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| | Title:
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
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System:
Playstation 3
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Genre:
Action/RPG
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Publisher:
Activision
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Developer:
Raven Software
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Release:
Fall 2006
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
Rating Pending (RP)
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With all the comic book-based video games making appearances every so often, it would only make sense to have a game with a large compilation of both heroes and villains. Luckily, comic book fans will have to wait no longer thanks to Marvel Ultimate Alliance. This game takes legends, fan-favorites, icons and all-time great heroes from the Marvel universe, and tosses them together into a mammoth RPG-action game. However, heroes aren’t the only ones making the cut in this game; there is a gigantic list of evil-doers who will also make an appearance in Marvel Ultimate Alliance.
The cast of characters who make an appearance in this game is vast. On the hero side we have the likes of: Wolverine, Captain America (about time the Captain returns to video games), The Thing, Blade, Spider-Man, Thor, Dr. Strange, Nick Fury, Elektra, Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer, and too many more to simply list here. In total, there are 140 Marvel characters who will make a showing in this game. No matter which character(s) the player chooses to play, though, they’ll fall into the RPG category of being upgradeable with a number of different “skins.”
I hope these tights don’t give me a wedgie...
Unlike the previous X-Men: Legends games, Activision has a new outlook on how characters will level-up in Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Instead of assigning stats to individual skills for a character, players will earn a “skin” for that character. Gamers who add skin mods to characters on other games will already know about skin alterations. For those unfamiliar with this feature, it’s simply where the texture of the hero’s outfit will change upon leveling. These new outfits will represent the hero’s change into something slightly more powerful. As the game progress and more skins are unlocked for the characters, they will get closer to their “Epic” skin; an outfit which symbolizes their pinnacle as a superhero.
For those comic-book fans out there who are already typing up “10 reasons why this new leveling system won’t work for my favorite hero,” you can rest assured that Raven Software is keeping things even. The developers have already taken into account the copious amount of outfits for some heroes, and the limited wardrobe of others. They're working hard to make sure guys like Blade and Captain America don’t look like they have no fashion sense, while others like Spider-Man and Wolverine aren't going around with several closets full of clothes. More than anything, it will be interesting to see how things are evened out in the final version between those who are finical and those with worn and dated attire.
Strength in numbers...
With the fighting mechanics undergoing a serious overhaul, gamers will be in for a more action-packed fight-fest with their favorite heroes. Guys like Captain America will have the ability to custom control some of their abilities, such as throwing the shield and using the analog stick to guide it around the play-area. The mechanics will be far more dynamic to support the likenesses of some heroes and their skills, of course. There’s even a new addition for beating up foes tossed into the mix. Players can now use items within the surrounding areas as weapons, including pipes, cans, sticks and more. It’s definitely a feature that will be well-welcomed.
Like X-Men Legends, teams can be custom-tailored to suit the style of the player. Even though members can be swapped on the fly throughout the course of the game, the longer a team stays together the stronger they become. It only makes sense that the longer the team is together, the more cohesive they become and, in turn, the more reliable, strong, and experienced they are. Besides changing the members of a team, players can customize the team’s logo and the name they carry.
Another great addition for the PS3 and Xbox360 versions is the online multiplayer support. This feature allows for up to four-players to play cooperatively with one another in the fight for the safety of the universe. While each player will take control of their own hero, individually each player will be earning points on their own. A ranking system will also keep track of kills, efficiency and effectiveness during battles and boss encounters. This feature also carries over into a mode with unlockable content called “Heroic Missions.” These are unlocked by collecting hidden comic books scattered throughout various stages. Each playable hero has a “Heroic Mission” which is a significant part of that hero’s past, and can be played either solo or cooperatively. In a neat twist, other players can switch sides and play the villains in the “Heroic Missions.”
An epic epilogue for epic endings
One of the more note-worthy additions to Marvel Ultimate Alliance would have to be the endings that players create through their actions. How players approach a situation, who they decide to help, and which enemies they face will determine how the endings will play out. In other words, a compilation of the player’s actions will make up a dynamic epilogue for the game’s final ending. Due to this, the game’s ending will change each time it’s played, making for a unique play experience each time around.
With 140 characters and the largest roster of super-heroes around, Marvel Ultimate Alliance is shaping up to be a really cool game. The on-line four-player co-op is a good addition along with the skin upgrades, and gamers can expect to see this game on shelves by November 17, 2006 for the PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox360, PC, and Nintendo Wii. For more information, screenshots and media on Marvel Ultimate Alliance, be sure to stay tuned in to Xboxcore.com and Playstationcore.com.
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More Reviews for this game: (displayed by authors name)
Crusader
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