Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Marvel Ultimate Alliance | |
---|---|
Vicarious Visions Alchemy | |
Platform(s) | |
Release | October 24, 2006 |
Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a 2006
Ultimate Alliance is set within the fictional Marvel Universe and features many of the superheroes, supervillains, and supporting characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. It shares many similarities with Raven Software's previous Marvel titles, X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, in that it allows players to select from its vast cast to create the ultimate superhero team. The game features an original plot in which the heroes of the Marvel Universe must join forces to defeat Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil and foil their plans for global domination.
Upon release, the game was met with largely positive reviews from critics, who praised its simple but entertaining gameplay, and its impressive selection of Marvel characters. A sequel,
Gameplay
Consoles, PC and PSP
Players can select teams of four from a range of more than twenty-two
Each character also has a variety set of four alternate costumes that offer different advantages, with the latter three costumes must be unlocked through specific conditions. Some of the costumes change the character's appearance to that of a different Marvel Universe, including Iron Man as War Machine, Thor as Beta Ray Bill, Spider-Woman as Spider-Girl and Julia Carpenter from Secret Wars, Ghost Rider as Phantom Rider, and Ms. Marvel as Sharon Ventura.
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are virtually identical, with no major differences. Both platforms include Colossus, Moon Knight, and five additional comic book missions. Activision released eight additional downloadable characters on the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Marketplace on April 26, 2007 in a set of packs: a Hero Pack, consisting of
The Wii version has a few features unique to itself including specific motion-sensitive controls for normal moves, motion-sensitive controlled special attacks (the attacks are unique for each character, but not the motions), and access to any special move at any time. This version contains no online play but has a local multiplayer mode in which up to four players may play at once. It also features the characters
While the graphics are virtually identical to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the PC version is customizable, and many characters (including those who are exclusive to specific versions) and their modifications can be obtained from community sites for play within the game.[8] The PC version's graphics vary depending on the customization of a user's settings. The PC version also features "intuitive mouse controls" and works with a gamepad.[9] A number of custom characters (including Jean Grey, Psylocke, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Vision, Dazzler, and Punisher) are available.[8]
The re-release version of the game which came to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows via Steam is solely based on Xbox 360’s Gold Edition. However, the re-release was initially released with the contents which were exclusive to seventh-generation consoles (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii), but without the DLC featured originally on Xbox 360. On August 30, 2016, an update was released on these three systems which contained the eight downloadable characters previously featured on the Xbox 360.
The PSP version features simplified graphics, different characters, and extra features including the four exclusive playable Marvel characters
Game Boy Advance
The Game Boy Advance version of Ultimate Alliance features significant differences from the other console versions. Most notably, the basic gameplay takes the form of a 2D side-scrolling beat’em up game with minor RPG elements, such as the ability to alter the player characters' stats. The graphics are simplified for this system and the selection of characters has also been reduced. Some additional gameplay modes were added to this version of the game including a S.H.I.E.L.D. Simulator, Time Challenges, Scavenger Hunts, and a Survival mode.[13] Teams for this port consist of three characters and a non-playable fourth character called a "striker", who can be summoned to perform a powerful attack directed toward on-screen enemies.[13]
Plot
The game begins with Doctor Doom and the Masters of Evil launching an attack on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier U.N.N. Alpha. Nick Fury sends out a distress call to all available superheroes for assistance. Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor and Wolverine respond to the call. Along with the other heroes, they save the Helicarrier from the forces led by Scorpion, Bullseye, Winter Soldier, Radioactive Man, and Fin Fang Foom. In the wake of the attack, Nick Fury is given permission to start a task force to confront the Masters of Evil and Iron Man allows them to use Stark Tower as their headquarters.[14]
Fury asks the heroes to investigate an odd message received from Dum Dum Dugan on the Omega Base, a S.H.I.E.L.D. mobile research facility. The team defeats supervillains MODOK, Crimson Dynamo, and Mysterio as well as A.I.M. Agents and failed Super Soldier experiments to prevent the Omega Base from crashing into a dam and launching several gamma bombs.
With their mission successful, the heroes travel to Atlantis, where the inhabitants are being mind-controlled by
They then travel to the Valley of Spirits to confront Mandarin in his palace. After his defeat, he reveals that he attempted to take command of the Masters of Evil and, upon failing, left the group. He suggests that the Mandarin they saw in the catacombs was actually Loki, Thor's adoptive brother and the god of mischief.[16]
Upon returning to base, the team learns that
Victorious, the heroes learn that Doctor Doom has used Nightcrawler to access
Meanwhile, in Asgard, a massive army of Super Soldiers attacks and imprisons the
Uatu reveals that Doom's unrestricted use of Odin's power will eventually destroy the universe and that the only way to defeat him is to acquire a piece of the
The team is sent to the Shi'ar Empire where they fight Deathbird and the Imperial Guard in order to restore Lilandra Neramani to the throne and gain a portion of the M'Kraan Crystal. After retrieving the crystal, the heroes travel to the Skrull homeworld. With the help of the Silver Surfer, the heroes disable Galactus and steal the Muonic Inducer.
Meanwhile, Doctor Doom conquers Earth, killing, corrupting and creating clones of many of the heroes who attempted but failed to stop him, such as Colossus and Cyclops. In a final effort, the team travels to Latveria to confront Doom. The heroes use the M'Kraan Crystal and Muonic Inducer to weaken Doom. As the heroes weaken Doom, he is blasted by a bolt of lightning sent by a rejuvenated Odin, leaving nothing but his mask behind.
