Customer Reviews

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I pre-orderd and took home both the XBOX 360 and Wii versions of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.

We'll get one thing right off the bat. In terms of comparing to the original MUA game, graphics and gameplay-wise, the Wii version would be more akin to MUA v1.5 (whereas the 360 and PS3 version make use of the improved engine).

Both versions have done away with the skill trees, and now each character has only 4 activated abilities, and a host of more passive abilities. On the 360, these are channeled by holding in the Right-Trigger and pressing A, B, X, or Y. On the Wii, these are performed by simply pressing Up, Down, Left, or Right on the D-Pad (Wii Remote).

Both versions go through pretty much the same story line, but the Wii version has a few different/modified levels. The essence of the plot is the same.

For some of the Fusions and boss battles, we found it tricky sometimes to point the Targeted Fusions and make heads or tails of "where am I" during multiplayer on the 360 version since the angle is brought a little lower to try to show off the very crisp and fine HD graphics we all know and love. The Wii version for the most part retains the top-down view of the original MUA (as it seems to be running on the same engine), and Targeted Fusions are performed effortlessly by aiming at the screen with the Wii Remote (game play will "bullet-time" slo-mo while you aim the on-screen cursor, the aiming on the 360 is done in realtime).

The XBOX 360 version (along with PS3) has online multiplayer support, but the Wii version is local-only. There is a feature to send messages to Wii Friends with your scores on levels for them to try to beat, but I don't find it too useful. (I'd much have them over playing multiplayer anyways).

Some of the changes the Wii version has from it's previous installment: in addition to now using powers with the D-Pad, changing characters is now done with the "+" and "-" buttons. Pausing is now done with the "2" button. For a much beloved change over the original, you must now hold down "1" while manipulating the remote to change camera, instead of it moving automatically (which from personal experience used to be a big problem with four people playing).

For Solo play and online multiplayer, the XBOX 360 (and PS3) versions can't be beat. You will enjoy the epic storyline with MUCH improved graphics over the original game, and online play works great when friends don't feel like leaving the house. That being said, despite lacking any sort of online play, the Wii version just "feels" more like a Multiplayer experience than the HD counterparts. During multiplayer on the 360 version I had to put up with not-so-patient teammates edging us to move forward and blow stuff up while I tried to take in the beauty of the game. I didn't have much luck with that. The Wii version has a less intrusive camera during boss fights (it's not trying to show off the graphics or anything), and the aiming mechanism works perfectly with the Wii Remote. I did not play the original MUA on the 360 so I can not compare the controls, but they did not seem as "intuitive" as I was expecting (though that can probably just be blamed on how the L and R buttons are set up on the 360 controller, I much prefer their setup on the Playstation 3 controllers). In short I find ourselves playing through the Wii version when friends come over, and playing the 360 version solo once everyone takes off (now I get to enjoy the scenery!).

My final analysis:
Friends that don't like to visit, solo play = HD versions.
Gamer buddies getting together to blow stuff up = Wii.

I bought the Wii version of MUA:2 and was left feeling kind of depressed. I usually don't care if the graphics are a bit lackluster in a Wii game, but this made the game less fun. We didn't know who or what we were beating up. (We kept trying to hit Nick Fury in the first level.) When fusions are performed, a big white banner covers half the screen telling you what you just did and obscuring what's going on. The lighting in the game kept flickering like a bad fluorescent light. Add Wii motion controls that feel tacked on and you have a pretty bad package. I traded it in for the 360 version, which I now enjoy! I really like the Wii and think this is a disturbing trend for a system that has a lot to offer. It looks worse than the original Xbox version.

In the past I've enjoyed both X-Men games on the gamecube and have played through the first MUA on the Wii three times. This incarnation however is a chore.

