Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

Written by Joe Comunale  on August 31, 2006

First Impressions: Like Thanksgiving dinner at Stan Lee's houseЕ

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What happens when you mix the web-slinging Peter Parker with the Fantastic Four? Raven Software's forthcoming project, which is dubbed Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Paying homage to Marvel's many comic book heroes and villains of past and present, Ultimate Alliance pits an unimaginable number of characters into one huge mess.

In fact, УhugeФ may be an understatement, as the game features 140 unique characters. Captain America, The Thing, The Silver Surfer, Thor and The Human Torch are but a few names that make up the game's star-studded lineup. Of course, perennial figures such as Spider-Man and Wolverine are included as well. In addition, expect plenty of notable villains to make a cameo at some point in the game, from the big name bad guys to the lesser known antagonists. You'll encounter many of them in the form of mini-bosses. To combat Marvel's extensive list of foes, you'll be able to control 24 of the game's mutant-birthed figures, each one complete with signature powers and multiple ensembles. The alternate costumes are acquired by progressing through the storyline as well as reaching certain in-game goals. While you may think these are simply aesthetic upgrades, the alternate costumes actually come with enhanced attributes.

The game's premise bears many similarities to X-Men Legends. You command a team of four characters, and your team can be given a name and logo of your choice. The combat in Ultimate Alliance is a mщlange of combo-based melee combat and mini-games. The mini-games add yet another RPG element to the game (on top of the ability to augment your attributes and decide which road the game's story takes) and help to add some diversity to the action. Naturally, there are super powers too, which display the heroes' signature abilities, and most are deeper than simply pointing and shooting. Instead, signature moves can be controlled in real-time, letting players get more in-depth with their abilities.

Raven Software is evidently focused on tapping into the system's visual capabilities. The lighting effects play a prominent piece in displaying the many awe-inspiring special abilities. Considering the few glimpses we've seen thus far, the game should provide a wide range of graphical treats, from the realistic water effects as well as other detailed lighting effects. No Marvel comic is complete without extremely supernatural qualities, and the game's massive number of characters onscreen simultaneously should provide for an interesting visual feast.

The levels display an impressive balance of old-world designs with more futuristic locales. Each area is fairly spacious, which is welcomed considering the game will play heavily on supporting a whole barrage of characters at once. In fact, players will be happy to know that they can team up with friends, as the game supports four-player co-op play both online and offline. Whether playing with or against friends, the game keeps track of numerous statistical categories and ranks players in various ways.