Holy Dino-mite! Marvel Rivals Just Added Devil Dinosaur, And Punisher Gets a Ride-Along
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Marvel Rivals is shaking things up in Season 8, "Sins of Alchemax," by adding Devil Dinosaur as a playable Vanguard hero, complete with primal attacks and an "unstoppable behemoth" Ultimate. The biggest surprise? The Punisher can actually team up and ride Devil Dinosaur, creating glorious, dino-mounted chaos on the battlefield.
Alright, mates, gather 'round because things are getting properly bonkers in the superhero gaming scene. You might have heard whispers, maybe even some good-natured grumbling, about *Marvel Rivals* doing its best impression of a certain *other* hero shooter's homework. And yeah, it's a hero shooter, we get it. But fair dinkum, you've gotta give developer NetEase Games some serious props for doing something truly out there that no one else has dared: sticking a colossal, parallel-universe dinosaur right into the middle of the brawling.
According to Michael McWhertor over at Polygon, Season 8 of *Marvel Rivals*, aptly titled "Sins of Alchemax" (sounds like a cracking good time, eh?), is dropping on March 15th, and it's bringing the one, the only, **Devil Dinosaur** to the roster as a new Vanguard hero. A dino. In a superhero game. I mean, what happens if he steps on the map's objective? Does it just... cease to exist? Glorious chaos, I reckon.
The new season isn't just about our favourite reptilian brawler, though. We're also getting an all-new Doom Match map, the Alchemax Headquarters (presumably with reinforced flooring for when Devil decides to throw a tantrum), plus new accessories and some PC storage optimization – because even digital wizards need their hard drives sorted, eh?
But let's be honest, the star of the show is clearly Devil. Creative director Guanguang describes him as bringing "raw, primal power" to the fight. And honestly, mate, what else would you expect from a massive T-Rex with a forcefield shield? He's all about getting in close, dishing out "primal bites" (sounds delightful!) that cause continuous bleeding, and generally making a nuisance of himself on the frontline. His Ultimate? He transforms into an "unstoppable behemoth" (naturally!) and charges through enemies, shattering backlines like they're made of cheap plastic. Sounds like my kind of party.
Now, for the bit that truly blew my digital mind: The Punisher, Frank Castle himself, can actually mount and ride Devil Dinosaur! Yeah, you read that right. Their "Primal Punishment" Team-Up move lets Punisher hop on his T. rex buddy for a ride, unleashing his normal attacks and Scourge Grenades while getting some sweet damage reduction and shared healing. Imagine that – a bloke on a giant dino, tearing through a superhero skirmish. It’s like a Saturday morning cartoon exploded directly into a hero shooter, and I'm absolutely here for it. Polygon notes this reveal is smartly timed with the "Punisher: One Last Kill" TV show, giving us a neat bit of cross-promotional synergy that actually makes the game sound even more ludicrously fun.
For those of you tank players out there rubbing your hands together at the prospect of a dino-sized shake-up, NetEase Games has even dropped a gameplay video showcasing Devil Dinosaur in action. Go have a squiz, you won't be disappointed.
And for a bit of trivia, because us curious types love our context, Devil Dinosaur was actually a creation of the legendary Jack "The King" Kirby back in '78. Started life with a hominid pal, Moon Boy, in a place called Dinosaur World. He's been lurking in the Marvel universe ever since, even getting his own comic in 2016 and an animated series in 2023. So, he's not just some random dino they pulled out of a hat; he's got a proper legacy of smashing things.
So, while some might still be muttering about *Marvel Rivals* borrowing ideas, I reckon adding a rideable T-Rex changes the whole bloody game. It's the kind of unexpected, brilliantly chaotic move that keeps us digital wizards glued to our screens, wondering what magic they'll conjure up next.
*Marvel Rivals* is available on a whole heap of platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. So, no excuses, go get stomped by a dinosaur.
Tags: Marvel Rivals, Hero Shooter, Gaming News, Devil Dinosaur, Web3 Gaming
Original article: Polygon