After its rocky start,Marvel’s Avengershas made an effort to keep things on track and deliver the grand-scale Marvel experience fans expected. Developer Crystal Dynamics has gradually been adding free DLC to the game in the form of new unlockable superheroes, each with a set of new missions and content to enjoy. Hawkeye andKate Bishopwere added earlier this year, followed by Black Panther in theWar For Wakandaexpansion. Just recently, the web-swinging wonder Spider-Man was made available exclusively for PlayStation users.
These new superheroes also come equipped with a list of cosmetic options, since the characters sport different costumes in the comic books. Based on a leaked character roster forMarvel’s Avengers, the Winter Soldier is supposedly being added in the near future. This Marvel antihero has a comic book history spanning back to the earliest days of the fictional universe, so there are no shortage of costume choices.
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MCU Winter Soldier
For modern audiences, the most instantly recognizable version of the Winter Soldier is likely the one who makes multiple appearances in the MCU. Portrayed by Sebastien Stan, Bucky Barnes first appeared in 2011’sCaptain America: The First Avenger,and a decade later became the star of his own show inTheFalcon and The Winter Soldier. His black leather uniform, long hair, and multitude of weapons really sell the idea that the Winter Soldier is a mysterious, lethal killing machine.
Considering other characters inMarvel’s Avengerssuch asThor and Captain Americahave received costumes mimicking their respective looks from the MCU, its a no brainer that the Winter Soldier would get the same treatment. Alongside his look inThe Winter Soldierfilm from 2014, the creative team can go the extra mile and include the modified uniforms fromAvengers: Endgameand the aformentionedTheFalcon and The Winter Soldier.
Classic Bucky Barnes
Before becoming the deadly Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes was the trusty sidekick of Captain America during World War 2. Serving a similar role that Robin did to Batman in his classic adventures, Bucky was generally depicted as a young ward to Captain America; a character readers at the time could put themselves in the position of. Having a young child running around with theAvengers fighting AIM robotsmay not be taken seriously today, but the outfit itself remains an iconic look.
The red-and-blue appearance perfectly complements Captain America’s color scheme, so the costume would fit right at home alongside the other hero.Crystal Dynamicshas included classic comic book uniforms for other characters, such as Iron Man’s more clunky Mark 1 armor, so it wouldn’t be a huge stretch for it to dive into the history of the Marvel universe and deliver an earlier, memorable design for Bucky Barnes.
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Captain America Reborn
After the infamous comic book story arc in whichSteve Rogers is murdered, the mantle of Captain America was passed to a successor. After struggling to ease into this role, Bucky Barnes picked up the shield, and with a few tweaks to the costume became the Sentinel of Liberty for a new generation. Significant changes to the design make it stand apart enough from Captain America to be distinct, so there would be no confusion during gameplay.
Most of the costume is black with a dark material extending over the arms and legs. Additionally, the chest area leading up to the mask take on a more metallic, glossy appearance, imitating the physical texture ofCap’s mighty shield. The most notable new addition to the costume is how Bucky sports a handgun when jumping into action, something Steve Rogers never did. This added piece of gear can be more than aesthetic, with Crystal Dynamics including some extra long-ranged attacks when using this specific costume.
Winter Soldier Snow Gear
It makes sense that a character known as the Winter Soldier would be in his element with snowy environments. Blending into harsh snowy weather allows for more stealth opportunities, and to live up to his reputation as a ghost working in the shadows. The Winter Soldier’s Snow Gear uniform is something the character has worn on a few occasions in the pages of manyMarvel comic books.
While it would make him stick out like a sore thumb in the more urban and desert-based locations inMarvel’s Avengers, sporting this Snow Gear look would be perfect for snowier areas in the game. The look really helps sell the idea that Winter Soldier is a covert operative, and Crystal Dynamics can maybe create some new missions centered around this aspect of the character to help his outfit shine more.
Marvel’s Avengersis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
