Marvel Ultimate Alliance Xbox 360 Preview by PureEgo

Game developer Raven Software and publisher Activision are teaming up to bring the comic book universe to life with their newest Xbox 360 title Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are teaming up to save the planet from the greatest threat they have ever faced. Doctor Doom has created a coalition with the most powerful super villains in the world. This group is known as “The Masters of Evil” and together they plan to take over the world.

From that point players will be thrust into the Marvel Universe where they can choose to play from the largest cast of super heroes ever featured in a game. There will be over one hundred and forty playable characters to choose from in this online RPG. Fan favorites such as Spiderman, the X-men, and the Avengers are a few of the heroes that will be making an appearance. Aside from standard punching and kicking attacks, each character has their own unique superpowers to smash their enemies with. You can also combine power attacks with other teammates to do extreme damage to the unfortunate villain that you have targeted.

Once you have selected your own character, players can create their own super squads with up to twenty of your friends on Xbox live and then set out to save the universe. Action is going to be the driving force behind this one, but there are some role-playing elements being included as well. As players progress through the game they will be able to level-up their characters’ abilities and powers. This can be done on an individual basis or configured so that the entire team will level-up together to keep the gameplay amongst friends well-balanced.

One of the most interesting features that this title has to offer is the freedom it gives players in the comic book world. After you have formed your dream teams and start off in the game, everything that happens is based on what your group does. There will be no set storyline that unfolds as you progress through the world. This means that the future of the Marvel Universe is entirely in the hands of you and your friends. An added dynamic to this setup is that each team will able to compare their team and world against the teams of other video gamers in the world.

What’s it all About?

Marvelâ„¢: Ultimate Alliance is an all-new action/RPG where players create their Marvel dream team from the largest roster of Super Heroes ever in an epic quest that will determine the fate of Earth and the Marvel universe. For decades, Earth’s Super Heroes have opposed evil in their own cities, and on their own terms. But now, Dr. Doom and a newly reformed Masters of Evil have plans for world domination, and the heroes must band together to defeat them.

Playing as some of the most revered Marvel characters, gamers will embark on a dangerous journey across exotic terrain and well-known comic book locations like Atlantis, the Shield Heli-Carrier and the Skrull home world in an attempt to defy the world’s most notorious Super Villains. Created by Raven Software, Marvelâ„¢: Ultimate Alliance lets players control the most powerful Super Hero alliance the world has ever known.

Gameplay Features

• Assemble your Super Heroes – Create the ultimate dream team and dynamically switch team members, starting with 20 playable Marvel Super Heroes, and unlocking even more as you progress. Experience the full scale of the Marvel universe with a combined cast of over 140 characters.
• Customize your team - Use a universal team upgrade system or customize each individual member for maximum effectiveness. Total team customization means a vast selection of power-boosting equipment, a unique team name and team icon, and an established team reputation as the story progresses.
• Change the course of the game –The missions you accept, and the objectives that you meet, will have a direct impact on how the story plays out. At the end, see how your choices changed the fate of the Marvel universe. 
• Fight in no-holds-barred combat . With dynamic combat capabilities, you can now fight while airborne, on the ground, and even underwater! A host of combat tactics include grappling, charge attacks and a destructible environment, where everyday objects can become dangerous weapons.
• Cooperate or compete online . Play the entire story from beginning to end individually or with up to 3 of your friends. Switch between cooperative and competitive mode to partner with or challenge up to three other players. Online multiplayer supports 1-4 people.
• Unique comic book missions that are unlocked throughout the game will reenact legendary Marvel battles.
• Over 17 exotic locales take the player around the world, out of the universe and back again.

Game Media

Game Info and Resources

• Developer: Ravensoft
• Publisher: Activison
• Official: http://www.marvelultimatealliance.com/index.php
• Release Date: November 2006
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Xbox 360 Screenshots

Our Say – Final Thoughts

As a long-time comic book fanatic, I am anxiously and impatiently awaiting the release of this title. This is probably the largest effort ever put into a game based on Marvel characters. Sure there have been some great super hero games in the past but there has been nothing to can compare to this. Not one or two or even four heroes in a game but one hundred and forty! That is a staggering number of characters to choose from and is sure to have video gamers frothing at the mouth in anticipation. There are sure to be some very unusual rosters in the various super groups that players can from but let’s face it. Everyone who has every read a comic book has always had their personal dreams about which heroes they would like to see working together. Here’s the chance to make those dreams a digital reality!

The online aspect of this game is the other feature that really got my attention. An MMORPG about super heroes has never been attempted before. I’m very curious to see exactly what the plot line of this online comic will be like. Is there ever going to be a point where our super squads have vanquished the bad guys once and for all and the game is over? Or will Activision keep a steady supply of new material and missions available for players to download on Xbox live? I’m hoping for the latter to happen, but if it doesn’t I’m sure players will be more than ready to start over with an entirely different group of characters and see what they could do different in the game from their first time through. One thing is for sure is that no comic book fan will want to miss the ultimate comic book experience this fall. It also looks like there will be plenty of reason for your average video gamer to give this title a try as well.

Written by XBS Previewer Pure Ego.

Filed under: Previews • Xbox 360

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