Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

This is a review of the version for the PC. Something that I did not know before I started this became clear to me immediately when I did: That this is a spiritual successor to the X-Men Legends series. Anyone who liked those should enjoy this, as well. There is again a ton of characters(and their personalities are essentially all spot-on, not to *mention* their bad-ass abilities), locations(Asgard, Atlantis, and you'll go to outer space and walk on(!) a spacecraft in motion) and facts(yes, it's kind of a lexicon about it) surrounding what has now been extended to the entire Marvel universe. The story-telling tools are scripted sequences, in-engine videos that operate as briefings(and they are a tad forced, reiterating info that you can find by talking to NPC's; with that said, they are less so than those of XML2, and downright engaging and entertaining at their best; you see the enemies talk to each other at times, as well, only they tip-toe around enough to not let the player know what the intended outcome of their master plan is, which can get a little awkward) and finally, a handful of fully CGI cut-scenes that I'm pretty sure you'll find mention of if you look up the word "awesome" in very recent dictionaries. Voice acting leaves little to be desired(and they tend to be well-cast), if Black Widow sounds like Molly from The Punisher game of 2004, which can be a tiny bit distracting. I think it is the same actress. That is minor, and this has Adrienne Barbeau as Sif, and that's not where the talent in that department ends. Audio in general is impeccable(if there are a ton of reused FX); the music is incredible, well-composed and helps the epic tone and flavor of this, and tends to fit the situation. The one issue is the volume... seriously, this cranks it up in tense situations, so you either have to tolerate it being louder for a while, or turn it down and then back up so that you can hear anything once it returns to the other score. This contains unlockables, like the discs that are now comic missions, much bigger, with time constraints and often a prologue about who you are playing it as, and that is nearly invariably fixed, one per each. It appears to have been made by the companies responsible for the first two. The map remains the same, as does the overall design - saving is done by checkpoint where you can teleport to others and change who your team consists of, or their outfits. You have to turn the camera a lot of the time, but hey, it works. This has a reasonable length, and it doesn't wear out its welcome. The plot is interesting, with unexpected twists that hold up. Apart from the return of what was already great, this improves on a number of things. It genuinely gives you the feeling that you are accomplishing something. The targeting is good, largely automatic. Enemies and areas are rather diverse. The levels continue to be entirely linear, and get shorter as you go along(with that said, they're plenty big to begin with), and with their atmosphere and the dynamic touch(there is a ton of stuff going on, for example in the background) to the environments, it makes those of the previous 2 look static by comparison, and you can return to the majority of them later on. Attacks and the types that you can play as are nicely varied(it doesn't seem to matter particularly who you choose), and everyone is sure to find favorites among them. There is limited mid-air combat for the fliers(and flight is easy to do), and you can jump and strike(in the landing), which can be charged up, same as your Smash move. You can now do additional Throw moves, not merely toss the foe in any of the four directions, you can beat them up, and do this other trick that is specific to the guy you're playing as, and steal and wield weapons(and those are sure strong, if they do break, and you have to put it away to use anything else to dish out punishment with) from some, or simply snatch their gun or shield to remove the advantage that it gives them. Now you can't carry health or energy pickups, and as a trade-off, you can earn them by whaling on opponents. You have more control over your powers(several of them can be recognized from earlier in the franchise, if assigned to others), and you can steer Cap's shield, to name one thing. It is now about 8 per person(and there are projectile, radial and mêlée for most of them, no one is useless), with exceptions, and you assign a key to activating each, and you thus can use any of them anytime you want(save for the final one, that is one that needs storing energy, and is *worth it*), unless you're using a game-pad or something. "Reviving" fallen comrades now takes time and costs nothing. A second player can drop in or out at any time. The graphics are fantastic. They clearly put effort into this, and the new stuff makes it enduring. Unfortunately, there are problems. This never feels difficult or risky, and It tries too hard, constantly chucking this or that(that you can remember from the graphic novels) at you. And a bit of the stuff that is in this to keep it from growing stale(hit this or that button when prompted to, once or tap it) has been seen elsewhere, and here, it is frankly not quite as impressive as it was in other games. It can be repetitive and frustrating. This is clearly rushed and not perfectly smoothed out. There are shortcuts taken, bugs and glitches(noticeable in the AI). And it is not as addictive or fun as it could be. I recommend this to fans of the source material; this is an enjoyable and respectful production about it. 8/10

Basically a semi sequel to the x-men legend games, this game has a massive team of heroes working together to stop Dr. Doom's evil plans. The heroes have their varying strengths and weaknesses as was the case in the legends games. Though I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed in the fact that strength was ignored in that you could not really lift anything big. Still, you had your far away type attackers, your attackers best suited for close combat and those who were rather good at both. You can mix up your teams and if you happen to put a particular team together you can get a boost to a stat (putting all the members of the fantastic four together for example). Of course, you have your favorites that you use best, for me it was Spider-man and Deadpool, and you have your characters you wish were here but are not...Cyclops and the Hulk. There are plenty of villains to fight as well as you have Dr. Doom, Arcade, Ultron, and many others. The game is not perfect, as some of the levels are very repetitive and playing this just makes me want to play a more conventional role playing game with the super heroes...still it is fun and fast paced. And from the ending I would wager there will be a sequel.

