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Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Hands On

Published By: Sam Prescott On: 22/09/2009 10:00

AT A GLANCE

"What is stronger? Adamantium or spider's web?"

The Good: A great use of the Marvel license, showing care and consideration.

The Bad: The action may have quite a short shelf-life.

The Ugly: Waiting for a half an hour to play because of its popularity.

By Sam Prescott

I really should have played this on day one, when GCA 2009 was open exclusively to the media, but there were too many engaging speakers I wanted to see. No matter, after waiting patiently by the New Era stand (the Asian distributors for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2) I was able to get some hands-on time with the title.

NZGamer.com published an eyes-on after E3, but this is the first time we've actually been able to play it. It released elsewhere in the world on 15 September, just a few days ago, and its popularity here at GCA is obvious. Today is Student's Day, and the line to get some time at the single controller is large and in charge.

In the opening cutscene, Marvel heavy weights Wolverine, Spider Man, Captain America and Iron Man are breaking into a supervillain stronghold in "Latveria," punching out or cutting down hapless guards so they can bust up a security system and ensure they can assault Castle Doom unmolested.

You'll control these four characters from the first, as their quest to break down the growing evil empires of the world. Cast together, they get along for the purposes of the greater good, but there is still no love lost between some of the characters. Touches like this ensure a deeper story than your classic good smashes evil plot. Licensed games like this one are famous for being too shallow, but I think the MUA2 will give true fans what they're after.

That continues in terms of the game's art, which is pretty spectacular. MUA2 is an action-RPG, viewed top down so some parts of the landscape haven't had to be that detailed. That said, the levels are well designed, and where the visuals really shine are in the magic cutscenes and the effects of powered attacks.

You can switch between characters as you like, and each one has completely unique attacks. While pressing a LT and A or B together will give a different result character to character - Captain America throws his shield like a boomerang, while Iron Man shoots fireballs - the fact that the controls are identical for each makes the action very accessible. In a title like this, who wants things to be overly complex? The arcade feel of this game is part of what makes it good.

I must say a big part of the enjoyment for me was the fusion attacks. Characters can team up together for devastating effect against their enemies. For example, Iron Man can use Wolverine's claws to reflect fire based attacks, which peel out in an even radius. Your only job once you get it started is to keep it going by button bashing on A, to give it more power. Some of the others are going to be great fun to discover, especially when new characters are unlocked.

Of course you're not stuck with the above four. Gambit's in there, the Hulk, everyone's favourites are coming out to play. You can build your team as you like, and make sure they are boosted with a range of experience based add-ons. This will no doubt extend the life of the title a great deal.

I played until a little after the first boss - Electro. While the general minions in the game are fairly easy to break down, Electro took some real bashing. It was here I got to try pretty much everything the characters had in their arsenal. For a first boss, he was actually pretty tough, so it will be interesting to see just how difficult they get.

It's all looking very promising, and with the game already moving overseas, we should be able to give you a Kiwi review shortly.

NZGamer.com's coverage at GCA 2009 is brought to you courtesy of Leipziger Messe.

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NZGamer.com - Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Hands On

COMMENTS (5)

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On 22 September 2009, 10:17AM Posted by twisterjamz

woot nice preview, sounds like same team at the start of the first MUA for this one, can't wait till friday as i got this preordered woot

On 22 September 2009, 06:28PM Posted by ChatterboxZombie

'parently this sh*ts buggier than spidermans underwear

On 22 September 2009, 07:09PM Posted by SpawnSeekSlay

These Marvel games get boring rather fast.. I see the same future for MUA2 :(

On 29 September 2009, 12:38AM Posted by Vicx

LOL at chatterbox's comment hahahahaa

On 1 October 2009, 08:15PM Posted by J-Deezy

for me, and i think for a lot of other people, i like games that involve comic book characters, no matter how bad they are lol its just in my blood, ill buy it for the ability to have 4-player co-op though :) haha love Chatterbox's comment :D