Recently we wrote about Luke Cage’s arrival in the popular online MMO Marvel Heroes. The introduction of the character was meant to coincide with the release of Marvel’s Luke Cage on Netflix, and with the character now skyrocketing in popularity, it was a perfect move by the developers behind the MMO.
It’s worth noting that while Luke Cage seemed like a bit of an outsider until recently, this was far from the first time that Marvel has roped some of its less mainstream characters into video games. In fact, before the recent appearance on Marvel Heroes Cage himself had already been inserted into the mobile games Marvel Future Fight and Marvel Contest Of Champions . And prior to that, other characters who have been newly promoted through Marvel/Netflix series also appeared in popular games.
The closest characters to Luke Cage, in a way, are the other Marvel/Netflix heroes headed toward the ensemble series The Defenders. Jessica Jones has remained largely absent from gaming (aside from Marvel Heroes, which incorporates pretty much everybody), but the likes of Daredevil, Punisher, and Elektra have long since debuted in their own slot machine games in the midst of a group of cinema-based casino games online. These aren’t action or RPG title, but still use their respective characters to intrigue potential casino gamers who happen to be fans of Marvel. They also make use of villains, weaponry, and more to create dynamic and original slot reels. Each of those three characters has also appeared in the previous mobile games.
But even with characters like these, who might be considered to populate the outskirts of modern Marvel entertainment, appearing consistently in games, there’s one that’s been largely left out until recently. Ghost Rider, who appeared in pre-MCU films just like Daredevil and Elektra and the Punisher did, has never really been welcomed into gaming—again, with the exception of Marvel Heroes. But with the character having recently reappeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, it looks like Marvel finally decided he was due for a more prominent role in gaming.
Specifically, Ghost Rider has recently appeared as a brand new character on Contest Of Champions. He was worked in through a recent update to the app and now appears on the login screen. He’s also the subject of a new “event quest,” which is one of the game’s many different mission modes. At this stage, Ghost Rider can’t be procured as a playable character, but for the most part Marvel and Kabam have been pretty quick about making new, featured characters available. In the meantime, you can go up against Ghost Rider as an enemy in the aforementioned quests.
Built as a pretty awesome-looking, larger than average character complete with the signature flaming skull head and chain-wrapped torso, Ghost Rider is an intimidating presence. He has a charged up attack that employs his chains as a whip, and one of his special moves (which you can see in action in this video is among the coolest in the game. He summons his flaming motorcycle, latches onto it with one of his chains, rides it toward you and then jumps off, effectively launching the bike at you. It’s a really impressive bit of animation for a mobile game.
It’s just the latest addition to a game that keeps on giving, and it should be a very welcome announcement to fans of this fascinating antihero.
