Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, PlayStation 2, Xbox)

common sense media says

Heaps of heroes enliven comic book action.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

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.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive 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.
Violence: Lots of comic book-style fighting with punches, kicks, swords, guns, and magic attacks. No blood.
Sex: Not applicable.
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 applicable.

More on Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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.

What's the story?

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.

Is it any good?

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.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Activision
Released on: November 13, 2006
Price: 40
ESRB Rating: T for mild language, violence

This review was written by Chris Jozefowicz
 
 

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What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

mkalv
teen, 17 years old
 
Another fun comic game
This button-masher is filled with things that comic fans will love. Cameos, inside jokes, villais from comic lore, its everything a fan could want. Not for little kids, though.

Malahaganite
teen, 14 years old
 
People really need to get real
This is an excellent game with a good message. All of your Marvel heroes team up against the evil Dr. Doom. The only thing that children might be frightened off is the Murderworld level. Even I was a little scared of this level. It consisted of crazed clowns and some pretty weird villains. Also those who are obsessing over the "hell" level really need to calm down. It is not going to forever scar your child.

wondergirl_is_back
teen, 17 years old
 
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
a fun game to play but a little hard at sometimes you might need to use internet help

 
To Hell and Back
This game is very fun. You get to play with all the different superheroes and find which team is the best team for you to play with to beat up the bad guys. Thhe part that is not fun is Mephisto's Realm. You actually get taken to hell and encounter all these pagan and witchcraft symbols there. You also have to complete a pentagram to free a hero! This is definitely not something a Christian would have fun doing. You are beating up the little imps down there so I guess that's fun, it's just the surroundings. I don't enjoy seeing pentagrams all over the place and having to read at altars. Because of this part (that is unavoidable if you want to beat the game) I dropped the rating on this. This is a worldly game so what do I expect?

 
Why in Hell?
I allowed my children to play this game, while I was in the room. I was very sad, disappointed, angry that they are required to fight in Hell - and there are occult symbols, pentagrams, and "altars" all over it. There are also demonic symbols and creatures all over. I would have liked a warning on the label - not appropriate for those that do not want to "play in hell." Otherwise, a very fun game.

 
The best superhero game ever.
Okay, first of all, the story is great, the graphics are great, and the gameplay is great. Playing co-op with your friends with each of you as your favorite Marvel superhero is priceless. While the heroes are very similar in many ways, the spirit of each is captured excellently through unique animations an abilities. For example, Elektra and The Human Torch have difficulties lifting some of the heavier objects, but Iron Man and The Thing have no difficulties lifting anything. That ceases to mention the flying abilities of some, and all the different powers. The heroes are done so well that you might not mind playing the whole game as just one hero. Although most of it's comprised of clobbering simple enemies, the game is so fun I found myself constantly hoping for another wave of enemies or two. And the puzzles, some were simple and easy to figure out, some were challenging even to me. For Marvel fans and action game lovers, this game is a must-have. If you are mostly unfamiliar with the Marvel Universe, don't fret. This game will make a "marvelous" learning experience for those who have the interest. Basically, buy this game. You won't regret it.

 
Satanic theme at end of game - dissapointing
My 9 year old son LOVED this game. He was on the last level when his mom noticed that Captain America was standing in the middle of a pentagram with candles around it. I checked it out online & the final battle is with Mephisto (short for Mephistopholes / Satan / Lucifer). Myself & his mother were very upset & immediately made him stop playing. Now we have to explain to him why. They need to add a category for rating video games called "questionable morals".

kpmack3
adult
 
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.

prince of ...
kid, 12 years old
 
well this reviw is on ultimate alience 2 it has at leased 15 da--s and a lot of other bad words

coolkat
kid, 13 years old
 
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

alec1898
teen, 13 years old
 
pepole say hell in the game.not a big deal.Elecktra wears raged clothes.Not a big deal.Like seeing a girl in tube tops or mini skirts. all together its ok for kids my age

cam.t
teen, 16 years old
 
at first I wanted PC.....BUT I LOVE WII!!!!!
This is a cool game! you can pick from all of your favorite marvel heros (except hulk for some reason) to fight Dr. Doom's army of marvle vilans. Punching, kicking, zaping and the list goes on and on for violence. there isn't much sexual stuff but some of the marvel heroines (like ms. marvel) wear those skintight costumes. language is just in the opening movie colonel fury shouts " what the #$@! is going on?!?" so i think kids ages 10 and up would realy like this game!

monkeyboy
teen, 15 years old
 
you must play this game
I think that people age 10 and above should be able to play this game. This game wasn't to hard for me. Ibeat it in about 2 days.I was only 10 when I beat it. That's monkeyboy's opion.

 
A clever game which is sort of a big commircial for Marvel comics.
You may have to fight in hell, but kids definatly won't care. Other than that, this game is commpletly clean.

keelo
teen, 17 years old
 
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!

sonic101
teen, 18 years old
 
This is a cool game to play,but for teenagers only,your younger marvel wil have to wait until older

pie or pie
kid, 12 years old
 
I LOVE THIS GAME
I HAVE THIS FOR XBOX360 AND I LOVE THIS AWSOME GAME AND THERES SOME SUGGESTIVE THEAMS FOR PARENTS TO GIVE IT TO YOU STRAIT THERS A SUPER HERO NAMED DEADPOOL HE USES SWORDS AND GUNS SO PARENTS YOU DECIED OH AND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS GAME FOR XBOX AND XBOX360 HIT X THEN B AS DEADPOOL HE THOWS ENEMY IN AIR AND STABS HIM WHEN ENEMY HITS THE GROUND FOR AGES 10 AND UP BUT NOTHING BELOW THAT IM NOT KIDDING

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