Watch Video of Ambitious Avengers Action Game, Mourn its Death

An ambitious first-person action game based on Marvel's Avengers property was in development at THQ before its collapse in 2013. Thanks to Unseen 64 and Did You Know Gaming, in-depth gameplay details and footage of the title has been released, along with the behind-the-scenes story of its demise.

The game, which didn't have an official title, was in development at THQ's Australia studio and, despite not tying into Marvel and Disney's Avengers movie, would have been released around the same time.

Athough it started off as a third-person action game, its developer eventually shifted the direction of the project to provide something more unique, giving players the opportunity to play the game through the eyes of an Avenger.

Initially, the game would give players access to Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, or Thor, but other members of the team, including Hawkeye and Black Widow, would be unlockable. Each character would have unique strengths and weaknesses, and co-operating with other characters--either AI or human controlled--for team attacks was a core part of the gameplay. Players would be able to rack up big combos by using unique abilities in unison with teammates.

The game's campaign was inspired by the Secret Invasion comic series story, in which a shapeshifting alien race called the Skrulls kidnapped heroes and replaced them with doppelgangers. THQ even hired Brain Michael Bendis, writer of the Secret Invasion story, to work on the game's plot. Although the Skrull story was at the heart of the game's narrative a side-plot involving Hank Pym and a rogue Ultron robot was also included.

The video states that sources said the project was cancelled due to THQ's financial woes, and not due its quality. In fact, Bendis--who has gone on to spearhead Marvel's Netflix TV projects, advised on many of Marvel's blockbuster movies, and continues to write Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy, among others--is quoted as saying "it was cool ... and I will never understand how [THQ] let that one sink and not sell it off when the whole company folded."

In April 2015, Telltale Games--developer of the episodic games based on The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us comic properties--announced a partnership with Marvel.

"We'll be teaming up on the development of an upcoming Telltale game series project set to premiere in 2017," the studio said.