Guardians of the Galaxy's Switch 2 encoreputs Star-Lord in charge

Groot can pin enemies with his vines; Drax can stagger them; Gamora specialises in hurting a single target. In Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition, you lead that squad as Star-Lord, firing his blasters and calling on the others. Five heroes share the adventure, but Nintendo's listing confirms one player. If you want to bring a friend along as Rocket, this isn't that kind of Guardians game.

The Encore Edition is scheduled for 5 November on Nintendo Switch 2, with a new set of 1980s glam-rock outfits for the whole group. It brings Eidos-Montreal's existing story-driven action adventure to another console. The new costumes are an extra for returning players. For a newcomer, the more substantial attraction is a journey with these characters: directing them in a fight, then getting to know them between destinations.

Four allies, one pair of jet boots

Eidos-Montreal's original gameplay account gives each Guardian a different role. Rocket's explosives suit groups of enemies, while Groot can restrain opponents and revive fallen teammates. Star-Lord's jet boots let him move across the battlefield or rise above it; his blasters gain new elements as the adventure progresses. Calling in the squad's abilities gives you more to arrange than where Quill aims. The appeal is combining those distinct contributions while remaining in control of one character.

The developer also describes the Milano as a home where you learn about your companions, with their abilities helping solve environmental puzzles elsewhere. Choices affect relationships and how the story plays out. Those are the original game's documented systems, rather than new features announced for Encore. They explain why this is worth considering if you're chiefly interested in the group: the Guardians have things to contribute both during a battle and on the journey around it.

PC Gamer's Luke Winkie found a particularly silly example in his 2021 PC review: the crew sang to manoeuvre a space llama into chewing through wires, with different voices attracting or repelling it. He also enjoyed calling a Huddle, giving the team encouragement and returning to combat with a damage boost and an '80s song. That account supplies a welcome picture of the adventure's humour. It describes the older PC build; it can't tell us how Encore runs.

The announced Switch 2 settings

Marvel's official reveal-trailer description sets out two TV modes: Quality targets 30fps at 1440p, while Performance targets 40fps at 1080p. Handheld play targets 30fps. These are announced targets, not measured results from the finished port. The material consulted here doesn't establish how consistently either mode holds its target or the conditions for using the 40fps option. Nintendo's current UK page lists TV, tabletop and handheld play, alongside HDR output on a compatible television.

For somebody who already owns the adventure, the confirmed additions centre on the Switch 2 version and those glam-rock costumes. For somebody meeting this crew for the first time, the stronger attraction is the adventure underneath: direct four allies, spend time with them aboard the Milano, and occasionally solve a problem by singing at a llama. The new outfits fit a game already happy to give a space rescue the accompaniment of an '80s mixtape.