Metareview - Marvel Ultimate Alliance
by Alan Rose 
{ Oct 26th 2006 at 3:45PM }
The ongoing debate over which superhero universe reigns supreme may never be settled, but Marvel Comics is looking like the clear winner in the gaming space with Activision's release of Marvel Ultimate Alliance. There's no Incredible Hulk (he's in Vivendi's game), but just about everyone else from the House of Ideas makes an appearance, which amounts to at least 20 playable characters on each platform. Where Ultimate Alliance really shines over Justice League Heroes is in the stronger focus on teamwork, not to mention a more impressive cast of villains. <Your team name here>, assemble!
- Game Informer (93/100) likes the new transparent rejuvenation system: "In this game, you no longer need to stock potions. When an enemy is slain, there's a chance that the fallen will gift you with a cluster of healing orbs that automatically zoom to your character. This change not only removes the clunky system of healing, it makes you feel more like a hero. Your focus is always on the battlefield, not a meter."
- GamePro (90/100) appreciates the challenging enemy AI: "The major boss battles are head and shoulders above anything you've seen in the past. The roster of villains changes with such frequency that you never get a chance to get sick of them. Stronger ones boast talents like healing and immunity to certain attacks, while others carry shields that force your active crew of four to work as a team."
- TeamXbox (88/100) was dazzled by the production quality: "The opening cinematic by Blur Studios is perhaps the finest I have witnessed in a videogame...but it's worth mentioning that the in-game footage cut scenes by Raven are no slouches either. Raven's in-game work is really nice too. Characters all have that comic book look, but have been updated to have their own edge. The backgrounds are just as sweet, flexing a bunch of post-production effects and lots of animations."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thryon @ Oct 26th 2006 4:57PM
If I can only stop watching that Gears of War video, I could get into this game.
Maybe later...I still have Splinter Cell to play.
fwacce @ Oct 26th 2006 4:01PM
Great game that will be even better on the PS3.
Mikhail Wright @ Oct 26th 2006 4:04PM
Yeah, i'm gettin' this and NBA2K7 for my PS3 @ launch
Cardinals Will Win World Series @ Oct 26th 2006 4:06PM
"Great game that will be even better on the PS3"
Keep Wishing
crono141 @ Oct 26th 2006 5:12PM
And the baseball fan took the flamebait!
marvel_fanboy @ Oct 26th 2006 4:09PM
You guys think you'll even be able to find a PS3? I picked up the Xbox version last night for $36 at TRU. They still have the buy 2, get 1 free sale going on so it was even less.
Frosty22 @ Oct 26th 2006 4:13PM
Yeah... almost every analyst says 360 and PS3 are identical in their capabilities (some say ps3 is negligibly better in look, whereas Xbox has better AI), but for some reason you sony fanboys seem to think it will be better. Whatever you say Joe.
Erik Novak @ Oct 26th 2006 4:14PM
I have this AND NBA2k7 for the 360. HA!!! Whenever you end up getting it for the ps3, let me know if the online capability runs as well as the 360's. After all, this game was meant for multiplayer.
Ezxra @ Oct 26th 2006 10:20PM
Great game that will be even better on the PS3.
..............
OTAM @ Oct 26th 2006 4:33PM
I can't find a damn roster of this game anywhere. I have one question about this game,this one question will decide if I buy or skip this game.
IS THE INCREDIBLE HULK A PLAYABLE CHARACTER IN THIS GAME?
If not,i'm not touching this game,because the Hulk is my favorite so having him not in a game called MARVEL Ultimate Alliance is not excusable.
baby sea tuna @ Oct 26th 2006 4:34PM
No, Hulk isn't in it. The Thing is still pretty bad ass though...
blah @ Oct 26th 2006 4:41PM
maybe he thinks it will be better on the ps3 because it's *totally missing voice comm on ps3* and he hates talking to people?
feh.. even the *psp* version has voice com.....
ahhhyeaa @ Oct 26th 2006 4:41PM
incredible hulk isnt in the game, he actually couldnt be because of that vivendi game. and gameplay will be better on the ps3 because of sixaxis, same with the wii.
darko82 @ Oct 26th 2006 4:40PM
OTAM, if you want some Hulk action, pick up Ultimate Destruction. Bruce Banner is in Alliance, but Activision couldn't use the Hulk because friggin' Vivendi owns the license for that character.
That's what happens when you spread IP across multiple publishers.
dannyboy112591 @ Oct 26th 2006 5:03PM
Wii version 4TW
ben_grimm @ Oct 26th 2006 5:08PM
Wii version 4T last-gen, GameCube graphics. No, thank you. ;)
Hinkmania @ Oct 26th 2006 5:10PM
Marvel Ultimate Alliance is awesome. A friend of mine and I played for a few hours last night and unlocked several costumes, including two for Deadpool (Weapon X and Ultimate).
Chris @ Oct 26th 2006 5:12PM
"Great game that will be even better on the PS3."
Yeah, with that controller that turns your fingers into hook-like claws after using the L and R buttons for a while.
No thanks. I'll stick with the XBox 360 controller- much more confortable to hit those triggers.
Mr. Khan @ Oct 26th 2006 6:27PM
@ ben_grimm, did someone just speak an untruth? I think they did...
This game looks great, however, with or without the hulk, definitely on my Rental list...
Enemtee @ Oct 26th 2006 6:31PM
I am also awaiting the Wii-version of this game. Some Wii-versions of cross-platform-games will be so-so, I agree with all that show critizism. But they can also be good. About Wii-s graphics, I think they are way underestimated. Not HD, but it is not ugly. The Wii has upped a few notches from the last era.
