Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (PSP) Review
Posted by David Redkey on 11.28.2006
Vicarious Visions and Raven Software brings another portable powerhouse.
Raven Software has made a living the last few years with their X-Men Legend series. It takes place in a universe that combines elements from Marvel’s Earth-616 and Earth-1610 (Main continuity and the Ultimate continuity respectively). Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (MUA) for the PSP is another entry in the Legends series. Developed by Raven Software and ported by Vicarious Visions, MUA is much more ambitious game than previous installments. The game boast over 140 different characters from the Marvel Universe and the player can select from a roster of 27 different characters. The choices range from heavy hitters Iron Man to lesser know characters like Ronin. The story finds Dr. Doom enlisting the aid an assortment of villains to try to succeed at his universe spanning plot. Can Nick Fury and his gang of Super Heroes stop Dr. Doom?
Graphics
Those individuals that played X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse will know what to expect from this game. It’s the same exact game engine seen in previous installments. The graphics are highly detailed (for a PSP game) and are only slightly downgraded from the PS2 version. The lighting effects have been reduced as well, but the game is still very pleasing to the eyes (especially for a portable game). Like its big brothers, the PSP version is much more varied in the locales then its predecessor. Players will travel from the depths of Atlantis to the very bowels of hell. Compared to XML2, the environments seem more varied and less recycled overall. On a side note, super powers seem to be a bit more dynamic this time around and the fire effects are top notch.
The camera angle, in general, is serviceable. The player can control the camera using the L-button and the face buttons. However, the camera angles can sometimes get stuck (way more often than the console versions) and the player will have to move forward to reset the camera. During some sequences early in the game, the camera will be pulled back and the characters will be difficult to see because of the PSP’s tiny screen. Characters may also get trapped in jumping animations during the course of the game. This happened a few times during the course of the game, but once a player realizes what usually causes it (i.e. jumping on top of certain objects), it becomes much less of a hassle.
Gameplay
One word easily describes the game play: streamlined. MUA is still the four character dungeon romp that people expect from Raven Software but there are a few new wrinkles. The team decided to make some small changes to create a far more enjoyable and action filled experience.
The basic premise of the game has the player control an ensemble cast of super heroes. Each character can be switched on the fly by holding the L-button and using the d-pad. The player controls one character while the A.I. handles the rest. The PSP version seams to have slightly worse A.I. than the big brothers. They’ll stand in place on occasion and take damage or fall into traps and get killed. Fortunately, baby sitting the A.I. isn’t quite as bad because the enemy tends to focus on player-controlled characters more often in this game.
The combat (as stated previously) is by and large the same. The player will go from area to area pounding the stuffing out a gaggle of goons. One change is how the super moves are handled. The player no longer has to collect 4 X-icons to have access to one Xtreme move (version of a super move), but enemies do occasionally drop S.H.I.E.L.D. icons that will instantly give a character an Xtreme move. The Xtreme Bar is now filled by melee combat and resembles “Super”-bars from other games (Street Fighter for example). However if specials are built up for more than one character, the characters can chain Xtremes together to devastate their foes.
Grapple moves have been added to the mix. No longer does an individual have access to just a throw a character into objects or another characters attack, a character can repeatedly pound an enemy with a fist or they can use character-specific finish moves. Spidey, for example, can tie a foe to the sealing which leaves it open for attack.
Special abilities are more interactive by-an-large. Some can be charged for increased damage while others can be tapped for rapid fire effects. The new interaction doesn’t stop there. Puzzles and the larger occasionally require God of War type button presses or mashing to solve (or a combination of both).
The basic RPG elements have been stripped down for more user friendly experience. Potions are now the thing of the past (thanks for taking a cue from Justice League Heroes) and players refill their life and power meter through kicking serious tail. Seriously, who would want to be bog down and worry about micro-management when Fin Fang Foom is laying the smack down on you?
Gear and armor is less important this time around. A character can only equip one piece of gear at a time, and they are no longer dropped by normal enemies. Only treasure chests and bosses give up these items now. Also, shops are a thing of the past and gear can be sold through the party menu for S.H.I.E.L.D. tokens at anytime (the “stat”-currency of the game).
