GLG Review: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Game Review | September 21, 2009 6:22 pm
By ImpureKing44
Here is the Offical Green Light Gamer (http://greenlightgamer.wordpress.com/) Review of MUA2
Graphics
The original MUA (Marvel: Ultimate Alliance) had very little going for it in the graphics department. Outside of some well done character concepts, the raw graphical quality was subpar at best. For the sequel, the improvements are noticeable, at least with the characters of the alliance. Each of the heroes and villains available are very well fleshed out with many noticeable features with their muscle tone, overall builds, costume details and thier fluidity in movement.
Now as for the environments they fight in, the same level of detail or polish was not put in. The different locales feel sadly neglected with some great places covered but not the proper amount of work into them to make them worth admiring. But nonetheless an upgrade from the orignal MUA.
Lastly, the cinematics are gorgeous with great particle effects and awesome climatic moments portrayed with the love and attention this great universe deserves.
7.5/10
Story
I am not well versed with the civil war period covered in the Marvel comics but this is the story used (with slight alterations from what I have been told) for MUA2. Due to a tragic accident that killed hundreds of civilians from a superhero/super villain clash, the American Government required the heroes to register their real identities in order to be able to use thier powers without fear of reprisal. Also they would be under law enforcement rules and able to be deployed to regions of conflict.
This causes a MAJOR rift in the superhero community and two sides prepare to do battle. The ones who side with S.H.I.E.L.D. (think of them as a universal police force) are pro-registration and are lead in battle by Iron Man. The ones who side with the anti-registration are called the White Star and led by none other than Cpt. America.
However, this ongoing “civil war” gets taken advantage of from outside forces and it is from here you see what has been really going on.
This is a very gripping tale powerfully told by accurate voice acting performances that capture the different nuances of the various characters.
9/10
Gameplay
It is sad to say this title should be called MUA 1.5 as the progress made in the other two categories greatly overshadows any of the few changes in the gameplay aspects. The same four man team hacking and slashing across the field core experience is here. The overall character list is just shy of the amount found in the first title, which I find disappointing (most notably since the Wii edition got three bonus characters one of them being a personal favorite, Psylocke.)
The customization options are lessened as now you don’t have gear you can equip for various effects, the amount of skills unlockable is about half of the ones in the original, and the individual superpowers are no longer available. Instead, they replaced these fun perks with a medal/skill system (which uses basic medals earned in battle and skills which are boostable from exp in battle) to beef up your warriors. I felt this took away some of the originality of the different characters and felt like I had less freedom and options in regards to custom tailoring my special forces.
Lastly, I lament the loss of my individual skills for the new fusion system. A lot of the fusion attacks (which utilize two character supermoves) appear very similar and dont feel very unique at all. As impressive as they look and are in battle, the 276 different combinations feel more like 4-8 actual variances in power vice appearance. Also, using a fusion attack forces your co-op partners to lose their right to use one at thier time of choosing, which you could do with the unique powers in the first one (use it freely without taking away from your partner).
5/10
Achievements
Why the F the developer dropped the ball on the co-op aspects of the achievement system in a game whose very title screams team game (Ultimate ALLIANCE) is a mystery to me. If you play local, only the host will earn all items/costumes as ONLY collectibles are retained for any other players, so spouses and friends who play in the same room will be doing multiple runs of the game for no reason. Outside of this gaping flaw, there is a lot of collectible and time consuming achievements outside of some basic beat the game ones. Still there is enough of the clear this part of the campaign chievos to make it worth a look.
5/10
Overall
This game had the potential to rip apart any other hack and slasher in the market as it has a great crew of people to use, amazing character animations, and a powerful narrative. Sadly, the lack of innovation in the gameplay along with some misguided decisions in the customization/misc. factors don’t really warrant the sixty dollar price tag.
7/10
Recommendation: Rent
Graphics
The original MUA (Marvel: Ultimate Alliance) had very little going for it in the graphics department. Outside of some well done character concepts, the raw graphical quality was subpar at best. For the sequel, the improvements are noticeable, at least with the characters of the alliance. Each of the heroes and villains available are very well fleshed out with many noticeable features with their muscle tone, overall builds, costume details and thier fluidity in movement.
Now as for the environments they fight in, the same level of detail or polish was not put in. The different locales feel sadly neglected with some great places covered but not the proper amount of work into them to make them worth admiring. But nonetheless an upgrade from the orignal MUA.
Lastly, the cinematics are gorgeous with great particle effects and awesome climatic moments portrayed with the love and attention this great universe deserves.
7.5/10
Story
I am not well versed with the civil war period covered in the Marvel comics but this is the story used (with slight alterations from what I have been told) for MUA2. Due to a tragic accident that killed hundreds of civilians from a superhero/super villain clash, the American Government required the heroes to register their real identities in order to be able to use thier powers without fear of reprisal. Also they would be under law enforcement rules and able to be deployed to regions of conflict.
This causes a MAJOR rift in the superhero community and two sides prepare to do battle. The ones who side with S.H.I.E.L.D. (think of them as a universal police force) are pro-registration and are lead in battle by Iron Man. The ones who side with the anti-registration are called the White Star and led by none other than Cpt. America.
However, this ongoing “civil war” gets taken advantage of from outside forces and it is from here you see what has been really going on.
This is a very gripping tale powerfully told by accurate voice acting performances that capture the different nuances of the various characters.
9/10
Gameplay
It is sad to say this title should be called MUA 1.5 as the progress made in the other two categories greatly overshadows any of the few changes in the gameplay aspects. The same four man team hacking and slashing across the field core experience is here. The overall character list is just shy of the amount found in the first title, which I find disappointing (most notably since the Wii edition got three bonus characters one of them being a personal favorite, Psylocke.)
The customization options are lessened as now you don’t have gear you can equip for various effects, the amount of skills unlockable is about half of the ones in the original, and the individual superpowers are no longer available. Instead, they replaced these fun perks with a medal/skill system (which uses basic medals earned in battle and skills which are boostable from exp in battle) to beef up your warriors. I felt this took away some of the originality of the different characters and felt like I had less freedom and options in regards to custom tailoring my special forces.
Lastly, I lament the loss of my individual skills for the new fusion system. A lot of the fusion attacks (which utilize two character supermoves) appear very similar and dont feel very unique at all. As impressive as they look and are in battle, the 276 different combinations feel more like 4-8 actual variances in power vice appearance. Also, using a fusion attack forces your co-op partners to lose their right to use one at thier time of choosing, which you could do with the unique powers in the first one (use it freely without taking away from your partner).
5/10
Achievements
Why the F the developer dropped the ball on the co-op aspects of the achievement system in a game whose very title screams team game (Ultimate ALLIANCE) is a mystery to me. If you play local, only the host will earn all items/costumes as ONLY collectibles are retained for any other players, so spouses and friends who play in the same room will be doing multiple runs of the game for no reason. Outside of this gaping flaw, there is a lot of collectible and time consuming achievements outside of some basic beat the game ones. Still there is enough of the clear this part of the campaign chievos to make it worth a look.
5/10
Overall
This game had the potential to rip apart any other hack and slasher in the market as it has a great crew of people to use, amazing character animations, and a powerful narrative. Sadly, the lack of innovation in the gameplay along with some misguided decisions in the customization/misc. factors don’t really warrant the sixty dollar price tag.
7/10
Recommendation: Rent
Reviewed: Marvel Ult. Alliance 2
Keywords: None