As the heroes meet on the repaired Helicarrier, Fury asks Thor to thank Odin for undoing the damages to which Thor states that Odin is currently busy punishing Doctor Doom and Loki. Fury informs the heroes that the team must disband and asks if S.H.I.E.L.D. can count on them when another threat happens. Captain America assures Nick that the world can count on them.[20]
Meanwhile, Galactus vows revenge on the heroes who stole from him and plans to destroy Earth.
Characters
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance features over 140 characters, including playable characters, bosses, and other non-player characters.[21] The primary version of the game developed by Raven Software version features 23 default playable characters, with some systems have additional playable characters not present in other versions. However, the Gameboy Advance version features 10 playable characters and 6 striker characters.
- Black Panther[i]
- Black Widow[ii]
- Blade
- Captain America
- Captain Marvel[ii]
- Colossus[iii]
- Cyclops[iv]
- Daredevil[i]
- Deadpool
- Doctor Doom[iv]
- Doctor Strange[v]
- Elektra
- Ghost Rider[v]
- Hawkeye[ii][iv]
- Human Torch[i]
- Hulk[iv]
- Iceman
- Invisible Woman[i]
- Iron Man[v]
- Luke Cage[i]
- Magneto[iv]
- Mister Fantastic[i]
- Moon Knight[iii]
- Ms. Marvel
- Nick Fury[i]
- Nightcrawler[iv]
- Jean Grey[vi][v]
- Ronin[ii]
- Sabretooth[iv]
- Silver Surfer[v]
- Spider-Man
- Spider-Woman[i]
- Storm[i]
- Thing
- Thor
- Venom[iv]
- Wolverine
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Not playable in the Game Boy Advance version
- ^ a b c d Exclusive to the PSP version
- ^ a b Exclusive to the 7th-generation console (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii) and the 2016 re-released versions
- ^ a b c d e f g h Exclusive to the Xbox 360 Latest Editions and the 2016 re-released versions
- ^ a b c d e f Striker in Game Boy Advance version
- ^ a b Exclusive to Game Boy Advance version
Development and marketing
Most versions of Ultimate Alliance were developed using
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was first released on October 24, 2006 in North America. Regional releases followed throughout 2006 and 2007. The standard edition of Ultimate Alliance was also released as a companion with Forza Motorsport 2 in specially marked Xbox 360 consoles in 2007.[30] The Gold Edition of the game was released on May 22, 2007 exclusively for the Xbox 360. This version included the two DLC packs available at the time.[31] A 2016 version was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows on July 26, 2016.[32] In July 2018, the remaster of the game, along with the re-released sequel, were removed due to licensing issues from Activision. The game is currently not available to buy and download from either console or PC marketplaces, unless the user already bought the game.[33][34][35]
Reception and awards
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
1Up.com | B−[50] |
Game Informer | 9.25/10[51] |
GameSpot | 8.3/10[52] |
IGN | 8.1/10[53] |
Official Xbox Magazine (US) | 9.0/10[54] |
Publication | Award |
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GameSpot | Best Use of a Creative License in 2006[55] |
Wizard magazine | Video Game of the Year[56] |
IGN | Best Story on PlayStation 3 in 2006[57] |
Gaming Target | "52 Games We'll Still Be Playing From 2006" selection[58] |
Reviews for Raven and Vicarious Visions' version of Marvel Ultimate Alliance received generally favorable reviews from critics. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions received 78% and 82% at GameRankings,[42][39] and 78/100 and 82/100 at Metacritic, respectively.[46][49] The Windows version received an 83% at GameRankings and 82/100 at Metacritic.[37][44] GameRankings' scores for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii and Xbox versions were 82%, 82%, 74%, and 83%,[36][38][40][41] while Metacritic scored those same consoles 81/100, 81/100, 73/100 and 83/100, respectively.[43][45][47][48]
Several reviewers praised the character cast,
The Game Boy Advance version received the poorest reception. GameSpot thought poorly of the game, calling "uninteresting and sloppy", and rating the game a 2.5/10 "terrible".[59] IGN also disliked the game, giving it a 2.0/10. Reviewer Chris Adams stated: "Everything is awful. From sprites to backgrounds to effects, it shames the Marvel license".[60] Gamer 2.0 gave the game an 8.1/10, however, citing a large number of bonus missions and unlockables as incentive to play.[61]
Sequels
A sequel to Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was announced by Activision on February 8, 2008. It was released in North America on September 15, 2009,
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order was announced at The Game Awards on December 6, 2018. The game was developed by Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja and published by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch on July 19, 2019.[66] The game is a reboot of the series, set in a different continuity from the first two games, and involves a team of heroes uniting to prevent Thanos and the Black Order from collecting the Infinity Stones.
Notes
- Vicarious Visions ported the Wii and PlayStation Portable versions, and re-release version ported by Zoë Mode. Barking Lizards Technologiesdeveloped Gameboy Advance version.
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Also known as: Marvel Legends, Marvel Comics RPG [working title]
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Re: Acts. There are 3 major acts. Act I = Secret War & Road to Civil War, Act II = Civil War, Act III = the aftermath of Civil War.
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External links
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance at IMDb