After hearing the news about Chadwick Boseman’s death yesterday, millions of people throughout the world are still in mourning. I know it affected me deeply because he was more than simply a talented actor; he was also an example of what it means to be a good person.
After being cast as Marvel’s Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman’s career took off. For the first time, individuals of color in the film industry saw a change in the industry when he reprised his role as the Black Panther for his feature film. In his honor, and as part of our Month of Marvel celebration, we’ve decided to look back at Black Panther’s history in video games.
It’s surprising how short the timeline is. In 2006, Activision released Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, which featured T’Challa for the first time as a playable character. T’Challa made his gaming debut as a playable character for the alliance, voiced by the amazing Phil LaMarr. Even though he had specific simulator assignments like the other characters, his presence was rather minor. It wasn’t until three years later that the Black Panther had a more prominent role.
Tim Russ reprised his role as T’Challa in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 in 2009. The protagonists of the game would journey to Wakanda at some point to battle nanite-controlled foes. The heroes save Wakanda from the nanite danger by assisting Black Panther and the Dora Milaje, his specialized team of warrior women. With the use of downloadable content (DLC), only PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners will be able to play as the character in this sequel. The character reappeared when the game was later released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
After Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, the Black Panther is going through a dry spell. Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, a fighting game released in 2011, features a brief cameo from him. Upon completing the game with Storm’s help, T’Challa and his wife are treated to a breathtaking view. For some reason, the voice of T’Challa is included in the game, unlike in Ultimate MVC 3 where it is eliminated.
In the same year, Marvel Super Hero Squad Online allowed players to take control of the character Black Panther. This online multiplayer game was aimed at a younger audience and allowed children to play as the character in a more family-friendly environment. Gazillion’s excursion into the subscription model and microtransactions didn’t last long. It didn’t help the character’s image either.
Playdom and Marvel used the Facebook gaming trend to launch Marvel Avengers Alliance in 2012. For a free internet game, the game was a big hit thanks to its use of a 2D flash animated visual style. For four years, it was available on mobile devices. It was released in 2016 and received a 3D makeover, however, it was also shut down in the same year. Players could enlist the services of Black Panther in both games. Avengers Alliance Tactics, which reintroduced Black Panther to the team in 2014, would also feature him.
In 2013, Gazillion released another Marvel comic book, this one geared for adults. A Diablo clone with Marvel characters to play as was created with Marvel Heroes and Marvel Heroes Omega. Fans were able to obtain a considerable amount of conversation from Black Panther, now voiced by James C. Mathis III, as the Wakandan king. Despite not being primarily about Black Panther, the game still allowed players to connect with the character on a personal level. As a result, the game’s servers have been permanently shut down after Gazillion’s closure in 2017.
The first collaboration between Lego and Warner Bros. Interactive occurred in the same year. Lego Marvel Super Heroes was created by Traveller’s Tales. It was a fun game for Marvel enthusiasts that allowed them to play in a virtual Manhattan. John Eric Bentley reprised his role as Black Panther, one of those heroes. There weren’t a lot of tales to go around for him, even though he might be played as. This version of Marvel Super Hero Squad Online was more lighthearted and kid-friendly than the previous one (obviously).
Kabam (later purchased by Netmarble) teamed up with Marvel in 2012 to produce Marvel Contest of Champions, a smartphone game. Using a random gacha mechanism, players can summon a wide variety of Marvel heroes in this mobile fighting game. One of those heroes that were readily available from the get-go was Black Panther. There are some events in the game that are a little more memorable than others. The Rise of the Black Panther event appeared in the game around the time of the release of the Black Panther film. Despite certain creative liberties, it was wonderful to give T’Challa some attention.
With Marvel Mighty Heroes, DeNA was allowed to create its own Marvel title in 2015. This mobile edition of Marvel Heroes contained Black Panther, although it didn’t receive much publicity. Super Hero Squad’s design approach was a little too late to take advantage of. Fans didn’t seem to have fun with it either, so that’s a double-whammy.
