MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2 (MUA2) was one of the very first games I got with my PS3 and it was the first one I played, since I'm a big fan of Marvel Comics, have been since I was a wee tot, and I still collect a few of them to this day. Having no prior experience to judge it against, I liked it well enough at the time and enjoyed playing through it a second time, as the game more or less requires this to complete the story. However, I never finished it the second time. Partly because I played it on Legendary difficulty (the hardest setting) which, towards the end became extremely difficult to beat some of the boss battles, and partly because, well, I started getting bored with it. Despite the many things to do in the game, the different story paths, the number of characters and the variety of mini-games, etc., I just found myself losing interest and wanting to play other games I had sitting on my shelf. That's not to say this is a boring game - it just depends on what you're in to. I'd say it's more of a mixed bag. Some good, some bad. But let's start first with.....
THE GOOD: In a nutshell, there's a lot to do in this game. On the surface, this seems like a pretty straight-forward, role-playing, hero smash-down, using the iconic characters (and many lesser-knowns) from the Marvel Comics Universe. But once you get into the game it soon becomes apparent that there's more to it than you'd first suspect. The first and most noticeable layer of depth the game has going for it is that the main storyline is split into 2 separate, playable paths, each of which requires a separate and full play-through of the game to experience. This has to do with the basic plot of the game, which deals with the hero and villain communities alike being divded between and amongst themselves due to a political agenda. Think of it as Democrats vs. Republicans for superheroes, but it serves its' purpose. Next would be all of the various combinations of super-powered attacks that you can employ. Not only does each character have their own repertoire of super-powered attacks beyond 'punch' & 'heavy punch' but by combining the powers of the various characters in any myriad of combinations, you also form powered 'fusions' to attack your enemies with in any of 4 basic but impressive and dazzling ways. But it's not just the attacks that have depth to them, due to the sheer number of characters in the game, and depending on who you're playing at the time, you can answer questions differently in the sections where you encounter and talk to major players in the game. The end result always ends up being the same, but it's interesting to hear how each character talks to the next. Additionally, there's the option to unlock different costumes for each character (some of which are very cool, some of which are not ), upgrade each character's strength, power and stamina, and of course, swap characters in and out at will. In addition to everything pertaining to the characters, there are mini-training missions you can send your characters on, Trivia games you can play regarding the Marvel universe, and of course, items to find and collect. It's essentially a role-playing game with an action / adventure element, set to the backdrop of the world of Marvel superheroes, so it can be a very fun and at times challenging game to play at times. But then there are the 'other' times.....
THE BAD : Unfortunately, what is best about this game is also what is worst about it - there's a LOT to it. Almost too much. Too many characters to play, too many possible combinations of fusions, too many costumes to try & get, too many upgrades (because there's ones for each character), too many trivia questions and just too much to try and do in 2 playthroughs, because, as I mentioned previously, after 2 playthroughs, I was pretty much 'over' this game. And it's a shame because it's not a bad game; just a little overwhelming. Take, for instance, the characters themselves. There's just too many of them. Yeah, sure, this is Marvel comics and their universe and as we all know, it's called a 'universe' for a reason. But it seems like there's just too many characters to play like Songbird, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, She-Hulk and others. Add to that, that you can play a good bit of the villains too (this has to do with the overall plot), plus the fact that some major Marvel names are nowhere to be found (Cyclops , anyone?) and it just feels like way too much. Even the trophies / achievements feel like there are just too many. At just under 60 trophies or achievements to achieve a Platinum or 100% completion, it feels like way too much. And it's not just that there's too many characters or too much to do. As previously hinted, the game makes some bad choices. As I just noted some major Marvel characters are either not in the game at all or have to be unlocked by finding a number of regular items throughout normal play. Characters like Thor, The Hulk and Jean Grey. These are primary staples of the Marvel Universe, so why are they absent from the get go and only available if you put in the time and effort, when lesser characters litter the map? And tacking right on to the characters themselves are some of the alternate costume choices for them. Some of them are pretty cool, but some, most definitely, are not. I don't want to spoil the surprise for anyone, but there were a few that after achieving the requirement to unlock the costume and seeing what it was, I was quite disappointed and saying to myself " they chose that over ___ !?!?!" In addition to there being 'too much' to the game, and having some bad choices, the game also feels like it has some things added into it for the sake of giving the player more to do, but as I think I've made clear - that just isn't necessary. For example, the trivia mini-games and training missions. With a game that requires two playthroughs and has the sheer number of characters it does, were these things REALLY necessary? They may be fun in a novel sort of way, but they certainly weren't necessary. Not in my book at least.
THE BOTTOM LINE : MUA2 is a pretty decent game, if not very good. The graphics and sound effects are good, the heroes are fun to play and the variety of them works both in the game's favor and against it. If you're into this type of game and especially the Marvel universe, you'll find hours upon hours and many, many playthroughs worth of fun in this. On the other hand, if you're approach to these kinds of games is a little more casual (as I found mine to be), you'll definitely enjoy it, but you'll likely get bored with it after a time. Or at least overwhelmed, which will lead you to being apathetic about it. All in all, I'd recommend you rent or borrow it before you buy it.
(168 customers reviews )Customers Rating=3.5 / 5.0
More Detail For
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2- Demolish and interact with everything in your path. Pummel your enemies by launching crushed cars, lampposts, machinery and anything else you can pick up in your way.
- Create and customize your ultimate team. Assemble your dream team from the Marvel Universe and select from over 24 playable characters, each with specialized powers.
- Cooperate with your ultimate alliance. Take full advantage of the Marvel Universe by playing Cooperative Mode with up to four friends, both online and offline.
- Pick a side in an ideological rift that could yield irreparable consequences for the Super Hero community! Support the pro-registration side and defend national security, or choose to be anti-registration and fight for personal liberties.
- Combine Super Hero powers for devastating results to create the over 250 unique fusion powers that arm you with an unimaginable arsenal for unprecedented battles.
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