Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Raven Software (PS2, Xbox, PS3, Xbox 360) Vicarious Visions (PSP, Wii) Beenox Studios (PC) Barking Lizards Technologies (Game Boy Advance) |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Engine | Vicarious Visions Alchemy |
| Platform(s) | PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360, Game Boy Advance, Wii |
| Release date(s) | Xbox NA October 24, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Action RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T, E10+ (GBA) |
| Media | CD, BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, UMD, GBA flash cartridge,Wii Optical Disc |
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an action role-playing game released in 2006. It is set within the fictional Marvel Universe and features many of the superheroes, supervillains, and supporting characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
Players can select teams of four from a range of more than twenty-two playable characters (although some characters are not initially available and need to be unlocked), allowing them to create their own superhero teams or recreate famous teams from the publications. Bonuses are also available if forming certain groups (e.g. the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights). The game also has alternative endings, dictated by the number of optional missions the player completes. Also included are trivia, artwork, and "simulator discs", which unlock non-story related missions for characters. Each character also has a variety of costumes that offer different advantages.
[edit] Game Boy Advance
Ultimate Alliance has been altered for the Game Boy Advance port and has become a side-scrolling fighting game with minor RPG elements, such as the ability to alter your characters' stats. The graphics are simplified for this system and the selection of characters has also been reduced. Some additional gameplay modes were added into this version of the game including a S.H.I.E.L.D. Simulator, Time Challenges, Scavenger Hunts, and a Survival mode. Teams for this port consist of three characters and a striker, a non-playable fourth character who can be summoned to perform a powerful attack directed toward on-screen enemies.
[edit] PC
The PC version is customizable, and many characters (including those exclusive to all other versions) and their skins can be obtained from modding sites for play within the game.[1] The PC version's graphics vary depending on the customization of a user's settings. The PC version also features "intuitive mouse controls" [2] and works with a gamepad. A number of custom characters (for example Iron Fist, Jean Grey, War Machine, and Punisher) are also available.
[edit] PlayStation Portable
The PSP version features simplified graphics, different characters, and extra features including the four exclusive playable Marvel characters Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Hawkeye, and Ronin. Other things unique to this version are 6 exclusive comic book missions including one which contained Swordsman, an exclusive prequel mission, and three exclusive single-player gameplay modes. Added features include online play, microphone support (voice chat), and online-recordable player statistics.
[edit] Wii
The Wii version has a few features unique to its version including specific motion-sensitive controls for normal moves, motion-sensitive controlled special attacks (which are unique for each character), and access to any special move at any time. This version contains no online play but has a normal multiplayer mode in which up to four players may play at once. It also features the characters Colossus and Moon Knight, as well as five additional comic book missions.
[edit] PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
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 like the Wii. The standard edition of Ultimate Alliance was also released as a companion with Forza Motorsport 2 in specially marked Xbox 360 consoles in 2007.
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 Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Hawkeye, and the Hulk, and a Villain Pack, which includes Magneto, Sabretooth, Venom, and a playable Doctor Doom, for 500 Microsoft Points (MSP) each. Both packs are also available in a bundle pack for 800 MSP, which also adds 12 new achievements to the game.[3] The Gold Edition was released for the Xbox 360 in May 2007 which includes the standard game bundled with all downloadable content.[4] The Platinum Hits version was released for the Xbox 360 in September 2007. The set includes all the Gold Edition of the game and a bonus DVD.[5]
[edit] PlayStation 2 and Xbox
The PlayStation 2 version of the game has the same features as the next-gen versions of the game, albeit without Colossus, Moon Knight and the five bonus simulator missions. In August 2007, a Greatest Hits version was released which included a bonus DVD containing a making-of featurette.
The Xbox version of the game has no changes from the standard PlayStation 2 edition, however, a community-based modification has been released which adds Gambit, Hulk, Iron Fist, Moon Knight, and War Machine (Iron Man's third outfit being replaced by another costume) to the game.[6]
[edit] Plot
A group of Marvel superheroes—guided by S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury—battle the group of super villains known as the Masters of Evil, who are led by master villain Doctor Doom. Doom has his own agenda and plans to steal the power of the ruler of the Asgardians, Odin.
