No matter how hard developers strive for a balanced game, a meta will always emerge, especially in live-service games likeMultiVersus. Whether that meta is healthy for the game or not is dependent on a variety of factors. Unfortunately, the Warner Brothers-themed platform fighter is having a bit of a crisis when it comes to the meta established by thelatest round ofMultiVersusbalance changes.
Developers at Player First Games generally have leftMultiVersus’large-scale balancing to two patches a season: launch and midseason, lining up perfectly with the addition of every new character. Season 3’s most recent balance patch has seen the rise of one character in particular, that’s now capable of true, inescapable combos that ring out the opponent at 0%.
Banana Guard is Dominating Since Season 3’s Mid-Season Update
The Banana Guard Problem in MultiVersus
Banana Guard has been a controversial characterever since his place on the roster became public knowledge. But his latest series of buffs in the mid-season patch have turned him into an absolute monster when it comes to his effectiveness. The most recent changes to the game have left him one of the most dangerous fighters on the roster with some of the most powerful kill potential.
For another character, this meta might not be a problem. After all, there are always going to be some characters that will be better than others. That’s the nature of video games as a whole. Regardless of how anyone feels about his inclusion on the roster as a joke character,a fighter like Banana Guard being the top-tier pickin the game is not a healthy state for a fighting game to be in.
Why A Banana Guard Meta is Unhealthy for MultiVersus
There’s no avoiding a meta in general; there’s always going to be one, no matter how hard developers try to make everything balanced. In a perfect world,a game’s meta should have the most powerful characters, weapons, and tools locked behind a high skill floor – that is, the most powerful stuff in the game should be the hardest to use. This philosophy rewards players who put in the time and practice with the game, and ultimately encourages the rest of the player base to get better themselves.
When it comes toMultiVersus, Arya is a great example of this. She’s been powerful since the game’s relaunch, but she’s not going to thrive unless the player has a solid grip on the fundamentals of both her kit, her combo strings, and the game as a whole. Her damage is very high when played right, but she is still super light and easy to kill if the player doesn’t know what they’re doing.Arya has some of the highest potential inMultiVersus, but only if the player puts in the hours and learns, which means there won’t be a million Aryas destroying people constantly.
Banana Guard, on the other hand, was designed as a very beginner-friendly character. He has simple, high-damage moves, easy combo strings, and as anyone who’s fought him can attest, some very forgiving hitboxes on all his attacks. There’s definitely a place for characters like this as Banana Guard is meant to be a player’s introduction to the game. He is super easy to just pick up and do relatively well with right out of the gate; the type of character where someone could hand their little sibling the controller and they’d be able to pick up on him pretty easily and have a good time. The problem lies in making that type of character too effective. Then the game has a situation where even casually invested players are able to become menaces with very little effort or skill expression.
It’s unlikely the Banana Guard’s reign of terror will last long.The Powerpuff Girls launched intoMultiVersuswith a number of 0 to death combos at the start of season 3 and the developers had that issue fixed within two days. But it’s clear to anyone that a character as simple as Banana Guard can’t stay this powerful for long. Otherwise, the devs risk ruining the game’s long-term appeal and competitive scene.
MultiVersus
WHERE TO PLAY
CHARACTERS: Choose from Bugs Bunny, Batman, Arya Stark, Rick Sanchez, and many more. In MultiVersus, every star brings their unique moves, worlds and attitudes to fight. And as the roster expands, so does the spectacle — with new personalities and play styles turning up the heat in every battle.MAPS: Our maps turn legendary realms like the Batman’s Bat Cave, Jake and Finn’s Treefort, Game of Thrones’ Throne Room into epic battle grounds. And the best part? We’re adding new maps regularly, so the party never stops!MODES: Whether you’re seeking the intensity of 1v1, the frenzy of a 4-player mayhem, or team up for strategic 2v2 battles, we’ve got you covered. Plus, introducing an all new PvE mode, a thrilling realm of limitless combat possibilities designed for solo or co-op play.CROSS-PLATFORM: MultiVersus has full cross-play and cross-progression support across all platforms.
