The superhero shooter’s unique art direction went through several iterations before achieving the current version.

In a recent web series called Art Vision, a glimpse of an earlier design of the hero gallery UI was shared. This version featured a striking radial menu displaying each hero as part of a wheel.

Hero gallery UI
(Image credit: NetEase Games)

The artistic flair was impressive but usability suffered, with sharp descriptions that resembled a bland Wikipedia entry. Searching for specific characters became cumbersome due to the menu’s flow.

Art director Dino discussed their endeavor to create a UI that is both modern and clear, merging comic aesthetics with structure. However, the original design was deemed too complex, leading to a more traditional grid being adopted in the final product.

Quote from Dino: “The hero select interface presents an artistic immersive experience.”
Translation: The design’s intention was to provide an engaging artistic interface.

Despite the pleasant visuals, functionality often trumps style, as illustrated by the outdated methods compared to modern conveniences.

Moreover, Marvel Rivals has undergone significant transformation and development, evolving from a game that almost faced cancellation to a promising title in the gaming landscape.