Howlsthunder:
#marvel_ultimate_alliance I originally played this on the PS2 and bought it for the Wii. I really like this game - I am a big Marvel fan and its fun to have a wide range of heroes to choose from. You can build a wide variety of teams, different combinations resulting in different stat boosts. Game play is distinctly different between each character: agility, powers versus brawn, ability to fly or shoot projectiles... There's something for everyone and the characters feel the way you think they should from reading about them in comics. At least, for the most part, they do to me. ;) I tend to have favorites but I find that as I try new characters, I find something to like (or dislike) about many of them that keeps the game fresh.
Characters level up as you play and for the most part, EVERY character keeps up with all the others. So you could stick to one single hero for half the game and everyone else will keep leveled with you. Though I don't mind grinding to keep my force leveled up (longtime
Shining Force player here), this simplifies the game nicely.
As for the Wii controlls - I find I don't use the different motions for my different abilities much at all. I instead toggle through (B + Z to choose my ability, activate with B +A) and select which ever is needed at the moment. Where the controls on the Playstation made super powers more accessible, the Wii turns the gameplay into more button-smashing, unless you dedicate yourself to learning the Wiimote motions for each move. Personally, I don't care but YMMV.
Multiplayer works great - aside from having to verbally coordinate which side of the screen you are trying to get to, the built-in teamwork abilities and moves really shine with multiple players. In particular, Wolverine and Colossus can perform the
Fastball Special to amusing effect. I also like that you can add or remove up to three other players at any time during any game - great if a friend drops by to play for a bit and then has to go.
The interaction with the environment, though sometimes superfluous, adds to the in-game immersion, as does all the voice-acting (including in-battle comments), and variety of scripts you get depending on which character you are controlling. All the variables make this game highly replayable.
As for my collection, this game gets a lot of both single AND multiplayer play out of it, something of a rarity on the Wii, which tends to be single-player OR party-game in its games.
Apr 30, 08
