E3 2006 First Look Preview
Marvel:
Ultimate Alliance is the latest action/RPG from Activision. Much in the vein of
the great X-Men: Legends franchise, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance features intense
multiplayer action and very meticulous attention to the comics on which it’s
based. However, since it marks the first Marvel game on next-gen consoles,
Activision is going all-out with Ultimate Alliance, featuring a whopping 140
characters (super-heroes and super-villains alike) from the Marvel Universe, the
largest roster of superheroes ever in a video game. You’ll get to select a team
from over 20 playable characters from all corners of the Marvel dynasty, from
Spider-Man, Captain America and Wolverine to Blade, Ghost Rider and The Thing.
The Marvel universe is gearing up to hit the next console generation in style
with the most comprehensive superhero action game to date.
While
the game does feature an obscene amount of characters from around the Marvel
canon, the attention to detail is great, giving each character their just due.
They will have their own unique special abilities and attitudes, from
Spider-Man’s joking attitude to Captain America’s stoicism to Wolverine’s
badass-ness.
The
special abilities are also quite unique to the characters in the game. For
example, Spider-Man was quite proficient with his webbing, being able to hang
enemies from the ceiling and whip around the field with his web and so on. Ghost
Rider could chuck enemies into the air and then use his chains to slam them down
onto the ground, which was a great touch.
The
game will take players through a variety of different areas from the Marvel
universe, like Atlantis, and pits you against tons of super-villains from
comicdom. The choices that you make while playing through the missions will have
a bearing on the outcome of the game, kind of like a ripple effect. The
story-arc will be different depending on how you play through a given situation,
giving the game a very dynamic feel.
As I
stated earlier, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an action/RPG game that plays out
very similarly to the X-Men: Legends games. However, whereas the X-Men: Legends
titles were pretty much all done as top down games, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
gives you a bit more control over the camera, even being able to rotate it to
the side of your team.
One of
the highlights in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is the online play, which offers
competitive co-op. Basically, the competitive co-op mode means that even though
you and your online buddy are working together, you’re still fighting over
things like experience points and kills and trying to get more than your
teammate, playing basketball the Wilt Chamberlain way, so to speak.
Graphically the game is looking very nice, as the game was demoed on PS3
hardware. The game will feature dynamic lighting effects, realistic shadows and
other great perks. The character models were also quite impressive and moved
very fluidly, thanks to next-gen abilities. Details were pretty scant on what
the current gen or handheld versions would feature.
Marvel:
Ultimate Alliance is shaping up to be a very impressive game that not only does
the superheroes on which it’s based justice, but should also put all other
Marvel-based action/RPGs to shame with an unprecedented amount of depth. Look
for it to hit this fall.