Problem #1: Why oh why did you mess up the camera?
In the first MUA the player controlled the camera with a simple turn of the nunchuk. I could quickly turn 360 degrees and check out the environment. Some pinhead designer decided to replace this simple scheme with having you press the 2 button before you could turn the camera thereby taking your thumb off the A trigger. Most of the time it doesn't let you turn anyway, letting the program decide how the camera is aimed.
This causes two problems...going through doorways or turning corners you are often going blind because the angle is all wrong to see down a hallway. In the middle of the first boss fight in Act 1 the camera would randomly spin as I ran down a street so moving up was now making me go south instead of north and I would head off in the wrong direction and get attacked from behind, not good when you have like 20 seconds to find a defuse a bomb.
And the AI controlled teammates are brain dead as ranged fighters as they choose to run up to a bomb laden kamakazebot, throw a punch and get killed every time.

Problem #2: Medals?
Instead of upgrades in individual equipment you get medals that affect the whole team. That's just lazy. No longer can I customize each of my team members. Nope. Plus 5 body for everyone! At the beginning you can only use one medal even though you collect maybe 20 of them. Thanks for nothing.

Problem #3: Skimpy extraction points.
Instead we get auto saves. One slot's worth. So when my G'Son plays he overwrites my auto save and I have to start over at my last extraction save point and visa versa. Brilliant!

Problem #4: Why are you in my personal space?
Wow, my team likes me a little too much. In fact, I can't move because YOU"RE STANDING TOO CLOSE!

Problem #5: Nice place you used to have here Stark.
Between Prologue and Act 1 I was in Stark's Tower, the same one as in MUA 1. However this time there is NOTHING to do after the trivia test. Nobody will talk to you, no simulator disks (excuse me, 'bonus' missions), no power-ups trying to hide in a corner, no little story line. Lazy,lazy,lazy.

Problem #6: Hold still while I grab you.
MUA hit the Z button to grab. MUA 2 hit both A and B. Why? Most of the time I end up throwing punches instead of grabbing. Maybe it's just me on this one.

Problem #6: I'm not feeling that strong.
Why does it take 3 or 4 punches to take out a trash can when you have adamantium claws?

Problem #7: Who am I playing again?
Instead of using the D pad to select a hero like in MUA you have to cycle through them using +/-.

I wished I'd passed on this one, or at least until it hit the bargain bin. Look for some good prices soon on a used one if you really want it.

I think this game was really a lot of fun, and let's be honest, there aren't a lot of games out there that let you play with characters in the Marvel Universe. While it may not be the greatest game when it comes to graphics, it is a Wii, so you can't compare it to PS3 or XBox 360.

The story line is sound, the characters available are great, and the game play is fun. If you are a Marvel fan, especially an X-Men fan like me, this is your only chance to play as Gambit or Cyclops, so pick up a copy and enjoy!

First off this game has inexcusably bad graphics. Too many people will associate this with a Wii game but you shouldn't. True the Wii is not on the same level as Xbox 360 or PS3. I'm not comparing it to it's so-called counterparts on those systems. I'm comparing it to the badly done PS2 version of the game. The graphics are identical. They just ported this game from the PS2 to the Wii because that was easier than making a game from the ground up.

They also toss in a few Wiimote mini games under the guise of "exclusive content". There's nothing like a 4 player brawler that throws in some out of place Cooking Mama style mini games here and there to really stop the action. A better use of time would have been fine tuning the nunchuk fusion controls. You will be shaking that thing like a maraca at times for nearly a minute before it registers with the game. By then all the enemies you were going to kill are already dead. Nice.

Porting this game over to the Wii was all about one this thing: money. This isn't a game made for the Wii. This isn't their best effort. But I'm supposed to be grateful to have this game in any shape or form I guess? NO THANKS! Your money would be better spent on... "shudder" ...Pokemon Rumble.

I played the first MUA in a PC, and it was a great experience. Thus I has great expectations for MUA2. No PC version? Ok, that's bad but I still wanted to give it a chance. Since I've got a Wii, I thought I could get the same thrill I had form the previous game.

