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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action Developer: Raven Software Publisher: Activision |
Over the years players have been given superhero videogames that offer cartoon character models that lack in detail. The latest
release, “Marvel: Ultimate Alliance” offers players are given full three dimensional renditions of some of Marvel’s most well known
heroes and villains. The core game play is the same as other superhero / comic book games. “Marvel: Ultimate alliance” is a four
player top down brawler that has players fighting against an endless number of enemies. The new visuals, and a handful of game play
tweaks, have proven to keep the formula feeling fresh.
When Doctor Doom assaults the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, a call goes out to all available heroes. Players may question why Doctor
Doom would attack the headquarters of the world’s toughest heroes in the first place, but there is no time to question why, there are
people to save. Players have to punch things to destroy them and ask questions later. During the quest to stop Doom from gaining the
power to remake the universe as he sees hit, the player’s will lead their gang of heroes across the Marvel Universe. Though the action
of the game starts on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, the heroes will find themselves in some of the most famous locations in Marvel
history. Players will meet up with everyone from Namor, Asgard and Galactus the World Eater.
Over the course of this adventure, players will have access to 25 playable Marvel characters, ranging from the popular Spider-Man, Thor
and Wolverine, as well as the less popular Blade and Elektra who are possibly included because of their film popularity. There is a
definite imbalance in the characters. Ms Marvel is very useless, almost as useless as Blade and Elektra. However, characters are able
to be upgraded to be able to survive in combat. It would have been a lot nicer to be given some strong characters to start with, maybe a
big, green superhero. Luckily there are a few good characters to play with.
Nearly every character comes with three alternate costumes that can be unlocked only when players play as the character. The
alternate costumes are great. Some characters have very little history with fashion, such as the Thing, so his alternate costumes are
pants of different lengths. However, Spider-Man, a character that gets a new costume every time he appears dawns the Symbiote Suit,
Scarlet Spider and the new Iron Spider costume. The costumes aren’t just for show either. Each suit has three upgradeable stats that
affect how characters perform. One outfit may allow players to increase the Max Health and gives a bonus to a specific attack, while
another increases defense. In all actuality, the type of upgrade proves to be very unimportant.
As if the costumes weren’t enough already, players are able to create their own super team. After players select the appropriate icon
and name their new team, players must choose their four charter members. Anytime players play with at least three members, they
gain Team Experience. As the team levels up, players can add more roster spots and improve the overall performance of the team with
enhanced damage and health upgrades. In some ways this makes the idea of having two dozen characters pretty worthless. It will
discourage players from using a variety of players.
Online mode is available in this game and requires one person to set up a game and load one of their saved games. No other players
are able to bring in their own customized characters, instead everyone plays off the saved game. The good news is that each person
can save the online game to their hard drive and continue the game offline. Also, players are only able to have one player per console.
Co-op mode is the standard story mode, with friends joining in along the way. Competitive play, also known as Arcade mode, has
players progressing through the story. However, while they are working to defeat Doctor Doom and his goons, players are also
competing for points. The hero who delivers the final blow to an enemy get credit for the kill, which can create a fight between friends.
At the end of each level the points are totaled and awards are given in a variety of areas, including most items destroyed and the fewest
deaths along the way.
Visually, “Marvel: Ultimate alliance” is a huge step in the right direction compared to other superhero / comic book games. The
cartoonish models were an easy way to maintain high performance with detailed environments and special effects in the past, but the
fully realized 3D renditions of the characters in the Marvel Universe give more meat to the game. Also, there is a set of great looking cut
scenes that serve as reminders that game still don’t look quite as good as CG. In regular game play, everything is fresh and beautiful
to look at, and there are only a few instances that things slow down a bit.
