Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is packed to the brim with heroic good times. It manages to be the least tedious of any Action RPG I’ve ever played, and the Wii edition makes good use of the new console’s unique strengths.

With better focus on what players want, including four (useful!) costumes per character, a plethora of villians and heroes from Marvel lore, better visuals, tighter RPG elements, less of the Chatty-Cathy moments, and FAR more tough boss and mini-boss battles, Marvel Ultimate Alliance could be the geekfest that keeps players wrapped onto whatever platform they chose like a pair of tight blue spandex with a big 4 on the chest.

The Wii control scheme fits this game very well, and when coupled with a good story and incredible cast, the result is a game that is very entertaining.

The core of this fantastic superhero game is still in place, and if you have ever wanted to feel more like you were actually slashing with Wolverine’s claws, now’s your chance.

Ultimate Alliance may be schlocky and unrefined, but the endless Dream Team combinations of Marvel super and not-so-super heroes prove irresistible.

A nice team-based action-RPG that is a bit too much like X-Men Legends. The wiimote controls do not bring anything new to the mix. [Feb 2007]

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is certainly worth picking up. With an adequate campaign and more playable comic book characters than you can shake a stick at, plus bonus side missions for all of them, you’re definitely getting more than what you paid for.

It's a satisfyingly lengthy game, with loads of missions to complete and a huge assortment of comic book-inspired side missions to bring you a little more insight into the backgrounds of the game's leading characters.

Great production values(including a terrific mood-setting soundtrack)and a host of concept art and comic-book unlockables help tie everything together to make for a top-notch superhero action-RPG. [Jan. 2007, p.102]

The gesture system is a comfortable way of controlling the heroes. Unfortunately the graphics do not scream next generation, but the Wii is more focused on the gameplay aspects, which are certainly unique in this game.

It's Marvel and it's wonderful. That being said, you probably want to pick it up on another console.

The Wii version is definitely not the best one available, but if you have no alternative, this is a fun and very lengthy adventure to enjoy on your Wii after Zelda has been exhausted.

With control issues and the disappointing lack of online co-operative play aside, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a mindless and enjoyable action game that should keep comic book fans happy for a while. [Jan 2007, p.70]

The tacked-on motion controls and lack of online support take some of the shine off this otherwise dependable superhero adventure.

If you're a comic-book fan, this is probably the most satisfying videogame ever made for you.

The real appeal of the game is in its visuals and production values, and these elements take a real hit on the Wii console. If you have the option to invest in one of the other versions, that’s the best route to take. The "novel" controls on the Wii are more gimmicky than fun in this particular title.

Unlike Madden for the Wii which EA made it to be a very fun game due to excellent controls, Marvel is a different story that take time to get adjusted.

Even though it is considerably harmed by the inane support of the Wii-mote to the point of the extreme, and the slightly boring battle system, the dull visuals and quite a lot of glitches, the game manages to sneak by as one of last year's best games in the genre.

The fairly patchy Wii functionality isn't enough to critically damage Marvel Ultimate Alliance but it's certainly something many developers will have to work on. It should make the inevitable sequel something to look forward to.

Control and graphic issues aside this game is a must play for anyone who is a Marvel Comic book fan. Not only is the story engrossing, but the huge cast of characters is a comic book fans dream come true. Hopefully Activision will produce a sequel to wrap up the loose ends to this great game.

The Wii controls make a great game a good game. All the core ideas are presented, but only accessible if you quite literally want to make the move to snare the fun.

Sure, the levels and even the gameplay get a bit repetitive (and painful) at times, but there is always great action and the potential to share that action with your friends.

The multiplayer modes are enjoyable, but it's hard to get very excited about them with the 360 version of the game offers both online cooperative play as well as an offline mode.

A must for Marvel fans, a good buy for everyone else, Ultimate Alliance is an epic in an old package, kind of like those massy boxes of comics you have hidden away in your attic, gathering ebay value like dust.

While it’s definitely a step up from current generation, Ultimate Alliance doesn’t hold up against its next gen. counterparts, and that’s a bit disheartening. The big gamble lies in the controller, and in the end we’d honestly prefer a game like this using very minimal motion control in favor of more accuracy and dependability.

A great game, and the Wii version fails only through the limitations of the system's hardware. To the developers' credit, they manufactured an absolutely fantastic control scheme, a difficult task on a controller so far removed from the known console staples.

It can get repetitive over time and the level design feels uninspired. [Feb 2007, p.59]

This game is the absolute antithesis of what you should get to show off the power or the playability of the Wii.

The new gesture controls simply don't work well enough, and in a game that promotes button bashing the constant use of the Wii-mote is more than a little tedious.