Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is the sequel to the game Marvel Ultimate Alliance and is similar to the games X-Men Legends and X-men Legends: Rise of Apocalypse. The game takes place in the Marvel Universe, the fictional world where Marvel comics take place, and is based on the events of two major series from the various comic’s histories, the Marvel Civil War and the Secret War series. MUA 2 is a streamlined version or the first MUA, with many of the collectable items removed and the combat system simplified. While many people complained about the lack of collectable items, I find it to be an excellent change to the game. I never fully understood the necessity of the various armor pieces and such that you received for defeating a villain in the first MUA.

The game opens with a flashback to a covert operation led by the head of SHIELD, Nick Fury, on the castle of the leader of the small European nation of Latveria. Events in the game culminate in a Super Human Registration Act that forces the heroes to either join the government or become a wanted fugitive. Throughout the game you fight a gauntlet of superheroes and supervillians. Depending on which side the player joins different events and characters become available.

The game is essentially a button-pusher, but has several aspects that set it apart from other games. There are twenty four playable characters, though some are unlocked at the end and some are only available by finding specific items throughout the game. Each character has four powers, and a variety of passive abilities that can be upgraded throughout the game. In addition, MUA 2 boasts a new ability, fusion powers. This allows the player to combine his character’s powers into devastating combinations. Every character can combine powers with any of the other twenty three characters, creating an impressive collection of new moves.

Graphically, there have been many improvements made on the game since he original’s débuted. While in game graphics are not up to the standards of first person gaming, they exceed those of previous games of this sort. As with many games that run multiple characters simultaneously, textural graphics are not good, with exception to movies and conversation sequences; the graphics for movies and for conversations are excellent.

The storyline follows the two series mentioned before, Civil War and Secret Wars, and is in and of itself diverse and entertaining. In addition, the choice of Pro-registration or Anti-registration makes it possible to play the game multiple times without losing interest. At the completion of the game, you return to the base from which you operate between missions and are presented with the option to restart the game at a higher difficult setting and retain your character’s levels and abilities. This feature allows you to explore options you didn’t before, such as switching sides during the Civil War storyline. The game also has simultaneous multiplayer features that allow additional players to jump in and out without restarting levels. The game as a whole is much more fun in multiplayer, allowing for the team to function as individuals more so then is normally true for single-player.

The character roster consists of most of the characters you might expect from Marvel, like Wolverine, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America. In addition, there are several lesser known characters like Songbird and Penance. The villains Green Goblin and Venom are also playable. This game, unlike the original, has Hulk as a playable character, though he must be unlocked. Admittedly, MUA had Hulk, but you had to buy him. I was disappointed however, that some of the characters available in the first game, such as Black Panther, Ghost Rider, Blade, and Silver Surfer were not available in MUA 2. The reason is simple enough; MUA 2 has a selection of characters that fit with the storyline of the game, primarily the Civil War plot line. I would not be surprised if an extension pack were released at some point in the future, but until such time, enjoy the characters available.

Rating: As a whole, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is better than the original. It does not compare to truly great games, but holds its own well enough to make it worth the price. The graphics of the game could be bettered, and some of the character’s unlockable costumes were done poorly; overall, I give it 1.5 points. The storyline was well written and flowed together well, not overly complex or long, but l leaving the player with a feeling that they had accomplished something in its completion. I give MUA 2 a full three points for storyline. The game play of MUA 2 was both entertain and repetitive simultaneously. I found that the repetitiveness was more profound if playing by yourself, and less so with another person playing. I did not have the opportunity to try the X-Box Live aspects of the game, and will omit them from the rating. The fusion powers are really what secures my interest. I recommend swapping out characters often and seeing what they can do together. For game play, I give MUA 2 a 3.5.

The final point I sometimes award, the point of a truly impressive scene or action in the game will not be awarded to MUA 2. At no point was I really impressed enough for it to be given. Certainly there were some great moments in the game, and playing as Hulk is addictive, but there is no grounds for the point to be awarded. I give Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 a final rating of 8.0 out of 10.

By Hegemon

Date: February 26, 2010