The "greatest Super Hero action/RPG of all time" is back with the world’s largest army of heroes and villains in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. Incorporating elements of the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, the game allows players to choose their side and team up with revered heroes and villains, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Deadpool, Venom, Green Goblin and Captain America. Players can combine characters’ powers and unleash astonishing new attacks...

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is the follow up to 2006's Marvel Ultimate Alliance. The game gets off on the right foot with an amazing looking cutscene which shows Iron Man, Wolverine, Spider-Man and Captain America stealthily attacking an outpost. After the cutscene you are thrown into combat where you can switch between controlling each character by pressing the directional buttons. Each character has its own abilities and can be used for certain situations - for example Iron Man and Spider-Man can be used to attack enemies at long range, whilst Wolverine and Captain America can be used to tackle smaller enemies with quick succession. In addition, Iron Man and Spider-Man can be used to jump over objects by using the double jump ability. Iron Man can also fly over benches and debris in the street.

Each character has a set of powers that can be accessed by pressing the right trigger whilst pressing any of the letter buttons. When you start the game only two of them are available, but more can be unlocked as you level each character up.

You also have the ability to use fusion powers. Here two of your characters can join their attacks in order to create an extra powerful attack which can hit more than one enemy at once dealing massive damage.

When you kill your opponents there are several things that can be collected and used. One of these is experience points which are used to level up your characters; another is ability points which can be used to improve combat characteristics such as level 1 ability increase damage by 5%; and finally the last thing that is collected around the levels are medals which can be used to give special abilities to characters such as fire resistance or increased damage. This works a lot like abilities do but you can play around with different combinations - there are only three slots to use for medals but the combinations can be massive.

Once you level up you acquire a point per level that can be used to improve your character's special powers. There are also 10 levels for both powers and abilities which require a certain level to progress further, but it makes sure that the progression is never too great.

At certain parts of the game you meet up with other marvel characters, such as Deadpool in one of the early levels, these characters do not need to be controlled and in turn you are also not allowed to control them, but after you have completed a certain amount of story you are allowed to use them in battle.

This game is a massive update from the original game with a noticeable improvement on the graphics front. This game also has an easier control system with more customisable powers and abilities. Also, with the addition of fusion powers, the combinations of your favourite heroes and villains makes this game a must own for Marvel fans. Also, every single character has been rebuilt for the game and look fantastic in the cutscenes and in normal combat - they all excel in movement and sound.

If you are a fan of Marvel or RPG, this game is definitely for you.

9

Carl Simpson