Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
| Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Raven Software Vicarious Visions Beenox Studios Barking Lizards Technologies |
| Publisher(s) | Activision, Interchannel (Japan) |
| Engine | Vicarious Visions Alchemy |
| Platform(s) | PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360, Game Boy Advance, Wii |
| Release | Xbox October 24, 2006 October 27, 2006 November 1, 2006PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 & GBA October 24, 2006 November 1, 2006 November 3, 2006PSP October 24, 2006 December 1, 2006December 6, 2006Wii November 14, 2006 December 20, 2006 December 22, 2006 May 17, 2007PS3 November 17, 2006 March 23, 2007 March 23, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Action RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
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.
Story
The heroes must work together to stop Dr. Doom and the group of supervillains known as the Masters of Evil who joined forces in a plan to conquer the world.
The 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; S.H.I.E.L.D. Omega Base; Atlantis; Mandarin's palace; Arcade's Murderworld; Mephisto's realm; Asgard; Attilan; a Shi'ar space vessel; a Skrull world and finally Castle Doom.
Features
Players can select teams of four from a range of more than twenty 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, or 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". The discs unlock non-story related missions for characters and pit them against a variety of villains. Each character also has a variety of costumes that offer various advantages.
Versions
The game is available through several gaming systems.
Game Boy Advance
"Marvel: 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.
Playable characters include Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iceman, Blade, Captain America, Deadpool, Elektra, Ms. Marvel, Thor, & The Thing . Special characters included in the game are Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, Dark Phoenix, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Vision. Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Iceman are the game's starter team but as the game progresses, characters become unlocked as more missions are completed.
PC
The PC version is customizable, and many characters and their skins can be obtained from modding sites for play within the game. Also, the PC version's graphics vary depending on the customization of a user's settings. The PC version also features "intuitive mouse controls" [1] and works with a gamepad.
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.
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. In this version there is no online play, but there is a normal multiplayer mode in which up to four players may play at once. It also features the characters Moon Knight and Colossus.
Xbox 360 and PS3
The Xbox 360 version and the Playstation 3 version are virtually identical, with no major differences apart from the PS3's SIXAXIS controller.
Activision released 8 additional downloadable characters on the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Marketplace on April 26, 2007 in a set of packs: a hero and villain pack, both costing 500 Microsoft points each. However, if desired, the user may download both in a bundle pack, slightly reducing the overall cost of both separate for 800 Microsoft points. Four heroes are included, being Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Hawkeye, and the Hulk. There are also four villains - Magneto, Sabretooth, Venom, and Doctor Doom. [2]
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance: Gold Edition was released for the Xbox 360 on May 22, 2007. [3] It has all eight downloadable heroes and villains that were originally available only on the Xbox 360 through download on Xbox Live. It also includes 12 new Xbox LIVE achievements and exclusive character costumes.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance: Special Edition (Platinum Hits) was released for the Xbox 360 on September 25, 2007. [4] The feature set includes all of the Gold Edition extras and a bonus DVD.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was also released as a companion with Forza 2 in specially marked Xbox 360 consoles during the Christmas season 2007. This release contains a copy of the initially released version of the game.
PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits
On August 19, 2007, a Special Edition Greatest Hits version was released for the PlayStation 2, including the game in its original form and a "bonus" DVD containing a making-of featurette.
Xbox
The Xbox version of the game has no changes from the standard PS2 edition, however, community-based modifications have been released which adds Colossus, Moon Knight, Gambit and Angel to the game. [5]
Characters
| Initially Playable Characters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||
| Unlockable Characters | PSP | Next-Gen consoles (*360 only) |
GBA Only (Non-Playable Striker) | |
| Villains | ||||
Awards
- Received the GameSpot Award Best Use of a Creative License in 2006
- Received the Video Game of the Year award from Wizard Magazine issue 183.
- Received the IGN Award for Best Story on PlayStation 3 in 2006.
- Gaming Target - "52 Games We'll Still Be Playing From 2006" selection. [6]
Sequel
On February 8, 2008, Activision announced a second Marvel: Ultimate Alliance game to be in the works.[7]
References
- ^ Marvel: Ultimate Alliance official site
- ^ "Activision to Release New Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Heroes and Villains on Xbox Live Marketplace". Retrieved 2007-03-27.
- ^ "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gold Edition". IGN. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance". GameFaqs. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Xbox Special Edition Mod Released".
- ^ "52 Games We'll Still Be Playing From 2006: Part 2". gamingtarget.com. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ Activision confirms Bond movie tie-in, new COD, two Guitar Heroes - Xbox 360 News at GameSpot
External links
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance's official site
- MarvelDatabase:Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
- MarvelMods.com Fan-created mods for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and X-Men Legends I & II
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 announced
