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Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

(2006, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated T, Play it on: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Heaps of heroes enliven comic book action.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
  • Messages:

    Heroes 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.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Lots of comic book-style fighting with punches, kicks, swords, guns, and magic attacks. No blood.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Some mild swearing, like "hell."
  • Consumerism:

    This 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.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was written by Chris Jozefowicz

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. Parents also need to know the game has an online mode -- Common Sense doesn't recommend online play for anyone under 12.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the marketing of Marvel 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 online etiquette.
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More on Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

What’s the Story?

MARVEL: 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, traveling 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. The team must battle its way through hundreds of enemies, including many classic villains from Marvel's catalog. Close

Is It Any Good?

The most satisfying part of Ultimate Alliance is mixing different heroes in the quest for the perfect fighting force. 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 online and offline. The single-player mission should last between 15 and 20 hours, and plenty of side-challenges add even more playtime.

Unfortunately, a few problems mar this otherwise solid game. 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 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.

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Publisher’s Details

Released on 11/13/2006, price $40, not online enabled
ESRB rating: T (for mild language, violence)

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See all 17 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 5.0

    there are some

    bad parts i have it for xbox i love it i hate to say it but i may agree with csm on this one

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    ok really 4 and a half, but not quite 5

    I know you've heard all about a level in hell by now and I don't think it will make your kid be a devil worshiper, but Dr. Strange might. and the "sexual content" is nothing. but the game is deffinetly very fun and addicting to play. I'd say very mature 12 year old, or thirteen but be warned!

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    This Game Is Awesome!!

    Well, I've beat this game twice on the 360 and the wii, and there is nothing wrong with it except the hell level. Which is quite stupid. Everything else is fun but this game can get frustrating when you don't know where to go. The first half of the game is really good but the last half becomes absurd and strange. This game is really fun (especially if you use deadpool, who can teleport through walls through a glitch). I could recommend this only for hardcore gamers though.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 4.0

    There is a hidden danger

    I can't believe I'm the only one pinging this game on sexuality. I knew there would probably be super-heroines; but while they are empowering as they hold their own against the bad guys in gameplay, the cutscenes portray them as hyper-sexualized trucker babes in provocative poses. Also negative is the anti-Biblical view that women most certainly are NOT the weaker vessel: let 'em slug it out like the guys. The clear message to our boys: girls are an object to be ogled; other than that they can be beat on just like the boys.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    great game....

    this is a good game for teenagers or people who are almost teens. yhis is a bad game for kids because it is hard and takes lots of conncentration that children havent developed. there is tons of violance but no blood so its not really an issue. its just a very fun challenging game.GOOD GAME IF YOU LIKE CHALLENGES!

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