The single-player game is also very enjoyable. Along with a variety of missions strewn throughout the story mode, players can also collect mini-missions to complete for each individual hero -- a nice touch that helps individualize the many heroes scattered within the game. Single players can switch between any of the four heroes at any time with the D-pad, and can also strategize with their AI compatriots, pushing them to either be aggressive, defensive, or normal. There are a lot of secret items to find throughout the game, including bonus items and hidden action figures which unlock new heroes.
The presentation isn't amazing, but it is true to Marvel's comic book nature. The level layouts, which range from Arcade's Murderball table to Mephisto's hellish home world to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s troubled airship, look fantastic on the Xbox 360, even if the camera can sometimes be a bother with upper and lower levels. There's the occasional puzzle to solve (like how to get past a supposedly impenetrable wall), but it's mostly just a matter of getting from point A to point B with each level. An easy-to-access map system gives players an idea of where they have yet to explore. As for the character animations, they aren't completely fluid, but they still deliver, from Spidey's quickie web-swing to Wolverine's claw swipes.
The audio is also pretty decent. The voice acting is great, even though some of the villains are too cocky for their own good, but that's the point -- they're VILLAINS. . As a result, it fits the game perfectly. The music, while repetitive, is enjoyable, and the sound effects get the job done, even if there's little variety.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance doesn't push comic book gaming forward, it delivers an arcade-like experience online and offline. The ability to mix up the team with a variety of characters will keep players testing strategies, as numerous levels and unlockable skins will satisfy as well. At its core, it may just be a brawler, but it's an Ultimate brawler, and a damn good one at that. Excelsior!
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