Marvel Ultimate Alliance (PS2)

• Platform:   PlayStation2
• BBFC Rating:
• Media: Video Game

The lowdown:
It was hardly the deepest action role-player around, but with X-Men Legends, developer Raven found the perfect balance for most comic book fans, between simple action and an expectedly convoluted storyline featuring as many characters as possible. This is basically the same game turned up to 11, as you initially take control of Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man and Wolverine in a battle against Dr Doom and his newfound allies. The graphics are perhaps not quite as detailed as they could be but the scope of the story and the variety of the settings more than makes up for it. Considering how much the game packs in there’s few Marvel diehards that will be disappointed by this.

Most exciting moment:
Although the game works perfectly well on your own it’s really at its best when playing with friends. Depending on the system, you get both online and four-player options, with each player controlling a hero. Many of the superpowers can be combined into a single special move making team work a must (until there’s a fight over a health power-up anyway).

Since you ask:
Although all the obvious heroes are included as playable characters some of the more obscure unlockables include Black Panther, Daredevil, Nick Fury and Silver Surfer. There’s also four exclusive characters for the PSP version (including Captain Marvel and Hawkeye) and more for the Xbox 360 such as Colossus and Moon Knight.

The bottom line:
The ultimate celebration of the Marvel universe in interactive form.-HARRISON DENT

Manufacturer's Description
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth's Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil the greatest collection of Super Villains ever assembled have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them. Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world's most notorious Super Villains. Created by Raven Software, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance lets players control the most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known.

Experience the full scale of the Marvel universe with a combined cast of over 140 popular comic book characters. Players create, customize and control their ultimate four-person strike team, selecting from an initial roster of 20 playable Super Heroes, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Thing, Captain America, Elektra and Thor and battle notorious Super Villains including Dr. Doom, Galactus and countless others.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance offers gamers total team customization. Players can form their favourite Marvel dream team, create their own team name, team icon, team vehicle and establish a team reputation as they play through an original storyline hand crafted by renowned game developer Raven Software and Marvel's own C.B. Cebulski. Additionally, players have more control over levelling up each team member to their liking, or upgrading all team members together to keep their heroes balanced.

With new and dynamic combat capabilities, Super Heroes can now fight while airborne, on the ground, and even submerged underwater as they traverse through 17 exotic locales and play out some of the most legendary comic book battles from the Marvel universe. Players will have access to a host of fighting tactics and accessories, including melee combat moves such as grappling, blocking and quick combos, new chargeable Super Hero powers, more environmental objects that can be used as weapons, and unique one and two-handed weapons.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance features a unique storyline where players not only determine the fate of Earth, but also control the fate of the Marvel universe. The missions players accept, the objectives completed, and how players interact with other characters throughout the game will have a direct impact on how the story plays out.

In addition to the epic single-player storyline, players can also battle the world's most evil Super Villains alongside friends in both on and offline cooperative story modes. This robust multiplayer component also features a Competitive Mode where the game keeps track of various in-game stats so players can see how well they stack up against one another affecting the amount of experience points and how equipment is distributed.

• PC & Video Games > Games > Role Playing