When Netmarble released Marvel: Future Fight, 2015 took a turn for the better. This game incorporates gacha aspects in the same way that Marvel Contest of Champions does, although the gameplay is more action-oriented. One of the heroes you can find is Black Panther, and he plays a role in the plot. Several characters, including T’Challa, Shuri, Killmonger, and Klaw, were given MCU-inspired designs in the game. As of now, Marvel: Future Fight has three different versions of Black Panther.
The Marvel Battlegrounds playset for Disney Infinity 2.0 was released in 2016 and gave T’Challa a bit more screen time. Of course, when Loki tries to steal vibranium from Wakanda, the country’s defender is going to get involved. They join forces with the other heroes to stop Ultron’s puppet, Loki. Black Panther toys were also created at this time, which makes this entry much more significant.
To play as the character in the game, Black Panther fans can buy a figure of him. The design is based on his appearance in Captain America: Civil War, however, he retains a cartoonish appearance in this version. The character’s popularity was beginning to grow at this point.
A Lego Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) game was also developed that year in collaboration with Traveller’s Tales by Warner Bros. Interactive. Despite its focus on the Avengers films, Lego Marvel’s Avengers includes DLC that included a Black Panther origin narrative. In addition, there was a Civil War-themed character bundle that included two different T’Challas. It was interesting to see a comic-accurate depiction of the character compared to the MCU version.
However, the Lego mania does not end there. 2017’s Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 had a whole new storyline and a new version of T’Challa. However, it still took the chance to promote several MCU flicks. This included a DLC pack for 2018’s Black Panther, which included various characters from the movie. In addition, it had a special level pack, but it didn’t relate to anything in the movie.
However, the Lego mania does not end there. 2017’s Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 had a whole new storyline and a new version of T’Challa. However, it still took the chance to promote several MCU flicks. This included a DLC pack for 2018’s Black Panther, which included various characters from the movie. In addition, it had a special level pack, but it didn’t relate to anything in the movie.
All because of Boseman’s portrayal, T’Challa and Black Panther had become household names around the world by 2017. With the release of the 2018 film, T’Challa’s popularity skyrocketed, so Capcom decided to include him in their Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinity War game. Marvel vs.
Capcom: Infinite’s storyline includes the character, however, he is only available as a downloadable character. Mr. Mathis returns to the role and even provides a useful contribution to the plot. Valkanda was formed by the union of Wakanda and Monster Hunter’s Val Habar. It was unfortunate that the game didn’t have a large audience, but the character was nonetheless well received.
The Black Panther craze had not subsided as of 2018. When it opened, the picture shattered box office records and brought people together in new ways. Around this time, Marvel Strike Force, a little mobile RPG, was released for mobile devices. Because it would be unconscionable to leave T’Challa out, he cuts. It’s a simple game, but it’s still very popular today.
When T’Challa is added to Marvel Puzzle Quest around the time of the film’s premiere in 2013, it continues. Players can add a dash of Black Panther flavor to their gaming with the easy matching mechanics of this puzzler. Marvel Battle Lines joins the growing list of Marvel mobile games. The Black Panther is one of the heroes included in this card game, albeit only in a limited capacity.
In 2018, Sanzaru Games released Marvel Powers United VR, a virtual reality game that allowed you to play a variety of Marvel characters. The Oculus Rift release of Black Panther was the first time that gamers could virtually take on the role of the Marvel superhero. The game doesn’t have a lot of stories, but it allows gamers to imagine themselves as their favorite superheroes, including Black Panther. Now that the game has been completed, it has been receiving considerable content updates. With his claws and dagger, T’Challa was an excellent addition to the team.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is finally here. Possibly the most Marvel-centric video game to date, Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War will be released in 2019. Of course, Black Panther gets a tiny piece of the action, making Wakanda a popular set piece in the game. James C. Mathis III makes a triumphant return to the role, and he appears in a significant number of scenes. Shadow of Doom’s epilogue also features him prominently.
Marvel Super War, which has already been released in some territories, is the next game to feature the character. It’s safe to say this will be the next major mobile Marvel game. In addition, the character could make a cameo in Marvel’s Avengers after the film’s first release. Despite the character’s growing popularity and frequent appearances in video games, a stand-alone Black Panther game is long overdue. In recognition of Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of the character, a new game based on him would be a fitting tribute.
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