Xbox 360
Games based on comic books are always welcomed by the fans, but unfortunately their quality is often patchy at best. For every Spider-Man 2, there's an Iron Man, and for every Marvel vs. Capcom a Superman 64, the latter regularly hailed as one of the worst games ever created. Recently however, publishers and developers appear to have become wise to the true value of these franchises when handled properly and seem to be creating comic-based games with a great deal more care and respect than usual. Many gamers are eagerly awaiting titles from both of the major comic stables this summer, with DC releasing Batman: Arkham Asylum while Marvel unleashes Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Will Marvel's second foray into squad-based role-playing prove a thrilling sequel, or almost equal?
The game is a follow-up to the 2006 original and looks to replicate the gameplay found in its predecessor, putting players in control of four heroes at a time and facing off against a huge army of enemies and villains. The majority of characters return from the first game, including better-known characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine and Iron Man, alongside villains such as Lucia von Bardas, Electro and The Tinkerer.
However, a number of fan favourites also make their debut appearance. It should be a blast to play as Cable, Iron Fist and the unstoppable Juggernaut, as well as a number of other, more obscure characters. However, the omission of some heroes, including Moon Knight and The Punisher, is more than disappointing, although the possibility of including these characters in future expansion packs remains an intriguing prospect.
Developer Vicarious Visions has obviously done its best to ensure there's a large amount of fan service here, and their dedication is also evident in the story of the title. Utilising plot devices from the groundbreaking Secret War and Civil War comic storylines, the game sees Nick Fury's invasion of Latveria, the country in which Dr. Doom rules with an iron fist, spark off a series of catastrophic events. The chaos culminates in a tragedy caused by a battle between super heroes and villains, resulting in the death of 600 civilians in the town of Stamford, Connecticut. This leads to the government passing legislation stating that superheroes must reveal their identities, enrol on an official register and follow orders given by the authorities in order to continue operating.
Not everyone agrees to these rules however, so a split between former allies occurs: the Pro-Registration side is headed up by figures such as Iron Man and Mister Fantastic bent on quelling the resistance, whilst the rebels, lead by Captain America and Luke Cage, focus on finding Colonel Fury in order to get some answers as to what's going on. The story is far more interesting than the bog-standard world domination narrative found in the original and, due to its drawing on inspiration from integral turning points in the Marvel universe, grounds the title in the rich fictional world better than the original ever could. Looking to be darker than the original, the sequel focuses on the grittier side of life in a world full of superheroes. The player will follow different story threads depending on which faction they choose to play as, with multiple endings ensuring that playing as either side will be an equally gripping experience.
The gameplay looks set to be identical to the original, which is no bad thing. Running around smashing objects and enemies with your chosen foursome was good fun and a number of new features promise to make things even more fluid and satisfying this time around. There are over 250 special moves that can be executed depending on your combination of characters, showcasing each character's particular abilities. Environments are now fully destructible, meaning that stronger characters can now launch cars, lamp posts and anything else they can get their hands on at opponents. These abilities, while having the possibility of becoming repetitive, do look impressive, and it will be interesting to find each and every single combination of attack. With locations including Latveria and New York City, you can expect the combat to be as colourful as the game's many worlds and inhabitants.
The graphics are nice and shiny, retaining the comic book aesthetic, while looking realistic enough to keep in line with the mood of the story. Everything looks fantastic in this area, with the developer clearly having spent considerable time on making each character model look just right. Captain America's iconic shield is suitably scratched, Deadpool's suit has relevant crease lines, hell, even Spidey's webs look sufficiently sticky.
Taking one of the best known intellectual properties in the world and making a brilliant game out of it is a hugely daunting task, but Vicarious Visions appears to have risen to the challenge with great success. By tightening the original's gameplay, creating a much more interesting story and adding in a greater number of characters, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will appeal to any fan of videogames or comics, be they casual or die-hard Marvel followers.