Marvel Average Alliance?
Ok, I'm rewriting this review because after an extended period of time with this game, I've come to realise just how bland it really is.
Firstly, this game's levels aren't as adventurous as the last one.
In this game you go from bland boring warehouse to bland boring street to bland boring underground.
I prefer the first game's levels where one level you might be underwater, then in a sholin temple, then in space, then in freakin' VALHALLA! It gave the game a more comic book feel to it, where this game is just dark, dingy and slightly depressing.
Secondly, the story. This game features WAY too heavily on story, which a multiplayer RPG shouldn't. It should be based on fun and teamwork. I played this game with the same friends I played the first with and 3 out of 3 preferred the original. We really did have a laugh on that game, but this one just took itself too seriously.
Thirdly, the unlock system for the characters is bad. You have to play through the whole game to unlock 95% of the characters, then again to unlock Jean, Hulk and Thor, because their unlock tokens are in both Pro and Anti reg. I find this a cheap way of getting people to play through the game twice. Entering a cheat to unlock all the characters will stop you from saving the game. I mean, come on! This is supposed to be a game where you can play as your favourite characters, not play as crappy ones while running around trying to unlock the one you really wanted to play as when you was it on the website.
The fusion powers were a nice touch and they were greatly appreciated after the 'Extreme' moves that MUA1 had to offer. Though the game only has 4 different moves for each character, it makes the combat flow, but I still prefer having choice and not being bound to the same moves. The upgrades were pretty good, where you spend points of attribute bonuses like +2 melee damage etc. Also, they only have 2 costumes for each character? 2!? Are you serious? The last game had 4 each! I feel this is an uneccessary downgrade.
The variaty of characters is alright I guess, but it's all the typical Marvel characters, for example, the fantastic 4, Spiderman etc, and they got rid of the Silver Surfer, Blade, Ghost Rider and Dr.Strange. I'm particularly upset about Dr.Strange being cut, because I don't know if any of you were aware of this but when you maxed out one of his powers (I can't remember which), you were able to turn enemies into BOXES. This made the game FUN.
All in all, the graphics are upgraded, but the story is too heavy set and the environments are bland and boring.
It's lost the fun factor that the first game had.