Additionally, the stats are no longer controlled by the player each level up (they increase automatically). Characters do receive ability points that are spent on their powers, but the game is also stingy with these points. Occasionally during level ups, the character may not receive an ability point. A welcomed change allows players to take abilities points from a special ability and spend it on another. The player gains more customization options through the various outfits the player can unlock. Each character eventually gains the ability to wear for different outfits. Every outfit has three enhancement stats that can be increased by spending tokens (Ex: Thor’s Ultimate outfit allows the player to increase his Hammer Damage, Max Energy, and Defense while his Classic outfit allows the player to increase his Elemental Damage, Melee Damage, and Defense). The developers wanted the player to spend more time on the combat and less time on the
Sound
The sound is a bit of a mixed bag. For every good thing there seems to be a negative to equal it out. For example, the background music is very good overall and is extremely varied. Each different world has its own appropriate music and each piece feels appropriate for any given area. For example, the Hell level reminds me of something would come from the credits of Doom 3. The undersea area tends to have music that would fit under water exploration. On the other hand, the sound effects are generally recycled from the last game and seem generic this time around. The voice acting is really good, but sound bites during battle tend to repeat often.
Lasting Appeal
Vicarious Visions released a very meaty package to compete with the PSP’s bigger brothers. The PSP version has four exclusive characters (Captain Marvel, Hawkeye, Ronin/Echo, and Black Widow) and comic book missions for each. The exclusive characters are much more fleshed out and each character has four outfits as well.
The choices made through out the game also extend the game. At the end of the game, the player is given a series of epilogue events that show the results of said choices. These epilogues can show far reaching repercussions from the action one takes. Playing through the game repeatedly is recommended just to get the totality of the story and fully see what different choices have on the universe.
An assortment of survival missions is included. They can use to increase the party’s levels and to collect tokens. A player can also compete with other players through www.mua-psp.com. The game tracks the information and scores of not only the survival missions but each stage of the game. Players received scores based on what actions are performed during the course of the stage. For example, the player may receive 2400 for completing the stage and collecting all the tokens and orbs and not having a character die.
Vicarious Vision adds 3 bonus gameplay modes. Uber-Hero mode only allows the player the option of one character to use during the course of the adventure. The character is maxed out at level 99 and is four times as powerful. The other two modes are a take off of the same concept. Hardcore and Hardcore Squad doesn’t allow the characters to be revived once they are taken out. However, Hardcore Squad only lets you take 4 characters throughout the whole game.
Finally, MUA supports ad-hoc and infrastructure play to extend the shelf life. The two modes of multiplayer modes are Co-Op (players working together to beat the game) or Arcade mode (players compete for knockouts, damage dealt, and other stats to determine who the MVP of the level is). Both options run relatively smooth with little or no-hiccups. The only problem with infrastructure is trying to locate an open game online.
Fun Factor
The game is just is fun to play for people that enjoy dungeon crawlers or comic books in general. People that hated both X-Men Legends games will find nothing new to seriously change their mind. Online is a blast as well (if you can get a game going that is). Even though the game is well executed, it can feel a bit repetitive near the end of the game. Occasional bugs puts a bit of tarnish on this otherwise great game. The game will sometimes lock up when trying to access a new area. It was VERY rare for me. It only happened one time in my playthrough (about 80 hours to be exact. I like to level up my characters).
The 411
Well another year and another Marvel-meets-Baldur’s-Gate RPG. The game is well executed but overall the game can’t escape the “been there, done that”-aura. Fans of the series will no doubt scoop this up; however, people looking for something a little fresh may want to rent it first. 1
Graphics
8.0
Everything is very detailed but some glitches in animation bring it down a bit.
Gameplay
8.5
A.I. goofs aside, very polished brawler that adds new wrinkles to keep things slightly fresh.
Sound
7.0
The effects are repetitive and dull (as well as the voice overs during battle). However, the cast is great and the music is top notch.
Lasting Appeal
9.0
Extra modes, extra characters, extra missions...you won't be putting this down for awhile.
Fun Factor
8.0
Great for Marvel fans and dungeon crawler fans. Unfortunately, it won't win over people that hated the previous games.
