Alliance Unleashed
Activision and Raven are teaming up again, and this time, the top-down action RPG is so beyond X-Men.
Published: April 27, 2006
The partnership between Raven Software and Activision has been a fruitful one. The magical third ingredient of the coveted X-Men license has meant a handful of games based around the movies, and comic book mythos across just about every console and handheld that can accept the game (except, uh, the Nintendo ones, which isn't really every console, then, but just go with it, we're going somewhere with this). They even opted to clamp onto the X-Men and Ultimate Spider-Man licenses until 20-freakin'-17.
But this... this is far, far bigger than a couple of mutants or a smart-assed web slinger. This is more than 140 characters from Marvel's extensive catalog of superheroes and villains all slammed together in a game that prizes customization and environmental interaction above all else. This is Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and if you own a Sony-branded system made after circa 2000, you're going to have your very own version.
"Marvel: Ultimate Alliance delivers a new twist on action/RPGs where players’ actions and choices ultimately determine what happens to the Marvel universe," espouses Activision VP of Global Brand Management Will Kassoy. "This coupled with the game’s enormous character roster will deliver an action-packed experience that comic book fans have been waiting for."
Yeah, sure, the last comic-related game was the one that comic book fans have been waiting for, but it's hard not to get just a teeny bit excited when hearing what Raven has planned for the PS2, PSP and PS3. Customization isn't just relegated to plucking a handful of team members from the megaroster of heroes, it goes further; you can choose your icon, your own vehicle, name the team and build up a reputation based on how you're playing through things. The missions you choose and objectives passed will actually help craft the story, as will how you interact with the different characters scattered throughout.
As in the past couple X-Men Legends games, you'll have the option of selectively leveling up your characters, picking what attributes improve and what powers are learned, or just let the game auto-level everyone. Hooray laziness! An expanded combat system now sports dodging, grappling and blocking, as well as the ability to use environmental objects as one- or two-handed instruments of pain. The fights themselves are apparently going to take place "in the air, underwater, and on the ground." We likey.
There's likely to be plenty more info come E3, and we'll make sure we pass it along, but for now, feast your eyes on the first image of the game to your left.
But this... this is far, far bigger than a couple of mutants or a smart-assed web slinger. This is more than 140 characters from Marvel's extensive catalog of superheroes and villains all slammed together in a game that prizes customization and environmental interaction above all else. This is Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and if you own a Sony-branded system made after circa 2000, you're going to have your very own version.
"Marvel: Ultimate Alliance delivers a new twist on action/RPGs where players’ actions and choices ultimately determine what happens to the Marvel universe," espouses Activision VP of Global Brand Management Will Kassoy. "This coupled with the game’s enormous character roster will deliver an action-packed experience that comic book fans have been waiting for."
Yeah, sure, the last comic-related game was the one that comic book fans have been waiting for, but it's hard not to get just a teeny bit excited when hearing what Raven has planned for the PS2, PSP and PS3. Customization isn't just relegated to plucking a handful of team members from the megaroster of heroes, it goes further; you can choose your icon, your own vehicle, name the team and build up a reputation based on how you're playing through things. The missions you choose and objectives passed will actually help craft the story, as will how you interact with the different characters scattered throughout.
As in the past couple X-Men Legends games, you'll have the option of selectively leveling up your characters, picking what attributes improve and what powers are learned, or just let the game auto-level everyone. Hooray laziness! An expanded combat system now sports dodging, grappling and blocking, as well as the ability to use environmental objects as one- or two-handed instruments of pain. The fights themselves are apparently going to take place "in the air, underwater, and on the ground." We likey.
There's likely to be plenty more info come E3, and we'll make sure we pass it along, but for now, feast your eyes on the first image of the game to your left.