Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, PlayStation 3

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a fighting-based action game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision in 2006. In it you control a team of four Marvel superheroes, chosen from a pool of 23 playable characters (not all of which are available from the start – you must unlock some of them), and going up against the forces of Doctor Doom.

The game takes place in a fully 3D isometric world, where the camera moves around automatically. Enemies attack you constantly and the aim is to take them down by any means. You can do heavy or normal attacks, and you can use special powers if you have them. You can also block, jump, and double-jump. Maybe even fly, if you have that super power.

You can change between your four heroes by pressing directions on the d-pad, which gives you the opportunity to take advantage of a character’s strengths in certain situations. You can also save the game, and change your team members, at a green S.H.I.E.L.D. access point.

As well as Story Mode, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance also has local co-op multiplayer for up to four players, and an online multiplayer mode.

As you’d expect: there are tons of unlockables (each playable character has multiple alternate costumes to unlock, for example), and the game also has some subtle features, like bonuses for forming certain groups (eg. The Avengers, Defenders, Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights, or X-Men).

Presentation-wise, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance looks and sounds good, and all the playable characters are well animated. Gameplay-wise: it’s straightforward slugging-it-out mostly, but can get fancy if you’re prepared to learn some special moves.

If you’re a Marvel fan, then Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is likely to appeal to you. If you’re not, then it likely won’t, although it is a fun (if simple) cooperative beat ’em up in its own right.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was also released for XBox, Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Wii, XBox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.