Daily Comics Digression #42: Select Your Character!

Daily Comics Digression #42: Select Your Character!

So according to recent gossip, the new Spider-Man video game will include Mary Jane as a playable character with some surprising gameplay. What kind of gameplay, you ask? How about this:

Seriously, this is my favorite part of the game.

Honestly, I really liked this part of Paper Mario. The Princess Peach side missions were some of my favorite in the whole game. They broke up the routine of the game and showed a different side of the story. Peach couldn't just attack enemies to progress, but had to use her wits and charm to solve puzzles and stealthily sneak by enemies. It required a different mindset to clear her sections, and it was a welcome change of pace. 

Instead of having Mary Jane do some silly combat missions that she isn't suited for, how about have her stealthily approach situations and do investigatory work? Spider-Man games can get bogged down in mind-numbing combat, so having to approach a situation with a puzzle solving mentality would certainly make the game more interesting.

Gendered roles do not have to be problematic. Masculinity and femininity can and do complement each other nicely when given half a chance. Here's hoping Marvel and Insomniac Games can learn a lesson from Nintendo, a somewhat successful video-game company.