Invincible VS first impressions: A treat for fans of the series

Every once in a while, there comes a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. And it also shouldn’t have to. Invincible VS is one such title. I started the game after a long day at work and ended up spending close to two hours with it. Before I delve into any more details, it is worth mentioning that I tested out the game on my PS5 Pro, which is connected to a 55-inch LG CX OLED TV. Also, I haven’t watched the series yet so these impressions are purely from the perspective of someone who is new to the world. With that, let’s begin. 

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A familiar world for Invincible fans

The game stays true to its identity and gives you a chance to be a part of the world of Invincible. Even before you jump into your first fight, the game makes it clear what you are signing up for. There is a disclaimer right at the start that talks about the amount of blood you are about to see. And soon, you find out what the developers are talking about. The opening cut scene itself is chaotic and packed with an unexpected but humorous sequence, which immediately sets the mood.

Now, the Invincible VS is a team-based fighting game and also has a story mode. For now, I spent time with is the 3v3 match, where you pick a squad of three fighters from a roster of 18 characters. You then jump into matches that play out in a tag-style format, switching between characters as the fight progresses. You can either play locally or hop online to play with your friends. 

In my case, I was joined by my husband and we played 7 matches before finally keeping our controllers aside. PS: He is a huge fan of the series and the moment that first match loaded up, he was excited to try out the game. 

For me, I found the game to be somewhere between Mortal Kombat and Tekken. The graphics, movement, blocking, and overall experience feels like a mix of the two. 

You block by holding back, which will feel instantly familiar if you have spent time with Mortal Kombat. Dashing is mapped to the shoulder buttons, specifically R1 and R2, which makes movement quite accessible even if you are not deeply into smash-the-button games.

Matches are quick, and the tag system adds a bit of strategy, especially when you are trying to manage health across your team. That said, you will need to spend some time learning the controls and unique move sets of each character. 

Coming to visuals, Invincible VS sticks very close to the animated style of the show. This means you are not getting hyper-realistic graphics or cutting-edge visual effects. Instead, the game focuses on recreating the look and feel of the series, and in that sense, it does a solid job.

Character models, costumes, and environments all feel familiar. If you have watched the show, you will likely recognise several locations straight away. In fact, my husband could point out where certain maps were taken from, which speaks to how accurately the game captures its source material.

Combat that is easy to learn but lacks depth

Now, let’s talk about the core of the game – combat. Attacks are mapped across the face of the PS5 controller buttons, with light, medium, heavy, and special moves. Within minutes, I was landing hits, blocking attacks, and getting a feel for how fights flow. Considering how I rarely play smash-the-button games, this was a victory for me. Especially against a seasoned Mortal Kombat champion (my husband). 

That said, there is one thing that I struggled with the most – combos. When I opened the settings menu, instead of clearly showing button inputs to hit combos, the game lists attack types. And this makes it harder than it should be to actually execute combos, especially when you are new to the game. It feels like an unnecessary complication in an otherwise straightforward system.

There were moments where I was having fun, especially when chaining together attacks with characters that felt responsive. But at no point did I feel like I was mastering something complex or evolving my playstyle. It is enjoyable in short bursts, but it may not have the depth needed to keep players hooked for longer sessions.

About the characters

There are 18 characters you can choose from and they offer a decent mix. But the background voice during character selection becomes repetitive and honestly, irritating. What I did like during selecting characters was how each fighter is given a defined role. During character selection, you are told whether a character is a striker, grappler, or ranged fighter. This is a helpful touch, especially for new players trying to understand how each character is meant to be used.

For me, a few characters stood out immediately. Invincible himself feels balanced and easy to control, making him a great starting point. Another character I really liked was Dupli-Kate as her abilities felt fluid and satisfying to use in quick exchanges.

Characters like Atom Eve and Thula rely more on ranged attacks, and while I loved how they looked, their special attacks seemed to lack the impact needed to make them exciting. Fights with these characters felt slower and less rewarding compared to close-range combat.

Another area that could use improvement is the overall feedback during combat. Hits do not always feel as impactful as they should, and there is a lack of visual flair that could have made fights more exciting. Given the source material, there is a lot of room to push things further here.

First impressions: fun, but not yet unforgettable

After spending a couple of hours with Invincible VS, I can say that the experience feels enjoyable but not necessarily unforgettable (yet). Maybe I will feel differently once I have experienced the story mode of the game and spend some more time with it.

For now, this is a game that clearly prioritises fans of the series, and if you fall into that category, there is a lot to like. That said, this is still early days. There is plenty of room for the developers to expand the experience with updates, new characters, and improved mechanics. If that happens, Invincible VS could grow into something much more compelling.

The writing also deserves a mention. Even during the limited time I spent, the dialogue and interactions made me laugh. It has that slightly dark, slightly sarcastic edge that the right kind of players will appreciate. Stay tuned for our full review which will be up very soon. 

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