Comments: 0 (Go to Comments)
Categories: Review
Tags: rpg, xbox 360
Xbox 360 reviewed. Also released on almost every other platform.
A surprise assault against S.H.I.E.L.D. is Victor von Doom, Ph.D.’s first step in wreaking global (perhaps cosmic) havoc. It’s up to the world’s greatest superheroes (and Dr. Strange) to stop him in this action RPG from Raven (the people behind past action RPG goodness, the X-Men Legends series). Like its predecessor, Marvel Ultimate Alliance finds a four-member superhero team pummeling enemies into submission, lashing out with superpowers, and performing devastating combos. Unlike its predecessor, MUA pulls from entire Marvel canon, unleashing twenty-something playable characters and almost 150 characters from the Marvel Universe.
Yeah, that’s right–the Marvel Universe.
For too long, Marvel games have been shackled under “franchises” and “licenses.” Not here, bub. Ultimate Alliance references decades of Marvel history, pulling out characters named Dum Dum Dugan with the straightest of faces. MUA tosses the cel/comic book graphics found in the XML games, but it’s more of a living comic book than those games. Villainous characters verbally attack with expository lumps and there isn’t any gorgeously rendered scenery which isn’t properly chewed. It’s refreshing to play a comic book-based game which is unapologetically geeky.
Back to the game, after an initial stage which has Captain America, Thor, Wolverine, and Spider-man stomping Ulton and Doombots, wider character selection opens up allowing you access to the Fantastic Four, good chunks of the X-Men, and enough honorary Avengers to whet your appetite. Other characters are unlocked later–either by completing story missions or finding easter eggs–but this game rocks for being up to four-player from the get-go and throwing so many characters into the mix (and bonus points for not fumbling like the aptly named Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects).
The story arc of the game finds the heroes operating out of a series of S.H.I.E.L.D. bases, striking out at supervillains (and their many, many minions) while uncovering Doom’s scheme and investigating suspicious events within S.H.I.E.L.D. If this wasn’t enough, there’s also a host of training missions–some character-specific and some recreating famous events in Marvel’s timeline. Conversation options and in-game actions affect the flow of the story, and there are plenty of secrets to be uncovered in each of the game’s five acts.
Ultimate Alliance is a brawler which, with three buddies alongside, hearkens back to the best Gauntlet session you ever had. While it’s more than playable with fewer than four players (the AI picks up the slack) rolling with four controllers is the best way to experience the game.
Each character has a weak and strong melee attack which can be chained into combos or combined with jumping or grappling. Superheroes also have powers (which drain a blue meter opposed to the red health bar) which are mapped to face buttons. Just looking at Spidey, he can slow time down with his spider sense, sling web bullets, ensnare enemies in a web trap, launch himself towards enemies, throw enemies with his webbing, and more. Each character has a deep list of superpowered moves, offensive and defensive, and a special attack which is charged by combat.
Superpowers can be strengthened with points earned after leveling up or with the in-game currency. Money can also be spent to add passive skills to the characters’ uniforms (most characters end up with four historic costumes). Topping off character customization are the bountiful items characters find. Only one item can be equipped at a time, but since their benefits are power-up specific, it pays to keep a few on hand.
When it comes to sound, graphics, and voice acting, this thing is Hollywood–it’s so next-gen it hurts. Cinematics are a step ahead of the in-game engine, but the engine looks so good it’s hard to be picky. Character animations are incredible. Combine that with destructible environments, ready to wield objects, and spot-on collision detection and you have an instant classic. Have no doubt–this is the next level of action RPG.
Does this game have any weaknesses? It’s missing The Hulk, which hurts, and fanboys can probably name five essential characters that didn’t make the cut, but the superhero/villain roster is still nothing to be sneezed at. My only complaint is that menus aren’t streamlined enough and, confusingly, some character options are available anywhere while other ones are restricted to S.H.I.E.L.D. access points: in-game hotspots where the game can be saved and heroes can be switched out.
So here’s how we roll: Amanda’s Wolverine (claws, rage, and healing factor), Anthony’s Colossus (fierce strength–the dude can wield other enemies as a weapon), Paul is Dr. Strange (dark magic turns opponents into crates), Aramis is the Iceman (freeze ‘em and weep), and I’m Thor (dude, he’s a god).