Check out my initial impressions of the game in the video below, then read the full review underneath! Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Let’s get this straight - Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is a button mashing RPG brawler featuring a load of superheroes using a load of super powers, and it’s actually quite fun.  Getting the Incredible Hulk to pick up and throw Wolverine into a super villain’s face, or using Captain America’s shield to deflect Iron Man’s repulsor blasts into a swarm of evil henchmen is an undeniable highlight of the game.

The problem, for me at least, is that after you’ve spent a couple of hours doing this…there’s not much else to it. Sure, you unlock a load more attacks and characters (there are 24 of them!), and the combos become more spectacular and intricate…but after a while you can’t help but feel a little bored.

There’s another problem too…if you played the first Ultimate Alliance game, then, well…chances are you’ve played this game as well. There’s literally no difference between the two, aside from a slightly different storyline, which to be honest isn’t that great. It basically revolves around the ‘Civil War’ story from the comics, where superheroes are forced to register with the government and reveal their secret identities.

Captain America and Iron Man disagree on the issue, with one signing with the government and the other effectively becoming an outlaw (I won’t spoil who goes where). They each build up their teams and it’s up to you to decide who to go with. The story will be affected by your decision, as will the characters you play with - so choose wisely! This adds a nice bit of replay value, as after you’ve completed the game, you’ll want to go back and choose the other side and see where you end up.

So…what do I think? Ultimate Alliance 2 is good fun in parts, but ultimately hollow. There are often too many characters on screen for you to fully appreciate the explosive super-hero attacks you can perform, and the story isn’t well executed meaning you’re often lacking any real motivation to continue with the game.

Unless you are a hardcore comics fan, I’d suggest giving this a rent before buying!

Until next time,

Vern.