In August, “Batman: Arkham Asylum” did what video game players and journalists long thought impossible: It was a comic book game, and it was good - stunningly good.
Activision and Vicarious Visions follow that up with a title featuring dozens of superheroes and villains from the Marvel side of the comic book universe, “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2,” the sequel to the 2006 beat-'em-up/RPG hybrid. While it's no slouch, “Ultimate Alliance 2” represents a regression back to the high water mark of comic book games before “Arkham.”
The game lifts its story from the Secret Invasion/Civil War arcs. Heroes Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man and Iron Man join with Nick Fury and his S.H.I.E.L.D. force to invade Latveria and squash a terrorist threat Fury couldn't convince the U.S. government to acknowledge. As the heroes follow Fury's orders, they wonder aloud whether they're acting righteously or invading a sovereign nation without proper cause.
The philosophical divide Iron Man and Captain America begin showing during the morally questionable mission becomes full-scale conflict when, a year later, Latverian terrorists retaliate by launching a devastating assault on New York City. The damage prompts the U.S. government to present the Superhero Registration Act, which is passed following another massive loss of lives during a superhero conflict.
While Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and others feel heroes should declare their identities with the government in order to avoid all-out war at home, another faction of heroes that includes Captain America and Luke Cage flout the act and become underground revolutionaries. The conflict between the pro- and anti-registration forces forms the basis of the bulk of “Ultimate Alliance 2,” with several supervillains popping up along the way.
At any given time in the game, players command four superheroes picked from a pool of up to 24. Levels throw several dozen robot, armed soldier and nanomachine-controlled foes at players, who can use the heroes' hand-to-hand and superhuman fighting abilities to lay waste to the attackers. As the bodies pile up, a fusion meter builds that gives the player the power to combine two heroes' special attacks into one devastating, screen-clearing assault. For instance, Iron Man focuses his repulsor beams into Wolverine's claws, which reflect the energy in all outward directions; or Green Goblin sprinkles half a dozen pumpkin bombs onto a boulder that Venom hurls at an enemy.
The combat quickly maxes out its potential, but it remains steadily fun in a slightly mindless way throughout “Ultimate Alliance 2.” The trophy system proves especially worthwhile in this game because it gives players incentive to proceed in less button-mashy ways and explore the arsenal and fusion combinations instead. Special level objectives usually just direct the player's offensive whirlwind against inanimate objects, and boss battles - except for Yellowjacket and the Venom/Green Goblin tandem - are equally devoid of strategy due to their easiness.
The RPG elements of the game feel a little superfluous because the options are slightly shallow and the impact almost non-existent due to the game's easiness. Some heroes - namely Wolverine, Thor, Venom and Deadpool - felt overpowered enough without any management. But the ability to autoassign upgrade points made this whole aspect of “Ultimate Alliance 2” a non-concern.
The game's presentation also felt poor. The poor voice acting and sound quality combined with sparsely detailed animation to make the cutscenes kind of a mess. The in-game graphics were superbly detailed, but the blitz of on-screen activity and distant cameras made tracking my characters' movements a chore.
The most involved I felt in “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2” was when I had to choose Iron Man's or Captain America's side in the story, which touches on compelling issues raised by the events of Sept. 11. But the game play itself felt more like the numbingly explosive response.
David Wilcox
253-5311 ext. 245
david.wilcox@lee.net
If you play.
Game: “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2”
Score: B
Parental rating: Teen for mild language and violence
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Activision
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (also available for PSP, Wii, Windows and Nintendo DS)
Price: $46.99
Play: Single, multiplayer
The final boss: “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2” is a brainlessly fun but occasionally boring superhero romp.
The game lifts its story from the Secret Invasion/Civil War arcs. Heroes Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man and Iron Man join with Nick Fury and his S.H.I.E.L.D. force to invade Latveria and squash a terrorist threat Fury couldn't convince the U.S. government to acknowledge. As the heroes follow Fury's orders, they wonder aloud whether they're acting righteously or invading a sovereign nation without proper cause.
The philosophical divide Iron Man and Captain America begin showing during the morally questionable mission becomes full-scale conflict when, a year later, Latverian terrorists retaliate by launching a devastating assault on New York City. The damage prompts the U.S. government to present the Superhero Registration Act, which is passed following another massive loss of lives during a superhero conflict.
While Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and others feel heroes should declare their identities with the government in order to avoid all-out war at home, another faction of heroes that includes Captain America and Luke Cage flout the act and become underground revolutionaries. The conflict between the pro- and anti-registration forces forms the basis of the bulk of “Ultimate Alliance 2,” with several supervillains popping up along the way.
At any given time in the game, players command four superheroes picked from a pool of up to 24. Levels throw several dozen robot, armed soldier and nanomachine-controlled foes at players, who can use the heroes' hand-to-hand and superhuman fighting abilities to lay waste to the attackers. As the bodies pile up, a fusion meter builds that gives the player the power to combine two heroes' special attacks into one devastating, screen-clearing assault. For instance, Iron Man focuses his repulsor beams into Wolverine's claws, which reflect the energy in all outward directions; or Green Goblin sprinkles half a dozen pumpkin bombs onto a boulder that Venom hurls at an enemy.
The combat quickly maxes out its potential, but it remains steadily fun in a slightly mindless way throughout “Ultimate Alliance 2.” The trophy system proves especially worthwhile in this game because it gives players incentive to proceed in less button-mashy ways and explore the arsenal and fusion combinations instead. Special level objectives usually just direct the player's offensive whirlwind against inanimate objects, and boss battles - except for Yellowjacket and the Venom/Green Goblin tandem - are equally devoid of strategy due to their easiness.
The RPG elements of the game feel a little superfluous because the options are slightly shallow and the impact almost non-existent due to the game's easiness. Some heroes - namely Wolverine, Thor, Venom and Deadpool - felt overpowered enough without any management. But the ability to autoassign upgrade points made this whole aspect of “Ultimate Alliance 2” a non-concern.
The game's presentation also felt poor. The poor voice acting and sound quality combined with sparsely detailed animation to make the cutscenes kind of a mess. The in-game graphics were superbly detailed, but the blitz of on-screen activity and distant cameras made tracking my characters' movements a chore.
The most involved I felt in “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2” was when I had to choose Iron Man's or Captain America's side in the story, which touches on compelling issues raised by the events of Sept. 11. But the game play itself felt more like the numbingly explosive response.
David Wilcox
253-5311 ext. 245
david.wilcox@lee.net
If you play.
Game: “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2”
Score: B
Parental rating: Teen for mild language and violence
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Activision
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (also available for PSP, Wii, Windows and Nintendo DS)
Price: $46.99
Play: Single, multiplayer
The final boss: “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2” is a brainlessly fun but occasionally boring superhero romp.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.