I had the best will in the world, but frankly even my love of comics couldn't make up for the games faults. I don't need superb graphics, but at least I'd like to know what I' beating up, or who's my teammate. I mean, at one point I had the Green Goblin as a partner, and I didn't know who it was until a cut scene! Even some of the cut scenes are disappointing. I know that the Wii des not have the greatest graphics, but having a character appear in a pre-rendered movie as a black silhouette?!!

I expected an epic game, but I finished it in less than a week. And I can barely play an hour or two per day! The storyline was lame! The Civil war theme was barely touched.

I haven't seen any of the other versions, but for the sake of the franchise I hope they are better.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is finally here, hitting every platform available as it seems, and while the end result turns out to be good on the XBox 360 and PS3, what we find here on the Wii is a disappointment to be sure. The Wii version of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 manages to provide good amounts of action and a large cast of Marvel heroes and villains to pick from and put to use, but the rest of the game is fairly messy. Bland graphics and environments, terrible AI (especially that of your partners), a poor camera, and no use of alternate controlers meaning you're stuck using the Wii-mote and nunchuk with some pointless and annoying motion controls, and this is what you get. When the first Marvel Ultimate Alliance came out, it was a pure blast all across the board, and one of the best games to get for the Wii at the time. Even on the Wii, the fusion attacks still look good and perform well, and the four player local co-op mode can be fun, but other than that, there really isn't a whole lot here to look forward to. All in all, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 on the Wii is worth a look for Marvel loving Wii owners, but in the end, the Wii version is a disappointment.

Overall, the game is entertaining, but its pales in comparison to the original UA. There are no more little side quests, and individualizations that made the first game so great. Also, the story is pretty short leaving my wife and I to finish it in two evenings. Overall, I wouldnt recommend this.

Well after loving the x-men games and ultimate alliance I couldn't wait to play this one.

For one thing the cinematic sequences were not nearly as nice as the previous game. Some of the characters walked pretty stiff.

The controls are different than before and it wasn't a change for the better. Usually when I'm changing the camera angle I'm in the middle of a fight. It's really annoying to press the 1 button and twist my wrist while fighting off bad guys. It's a really awkward way to hold a controller.

This game is considerably shorter and there weren't as many fun little side stories throughout the game. It made the levels a lot less interesting and the only thing that keeps you going is the hope that something interesting will happen at the end of the level

There were considerably less voice actors. If it wasn't a cut scene you have to read the subtitles unlike the last one where everything was audio. Also the characters used to say witty or intimidating things during game-play. They still say them, but there's a lot less material than the last game, and hearing them say the same line over and over again is pretty annoying.

Base camp is just plain dull. You used to get fun little side conversations depending on what character you used. In this one, you're lucky if anyone will talk to you at all.

The team menu has been oversimplified and you can't equip items to your characters anymore. Basically, the team shares medals and you only get so many.

What really hurt was that they took away the alternate costumes from the wii version. I can understand not having them at all but only taking them out of the wii version was pretty shady. C'mon why no love for Nintendo fans?

I know much of my dissatisfaction is over the differences from the previous game, but this game had such potential it was a real shame that it didn't get more respect when it was being made.

At first this game was really fun. But this game became really lame when I realized there were no other costumes and the boost system doesnt work like it does for the other systems. I figured I was getting a stripped down version of this game as compared to the 360 and PS3 iterations, however, I was not prepared for how abismal this game would be.

At first I didnt think I would mind not having alt. costumes, but as I neared the end of the game I became disenchanted with the replay value. And Im not much for multi-player so I will keep quiet regarding this. Other than an alt. 3 act THERE IS NO REPLAY VALUE. This game would have been a better value if I would have found it in a bargain bin for $10.

I love comics and games, but I dont think I will stick around to play the next MUA. Thanks Marvel.

THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME: Amazon did a good job ensuring I had the pre-order within a few days of its release.