The Phoenix version of Cyclops will join MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls on November 2, Sony Interactive Entertainment and producer Takeshi Yamanaka announced on October 7. He is the first DLC character included in the Year 1 Pass and is voiced by Ray Chase. The character combines a wide variety of Optic Blast attacks with the power of the Phoenix Force.
Release timing and store offers
On November 2, Cyclops’s Classic and Legacy DLC costumes also become available. Separately, the game’s first-ever sale on PlayStation Store begins October 7, with the Ultimate Edition available at a discounted price. PlayStation Plus subscribers can try the game with a 3-hour Game Trial starting October 7.
Design and narrative
According to Yamanaka, the team chose the Phoenix version of Cyclops rather than the traditional version to create fresher visuals and a more exciting fighting style, and to offer something unexpected. The narrative team proposed the idea. This version of Scott Summers hopes to tame a destructive power to save mutantkind from extinction. He believes in absolute justice and is willing to make difficult decisions and take extreme actions. The team gave him a somewhat younger appearance to contrast the aura of the Phoenix Force.
Gameplay and Dark Phoenix form
Cyclops is an all-rounder who excels at both long-range and close-range combat through his use of Optic Blasts. The Phoenix Force lets him unleash wide-area fire-based attacks that control large portions of the screen. His moves include projectiles, rushing attacks, throws, and setup tools.
As players use Optic Blasts, Cyclops accumulates Phoenix Force energy called Solar Shards. Once four Solar Shards are collected, he can transform into his Dark Phoenix form. This mechanic was inspired by the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline, in which Cyclops became one of the Phoenix Five and eventually absorbed the power of his teammates to become Dark Phoenix. The Dark Phoenix form grants a significant temporary power boost but also comes with risks, including health depletion.
Phoenix Cyclops arrives nearly two months after the game’s launch, and the title has continued to ship post-launch updates since then. Attendees at EVO France from October 9 to 11 will be among the first in the world to try the character at the MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls booth.