Missions cover a range of various locations from the Marvel universe, including the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier U.N.N. Alpha, Stark Tower, Atlantis, Sanctum Sanctorum, Murderworld, Asgard, the Skrull throneworld, and Castle Doom in Latveria.
[edit] Characters
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance features over 140 characters[7], and in addition the heroes battle evil versions of both themselves and other heroes throughout the game.
| Heroes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Initially Playable Characters | Unlockable Characters | ||
| System-Exclusive Characters | |||
| PSP | Downloadable for Xbox 360 | GBA Only | |
| Villains | |||
[edit] Development
 |
This section requires expansion. |
[edit] Reception and Awards
| Reception | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
This section requires expansion. |
Marvel Ultimate Alliance received good reviews from critics. Its highest rating from IGN was an 8.2 for the Xbox 360 and PC versions. However, the Gameboy Advance version received poor reviews.[16]
[edit] Awards
- GameSpot Award Best Use of a Creative License in 2006[17]
- Video Game of the Year award from Wizard Magazine[18]
- IGN Award for Best Story on PlayStation 3 in 2006[19]
- Gaming Target - "52 Games We'll Still Be Playing From 2006" selection[20]
[edit] Sequel
A sequel to Marvel Ultimate Alliance was announced by Activision on February 8, 2008. On February 5, 2009, a new trailer was released, revealing that the story would continue from the Secret War saga into Marvel Comic's Civil War.[21] The North American release date will be in fall of 2009.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Additional Characters for Marvel Ultimate Alliance PC". http://marvelmods.com/forum/index.php?topic=399.0.
- ^ Marvel: Ultimate Alliance official site[dead link]
- ^ "Activision to Release New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Heroes and Villains on Xbox Live Marketplace". http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/marvelultimatealliance/news.html?sid=6167963. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
- ^ "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gold Edition". IGN. http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/objects/908/908243.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
- ^ "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance". GameFaqs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/data/932586.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Xbox Special Edition Mod Released". marvelmods.com. http://marvelmods.com/forum/index.php?topic=259.0. Retrieved on 01-12-09.
- ^ "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Game Info". Marvel Comics. http://mua1.marvelultimatealliance.com/game_info.php. Retrieved on 07-16-09.
- ^ "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance". MetaCritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbx/marvelultimatealliance. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance". http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/932587-marvel-ultimate-alliance/index.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-28publisher=GameRankings.
- ^ Sharkey, Scott (2006-11-07). "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3155010. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ Reiner, Andrew. "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY". Game Informer. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/6AFF8814-0EAC-4E65-B0C3-495ADA591E55.htm. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ Davis, Ryan (2006-10-30). "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/rpg/marvelultimatealliance/review.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ Goldstein, Hilary (2006-10-26). "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Review". IGN. http://xbox.ign.com/articles/741/741752p1.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Official Xbox Magazine" (Holiday 2005). page 82
- ^ Beatty, D’Marcus. "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Review - The X-men Legends series mutates further". Cheat Code Central. http://cheatcc.com/xb/rev/marvelultimatealliancereview.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ Marvel: Ultimate Alliance for Game Boy Advance
- ^ "Best and Worst of 2006: Best Use of a Creative License". Gamespot. 2006-12-18. http://www.gamespot.com/video/0/6163372. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "Wizard Magazine" (Issue #183)
- ^ "PlayStation 3: Best Story - Marvel: Ultimate Alliance". Gamespot. 2006-12-18. http://bestof.ign.com/2006/ps3/26.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
- ^ "52 Games We'll Still Be Playing From 2006: Part 2". gamingtarget.com. http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=6370. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
- ^ "MUA2 Trailer". http://kotaku.com/5147274/marvel-ultimate-alliance-2-fusion-trailer.
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- MarvelDatabase:Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
- IMDB Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (2006) (VG)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
