tokyo in 2099, use your superpowers to transform the environment, change the terrain and create a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to evade attacks or use improvised weapons to take down enemies. Players will find many ways to use the environment to win!
An ever-evolving universe and reliable post-launch updates
The Marvel Multiverse opens up endless possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new superheroes to the battlefield along with challenging and varied maps! Discover new content for different game strategies as you experience exciting action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!