Jeff the Landshark is a divisive character among Marvel Rivals players. Some (like myself) believe him to be one of the most incredible things ever conceived, while others consider him an abhorrent affront to humanity. Whatever your opinions on the little guy, it’s undeniable that his limited-time Winter Celebration mode is an absolute blast.
In Jeff’s Winter Splash Festival, two teams of four Jeffs go fin-to-fin to blanket Yggsgard’s Bifrost Garden in as much snow as possible. With a frosty beam replacing his regular primary fire, it’s a battle to cover the most ground by the end of the three-minute timer. Jeff can still use his other abilities, allowing you to KO enemies, but his healing bubble becomes a grenade that coats the area. From diving underground to the vibrant colors, it’s unapologetically Splatoon with sharks, and I love it.
If the concept alone wasn’t enough, playing the mode enough earns you Jeff’s adorable snow outfit for free. By completing specific challenges, you receive “Frost,” used to purchase decorations for your in-game Christmas postcard. Gold Frost adds major decorations, while Silver Frost is used to customize each section to make your ideal card. The more decorations you buy, the more Holiday-themed goodies you earn. From an MVP animation to an emote and, of course, the Cuddly Fuzzlefin skin for Jeff.
Is Jeff’s Winter Splash Festival a mode that completely revolutionizes Marvel Rivals? Not quite, but it does serve as a fun break from the chaos of regular matches. Unless you’re seeking a break because you’ve been thrown off the map by Jeff more times than you can count. That happens a lot in this mode. However, the time it takes them to chomp you up and launch you can actually put them at a disadvantage. As simple as the mode is, it’s enough to scratch that periodic Splatoon itch without dusting off the Switch. I mean that literally, as my yearly Switch recap shows I’ve only touched that console for four hours this year.
Marvel Rivals‘ first event has not only sparked hope for the game’s future but also raised the bar for competition. Established live service titles have become a little too comfortable with recycling specific events with mediocre rewards in recent years. While we don’t know for sure that it was the influence of Rivals, Overwatch 2 recently stepped up its game. Right now, players can earn three brand-new skins for free. Considering that the original trailer showcased these as shop skins, it’s possible our little Landshark friend may have had something to do with it.
It goes without saying that Marvel Rivals has the benefit of being brand-new. Because of that novelty, every event will be fresh and exciting for the foreseeable future. But there are only so many times that I can play Mei’s Snowball Offensive in Overwatch, bake the same cookies in Destiny 2, or rescue Metzen in World of Warcraft. It’s lovely to have something new to enjoy this year, and it excites me to see Marvel Rivals potentially light a fire under its competition and benefit both itself and the games we love. Only time will tell if NetEase will keep up this momentum, but let’s hope they do.
Marvel Rivals and its Winter Celebration event is free to play on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Published: Dec 28, 2024 09:00 am