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By: Munira Ahmadad

‘Marvel Rivals’ is a new multiplayer hero shooter by NetEase games. It was released on December 6th with 33 playable characters to start with (there have been 4 more added since). Outside of skins, the current roster consists of popular Marvel heroes and villains, designed after their comic looks. You play against other players in teams of 6 and each character fits into role categories that are based on what they’re meant to do. Some characters work well with others, and it’s encouraged for players to consider team-ups for more efficient matches. This also gives incentive for people to try out multiple heroes.

When I first started to play the game, I didn’t expect to enjoy it a lot, but so far it’s been really fun, which is a pleasant surprise. Initially, I was leaning towards the option of skipping it since it’s a third-person shooter game, and I usually get tired of them quicker than other games. I ended up getting it just because it’s Marvel. The game uses well-known characters who are superhero icons like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Iron Man, and heroes that aren’t in the spotlight as much such as Psylocke, Squirrel Girl, and Jeff the Land Shark.

So far, I’ve only played in quick-play as Mantis, a strategist/support character, and I think the movement in the game is clean. The locations chosen for battle maps are cool. I’d give the combat a 6/10 for my own personal experience, but that’s likely to change since I’m still not familiar with the gameplay style and how to play optimally. I’m sure someone who actually knows what they’re doing would have a different opinion on it. Also, these types of games with objective-based game modes become repetitive for me. ‘Marvel Rivals’ is still in its early days, so I do have hope it develops well over time.

I give the character design a 10/10. I absolutely love the look of every hero, especially Scarlet Witch, Squirrel Girl, Mantis, Iron Fist, Rocket Raccoon, and Namor. I have no complaints about the designs and each character looks incredibly cool. The designs take from the comics rather than the animated shows or the films. Even with how faithful the designs are to the comics, they still have their own unique feel to them. Players who are fans of the MCU characters can purchase various characters’ movie equivalent designs as costumes.

Due to its similarities with ‘Overwatch’, a popular game, I’ve seen people online refer to ‘Marvel Rivals’ as a knock-off version of it, while others say it has potential to be a hero shooter that won’t decline the same way ‘Overwatch’ does over time.

Overall, I give the game a 8/10 for its initial release. I don’t have time to really play it a lot, and as it is right now, I don’t know if I’ll continue playing but the experience of playing as some of my favorite characters has always been something I really like.

‘Marvel Rivals’ is available on the PS and Xbox systems along with PC.

By: Baarika Suresh

Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com

Questions concerning the relationship between politics and the judiciary have been raised by the practice of judges “unretiring” after a political shift, especially after Donald Trump’s recent victory. In this context, “unretiring” refers to former judges who return to active duty, usually at the invitation or persuasion of the newly elected administration, after having reached the mandatory retirement age or leaving the bench for other reasons. Significant discussion over judicial independence and the wider ramifications for the legal system has been spurred by this practice.

In the US, judicial retirements are frequently viewed as a strategy to maintain impartiality and make sure that judges are not influenced by political pressures as they age. However, it can appear that the judiciary is becoming politicized when judges decide to return to the bench, especially following a presidential election that has significantly changed the political scene.

Four seats were included in a deal reached in November between Senate Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. In exchange for a Democratic commitment to fill the four circuit court vacancies for the Trump administration, Republicans agreed to confirm Mr. Biden’s district court nominees as soon as possible. However, Judge James Wynn has since changed his mind about accepting senior status, so the number has been lowered to three.

The return of retired judges raises questions about the possible decline in public trust in the judiciary’s impartiality and independence, particularly under a president with a strong ideological agenda. The rule of law’s foundational tenet of a neutral justice system may be compromised if such retirements and reappointments appear to be politically motivated.

It might also establish a worrying precedent for upcoming administrations, when political control over the judiciary might become even more pronounced. Instead of concentrating solely on legal knowledge and integrity, it might even promote a cycle in which judicial selections and reappointments become increasingly politically charged.

Finally, even though unretiring judges might be viewed as a practical reaction to political changes, the practice needs to be closely examined to preserve the harmony between judicial impartiality and political influence.