Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Review (gamezone)

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Tiger Shark looks menacingly at the quartet of heroes, then teams up with his underwater co-conspirator and the battle rages on. But in this instance, the game is not as much of a button-mashing affair as it is on other systems – with the Wii, you can actually trigger attacks using the movement of the nunchuk controllers.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is the same game found on the PC and other consoles, so much of this review will be a rehash of what has been stated elsewhere. But where the game differs is in how the Wii control scheme plays into it.

As for the backstory …

The game begins with Dr. Victor Von Doom is threatening the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier, heading up a group known as the Masters of Evil. Captain America asks Thor, Spider-man and Wolverine to take out the cyborg-controlled assault ships. This is all cutscene. After that sterling cutscene, which nicely captures the personalities of the first team of fighters, you work through the helicarrier until you encounter Scorpion. Get past Scorpion (the first of many boss battles aboard the helicarrier) and you will eventually get to the bridge where Nick Fury awaits you. Black Widow is in trouble and needs your help. But perhaps the foursome of Spidey, Captain, Thor and Wolverine are not what is needed for this mission. No worries. Just find the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo within a level, portal down and pull up Ms. Marvel, or Ironman, or Black Panther, or …

If this is sounding like an all-star card of some of the best Marvel super-heroes of all time, you are absolutely right. But it gets even better. There is Daredevil, Deadpool, Dr. Strange, Elecktra, Ghost Rider, The Fantastic Four, and – get this – the SILVER SURFER! In essence, Doom has catastrophic and nefarious plans, and it is up to you and your team of heroes to stop him and his super-powered cohorts.

Those that have played X-Men: Legends will recognize the way the game plays out. You have a level, a team of four, and many enemies standing between your team and its objective at the other end of the level. As each of the superheroes has unique abilities, the right mix will see you through each of the challenges that wait. As you fight, you get experience, which translates into leveling and improved skills. The lazy can let the game auto-assign skill points, but the person that wants to manage the team will be able to disable the auto-assign feature and customize the characters the way he or she sees fit.

While the gameplay is similar to what has been seen before, what truly sets this game apart is the story … well, and all the cool characters you will have the opportunity to play as. With Dr. Doom’s nefarious plot as the guiding point, thrown into the mix are evolving suspicions surrounding existing characters. Sure, Nick Fury may trust her, but doubts linger as to which side Black Widow is on.

Combat is handled well. You will have to calibrate the nunchuks at the onset of the game but once done, they become a viable part of the gameplay mechanics. Move both of the controls in a direction to swing the camera around. You can use the remote in concert with other buttons to amplify the attacks, but generally speaking – if you move it upward, you get a pop-up attack (the force of your attack drives your opponent up into the air); move the control down for a stun attack; move the controller to the side for a trip attack. It is rather easy to get the handle (pardon the pun) on.

Raven and Activision have done a remarkable job of integrating the dynamic axis sensors of the Wii nunchuks into the game. As for the rest of the gameplay: the puzzles tend toward simple, with players given the ability to push and pull objects into new locations. You will have to use the controller a bit more enthusiastically when you encounter some boss monsters that seem a bit impervious to straight-on attacks.

In many regards this is a Marvel fan’s dream come true. The characters have attitude, and there are so many cool team members to choose from, with more unlocked as you progress, that the game’s variety feels wide open. This is a good thing as the game itself is rather linear in nature.

The graphics are very good, and the sound is spot-on for the game.

Boasting the largest collection of Marvel heroes and villains in one title, Marvel Ultimate Alliance is a terrific game for the die-hard fan of Marvel comics. Those that enjoyed X-Men: Legends will also find this game entertaining. There are some failings, but overall, this is a game that is a delight. More than 20 playable characters, 17 locations, and the ability to control the destiny of the world and Marvel Universe – this game has the elements superhero fans crave.

Review Scoring Details for Marvel Ultimate Alliance

Gameplay: 8.3
The Wii controller gets a nice bit of attention with this game and does a great job. It is not over the top and difficult, as could be said about the version of Call of Duty 3, but rather is smart and intuitive. It adds to the game, not detracts from it and while not overly involved still makes for an entertaining experience.

Graphics: 8.0
Bright, lush and an absolute joy to look at, this game has a variety of fun environments spanning interiors, space and even underwater. The animations are very good as well.

Sound: 8.3
The voice work is well done, as are the special effects and musical score.

Difficulty: Medium
The game follows a very linear path but players will be able to select the difficulty level that will present a challenge through the game’s path.

Concept: 8.3
Good story and a great cast of playable characters.

Multiplayer: 8.1
Cooperative play is always fun and MUA is no exception. The game follows the same formula as X-Men: Legends or even Gauntlet in that you have to stay closer to one another as you play in order to keep moving. Players at either side of the screen, trying to go in opposing directions will stall the game. No online with this title on this platform.

Overall: 8.4
The Wii control scheme fits this game very well, and when coupled with a good story and incredible cast, the result is a game that is very entertaining. If you are a Marvel fan, you will want this game. If you are a fan of the type of games like X-Men: Legends, or Gauntlet, you will want this game. If you are a fan of entertaining, team-based games, you will likely want this game. It is a lot of fun and is appropriate for younger and older players and will provide a lot of entertainment.