Look at some 360-games, they look like Xbox-games. It is all about how much work that is put into the games. The platform, whichever it might be, don't make it a sure case that it is gonna look sweet.
sambo @ Oct 26th 2006 6:45PM
i just got this, and frankly, i am extremely impressed.
I was kind of hesitant after the so-so graphics on the X-men legends games, but this game is a must for anyone who considers themselves a comics fan.
Pince @ Oct 26th 2006 6:47PM
@14
Wii 4T last-gen? Are you kidding?
Man are you ever witty.
@10
Has sixaxis or wiimote functionality been announced?
Maybe I missed that.
If it has, then still, what exaxtly will be so great about controlling this game with the wiimote or, god forbid, the sixaxis...hell, what are you expecting to do with the motion control. Are you going to turn your character by turning the sixaxis? I dont see how motion control in a brawler is beneficial at all. In fact, it seems like a really dumb idea.
If you can explain to me how in the hell motion control adds anything to a team-based brawler, please do, because I am trying really hard to resist the urge to just flame you a bit and leave it at that (kidding, I'm kidding, but seriously, I'd like to know what functionalities you are thinking of that could be added with motion control and how it will make the game that much "better").
ahhhyeaa @ Oct 26th 2006 6:53PM
hey pince
it has been announced, trust me you'll see....take a nice breather too, seriously just a game buddy.
ViciousVariable @ Oct 26th 2006 6:56PM
Pince - http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?fs=1&id=2663
then search for the wii trailer.
this seems to be a more accurate video of the wii experience. No jumping, dancing, or couch hiding. If the tv w/ people playing footage is real, it looks interesting. I'd personally rent it before I buy it (like I would with all Wii games) to see how it turns out, but it could be fun.
rubaiyat @ Oct 26th 2006 7:04PM
>9. OTAM, if you want some Hulk action, pick up Ultimate Destruction. Bruce Banner is in Alliance, but Activision couldn't use the Hulk because friggin' Vivendi owns the license for that character.
>That's what happens when you spread IP across multiple publishers.
Well, Marvel looks like they are getting their IP's under their own movie studio...likely to make an Avengers movie down the line. Antman, Ironman, Hulk, Thor, Captain America...
Maybe they will do the same thing for their assets in the gaming community.
Hinkmania @ Oct 26th 2006 7:34PM
The Ultimate Avengers animated movies should have been done with the CG that they used for this game rather than the mid grade animation that they used.
WatTsu @ Oct 26th 2006 11:46PM
Yep, will probably get this for some platform at some point. X-Men Legends 2 was pretty fun, so I imagine that a game that expands its focus to characters I'm slightly fonder of will be quite something.
Spybreak @ Oct 27th 2006 2:02AM
"The opening cinematic by Blur Studios is perhaps the finest I have witnessed in a videogame"
Yea Blur does own, I mean they seriously have skill. I've loved everything that they've done and yea I'll prob get this for Christmas or so, got enough games for now.^^
Milquetoast @ Oct 27th 2006 1:59AM
Are you kidding? I played this game today and I hated it. And I love Xmen Legends/Legends 2. This awesome AI? Play the game, and let your team get up to a boss and watch what happens...oh, let's see, your team clumps up against him and just rails him with punches. I fought two bosses today and the same thing happened both times. It's disgusting. Did I never notice it happening on Legends? I guess not. Plus it seems as if the enemies are tougher (or maybe your punches and stuff sound lamer) and take more hits to kill. I liked playing as Cap though.
Maybe after the helicarrier level the game stops sucking. I don't know.
derrick @ Oct 27th 2006 9:10AM
I tried picking it up at my local TRU to take advantage of their 3 for 2 deal but they were sold out. I'm hunting for it today. I'm a huge comics fan so I can't wait. Plus my gf finally said she'd try playing games with me and I figure the coop mode will be a good fit to ease her in.
tiger @ Oct 27th 2006 11:26AM
i agree with milquetoast on some points.
the team AI is atrocious, which sucks because there's some really cool team dynamics that just arent used effectively by the CPU. strategy is out the window here, they just kind of mob enemies with melee attacks and are reluctant to use buffs etc. in the end it's still playable because you can switch up and make them do want you want. but it can be frustrating, especially if you want to stick to your favorite character.
there's some power level inconsistancies that dont make sense, like when colossus struggles to wrestle a shield from AIM goons. this is colossus, who lifts tanks. against AIM soldiers, whos power is apparently limited to wear buckets on their heads.
also, i didnt appreciate purchasing this game to use "120 of your favorite characters" then finding out i can only pick from like 12 or so at the start (moon knight? WTF?).
i'm a huge fan of Marvel IP's, so this game still appeals to me. if you liked the two similar xmen titles you'll enjoy it. still, it falls short in some areas.
Hinkmania @ Oct 27th 2006 11:49AM
There's an easy way to combat the lackluster AI, get some friends and if they play poorly, that's not exactly the games fault. :P
BJH @ Nov 6th 2006 8:37AM
I'm having trouble playing this game on Xbox. Everytime I try to change a costume at the SHIELD ACCESS POINT, it tells me I can "only change costumes at a SHIELD ACCESS POINT" I've tried multiple SAPs with no luck. Also got caught on an endless elevator ride during the OMEGA BASE RESCUE Mission. Anyone else have this problem?
tai0316 @ Nov 8th 2006 11:08PM
I've been having having the outfit problem all night everytime I try to change it says I can only change at an access point which is exactly where I am. What am I doing wrong?
Chris @ Nov 13th 2006 5:55PM
I got stuck with that "you can only change outfits at a SHIELD access point".. I figured it out. When you are at the access point, enter the "change team" menu. Then select your character and go to his or her details page. Then you will be able to change it. Then just push accept and continue the game, or save it.