“Marvel: Ultimate Alliance” is one game that doesn’t have a ton of faults, but it isn’t among the true classics of gaming. Because of a
few welcome additions to the combat system and character customization, this game is a lot of the same thing as players have seen in
the past. The level design and puzzles are a little boring and lack innovation, but then again this game is about gathering a few friends
saving the world from a group of villains. While it may not be a brilliant game, it is still fun, which is all that really matters. This is a
game that is sure to satisfy the superhero geek inside any gamer.
release, “Marvel: Ultimate Alliance” offers players are given full three dimensional renditions of some of Marvel’s most well known
heroes and villains. The core game play is the same as other superhero / comic book games. “Marvel: Ultimate alliance” is a four
player top down brawler that has players fighting against an endless number of enemies. The new visuals, and a handful of game play
tweaks, have proven to keep the formula feeling fresh.
When Doctor Doom assaults the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, a call goes out to all available heroes. Players may question why Doctor
Doom would attack the headquarters of the world’s toughest heroes in the first place, but there is no time to question why, there are
people to save. Players have to punch things to destroy them and ask questions later. During the quest to stop Doom from gaining the
power to remake the universe as he sees hit, the player’s will lead their gang of heroes across the Marvel Universe. Though the action
of the game starts on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, the heroes will find themselves in some of the most famous locations in Marvel
history. Players will meet up with everyone from Namor, Asgard and Galactus the World Eater.
Over the course of this adventure, players will have access to 25 playable Marvel characters, ranging from the popular Spider-Man, Thor
and Wolverine, as well as the less popular Blade and Elektra who are possibly included because of their film popularity. There is a
definite imbalance in the characters. Ms Marvel is very useless, almost as useless as Blade and Elektra. However, characters are able
to be upgraded to be able to survive in combat. It would have been a lot nicer to be given some strong characters to start with, maybe a
big, green superhero. Luckily there are a few good characters to play with.
Nearly every character comes with three alternate costumes that can be unlocked only when players play as the character. The
alternate costumes are great. Some characters have very little history with fashion, such as the Thing, so his alternate costumes are
pants of different lengths. However, Spider-Man, a character that gets a new costume every time he appears dawns the Symbiote Suit,
Scarlet Spider and the new Iron Spider costume. The costumes aren’t just for show either. Each suit has three upgradeable stats that
affect how characters perform. One outfit may allow players to increase the Max Health and gives a bonus to a specific attack, while
another increases defense. In all actuality, the type of upgrade proves to be very unimportant.
As if the costumes weren’t enough already, players are able to create their own super team. After players select the appropriate icon
and name their new team, players must choose their four charter members. Anytime players play with at least three members, they
gain Team Experience. As the team levels up, players can add more roster spots and improve the overall performance of the team with
enhanced damage and health upgrades. In some ways this makes the idea of having two dozen characters pretty worthless. It will
discourage players from using a variety of players.
Online mode is available in this game and requires one person to set up a game and load one of their saved games. No other players
are able to bring in their own customized characters, instead everyone plays off the saved game. The good news is that each person
can save the online game to their hard drive and continue the game offline. Also, players are only able to have one player per console.
Co-op mode is the standard story mode, with friends joining in along the way. Competitive play, also known as Arcade mode, has
players progressing through the story. However, while they are working to defeat Doctor Doom and his goons, players are also
competing for points. The hero who delivers the final blow to an enemy get credit for the kill, which can create a fight between friends.
At the end of each level the points are totaled and awards are given in a variety of areas, including most items destroyed and the fewest
deaths along the way.
Visually, “Marvel: Ultimate alliance” is a huge step in the right direction compared to other superhero / comic book games. The
cartoonish models were an easy way to maintain high performance with detailed environments and special effects in the past, but the
fully realized 3D renditions of the characters in the Marvel Universe give more meat to the game. Also, there is a set of great looking cut
scenes that serve as reminders that game still don’t look quite as good as CG. In regular game play, everything is fresh and beautiful
to look at, and there are only a few instances that things slow down a bit.
“Marvel: Ultimate Alliance” is one game that doesn’t have a ton of faults, but it isn’t among the true classics of gaming. Because of a
few welcome additions to the combat system and character customization, this game is a lot of the same thing as players have seen in
the past. The level design and puzzles are a little boring and lack innovation, but then again this game is about gathering a few friends
saving the world from a group of villains. While it may not be a brilliant game, it is still fun, which is all that really matters. This is a
game that is sure to satisfy the superhero geek inside any gamer.
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