Unarguably the best Marvel video game ever produced displaying a perfect depiction of an idealistic marvel universe.

Fantastic array of characters moving through a broad and fascinating storyline with one of the greatest video game soundtracks playing in the background.

It's the nostalgia for me.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is a great super hero video game. The fact that there are so many different Marvel Characters to choose from makes this a great game. Whether it be Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Storm, Thing, Deadpool, Spiderman, Thor, or many others there are so many awesome characters to choose from. Colossus is also a great character but you can only use him in the X Box 360 version. The controls are pretty simple in this game and it is pretty easy to figure out where to go by using the map. THe game is very similar to the game "X Men Legends" but much improved. Graphics are awesome as well. Basic plot is that all of the marvel heroes formed an alliance to go against Dr. Doom. One thing that I will complain about though is that many classic Marvel Villains including Dr. Octopus, Venom, Magneto, and Juggernaut you do not fight in this game. But other than that this game is perfect.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is essentially a journey through time, transporting players back to the eras when such games were at the peak of their popularity. It remains a nostalgic corner for many gaming veterans, reminding them of the times when action-RPGs like this were groundbreaking. The game offers the same magic that once captivated players, immersing them in the world of superheroes and thrilling missions to save the world.

One of the most impressive aspects of Marvel Ultimate Alliance is its ability to capture the spirit of classic games. For those who grew up playing projects like X-Men Legends or Justice League Heroes, this game feels like a return to the roots. It allows players to relive their favorite moments and enjoy the same excitement that older games provided. Although some elements may seem outdated by today's standards, this doesn't stop the game from holding an important place in the history of gaming.

However, it's hard to ignore some of the game's flaws. Small criticisms, like the occasional clunky controls and frustrating camera angles, do not overshadow the overall charm of the game, especially with its extensive roster of characters. In Marvel Ultimate Alliance, players can assemble a team from over 20 superheroes, each with unique abilities, fighting styles, and features. This aspect is a true delight for comic book fans, as the chance to control iconic characters like Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, or Wolverine makes the game feel like a celebration for all Marvel enthusiasts.

The game's variety is one of its strongest features. The ability to mix and match heroes allows players to experiment with different combat strategies, choose their favorites, and create unique teams for various missions. Each character has a set of abilities that can be upgraded over time, adding depth and interactivity to the gameplay. Because of this, players not only enjoy the narrative but also the tactical decisions they make throughout the game.

If it weren't for a few minor issues, like complicated controls and the sometimes annoying camera, Marvel Ultimate Alliance could have been the perfect superhero adventure. The camera, in particular, can cause frustration, as it can be difficult to follow the action during intense battles, especially when multiple things are happening on screen at once. This slightly detracts from the overall experience but doesn't make the game any less exciting.

The controls, although generally intuitive, can sometimes be tricky, particularly for newcomers who are unfamiliar with this style of game. For example, performing ability combos or switching between heroes may require some practice, and it's not always as easy as one would hope. However, these minor setbacks can be forgiven, given the wide variety of heroes and the dynamic gameplay that compensates for these small flaws.

As for the story, it's another strong point of the game. The plot of Marvel Ultimate Alliance plunges the player into the Marvel universe, where heroes must unite to confront threats that endanger the entire world. It's a classic superhero tale, allowing players to feel like part of a massive adventure while participating in epic battles against famous villains like Doctor Doom, Galactus, or Loki. These moments add emotional intensity to the game, keeping players eagerly anticipating what will happen next.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance also offers a cooperative mode, allowing players to team up with friends and complete the game together. This feature adds even more appeal, as the ability to fight side by side with other superheroes in a team makes the gameplay more exciting and dynamic. Players can assign roles within their team, opening up new tactical possibilities and giving the game added depth.

In conclusion, Marvel Ultimate Alliance is a game that, despite some flaws, deserves the attention of all comic book fans and superhero game enthusiasts. It combines an engaging story, dynamic gameplay, and a large roster of beloved characters, making it an ideal choice for those who want to dive back into the Marvel world and feel like part of an epic superhero team.