Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this action game features dozens of heroes and villains from Marvel Comics. Players guide four heroes through hundreds of bloodless battles as they attempt to save Earth. The fighting is nonstop, but it's mostly presented as comic book fantasy. A couple of cut-scenes show intense sword fights and decapitations of humanoid robots. Players can collect comic books in the game, so expect rah-rah Marvel commercialism. Parents should also be aware that the game has an online mode and that Common Sense doesn't recommend online play for anyone under 12.
Families can talk about the marketing of Marvel characters. Do you like games more when you're into the characters? Are you more likely to buy games or see movies that star your favorite comic book heroes? How often are these games good? How often are you disappointed? What is your favorite combination of heroes and why? Parents will also want to discuss proper online etiquette.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Chris Jozefowicz
Judging by recent releases of both video games and movies, the past few years have been good ones for costumed superheroes. A number of games, including X-Men Legends and Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, have treated the classic heroes with respect. Now, fans of comic books can gorge themselves on the overwhelming bounty of MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE, a game that draws upon scores of characters from the Marvel Universe to create an action-packed adventure.
As any self-respecting superhero story should, Ultimate Alliance pits the forces of good--in this case a collection of Marvel greats--against dark powers, here represented by Dr. Doom and a legion of baddies calling themselves Masters of Evil. Players guide a small team of heroes in a fight to save the world. Along the way, they travel from hi-tech hideouts on Earth to remote locations like Atlantis, the banquet halls of Valhalla, and distant planets.
The team comprises four characters from a pool of over 20. Three are under computer control, although players can take over control of any one team member at any time. Popular heroes like Spiderman and Wolverine are available, along with more obscure characters like Ghost Rider and Ms. Marvel. The team must battle its way through hundreds of enemies, including many classic villains from Marvel's catalog.
The most satisfying part of Ultimate Alliance is mixing and matching different groups of heroes in the quest for the perfect fighting force. Different heroes have different abilities. Some can fly. Some have magic attacks that steal health from enemies. Others can slow down time. As the heroes complete missions, their abilities increase and strengthen. Players can experiment with different heroes and power-ups until they find a set they like. The team-building is even more fun when two or more players participate in co-op play, which is available both on- and off-line.
Unfortunately, a few problems mar this otherwise solid game. Although fights with super villains and bosses break up the action, the bulk of the game involves repetitive button-mashing battles against small groups of grunts, and the smashing of innumerable boxes, vases, and barrels in a hunt for money and power-ups. The game also has a few glitches, from annoying-but-expected problems like a camera that occasionally gets caught on walls and ledges in the environment, to more serious issues, like poor teammate AI that can send heroes off cliffs or into traps.
Yet for those who enjoy action games or the Marvel Universe, Ultimate Alliance has a lot to offer. The worlds are graphically gorgeous and the music is stirring. The single player mission should last between 15 and 20 hours, and plenty of side-challenges add even more playtime. Retrying levels with a new team also adds lots of replay value. For gamers who like the idea of experimenting with Marvel mashups, making crazy teams like Dr. Strange, Daredevil, the Thing, and Blade, playing Ultimate Alliance will make them feel like they've died and gone to Valhalla. Those who lack such Marvel-love might want to try a rental first.
Players looking for similar games might want to try Ultimate Spider-Man.
Rate It!
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ViolenceLots of comic book-style fighting with punches, kicks, swords, guns, and magic attacks. No blood. |
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LanguageSome mild swearing, like "hell." |
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Social BehaviorHeroes stop the bad guys, save the world, and help those in need along the way. Players can often choose to assist others on side missions; failing to do so leads to negative outcomes. |
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CommercialismThis game is up to its eyeballs in Marvel characters. Players will collect virtual comic books that unlock artwork that shows the cover of a real comic books. |
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