Grab, your web shooters, sharpen your katana, polish those claws and dust off those purple shorts because Marvel Ultimate Alliance is back after a long 10 years.
That’s right, the last game in the series was all the way back in September 2009 when there was barely an MCU at all and while I have very fond memories of this series I was excited and confused to see it’s return - especially as a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
The game was developed by team Ninja, famed for their beat 'em up and breast physics simulator Dead or Alive.
Ultimate Alliance despite, being a sequel, doesn’t follow on from the old games plot. However, the gameplay is very reminiscent of those classics. In Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 you create a team of your favourite Marvel heroes including Avengers and X-men in a cast of over 30 characters. You then have some limited ability to customise their attacks, costumes and stats. You send them out on missions to track down the Infinity Stones to stop Thanos and The Black Order.
The game looks good as it sticks to the stylised comic book versions of these characters, rather than Ubisoft’s more realistic “similar but different” to MCU versions - although there are similarities to some of the MCU counterparts.
Cartoony cell shading looks slick especially against some of the flat levels. There is also more bright colours, beams and explosions on screen than an anime convention.
While looking like a Saturday morning cartoon dialled up to 11, it can also make it hard to see what you're doing or who you are aiming at. More than once I'd be firing a chest repulsor the wrong way instead of at the approaching boss.
You have a choice of two camera views from the more top down classic view, which can be harder to track your characters in the chaos of combat but is locked on for multiplayer. But you also have a more zoomed in view called the hero camera, which I made it easier for me to focus on the character I was controlling.
In the game you travel to various well-known locations in the Marvel universe to collect those pesky gems and recruit more heroes, while Thanos and his minions are hot on your heels. The in game cut scenes are great and feel true to the source material with mostly good dialogue and funny quips. The story is written by veteran Marvel comic writer Marc Sumerak, and his love of the source material and knowledge shines through.
The game has a very arcade feel, very much like the old school games. Combat has been streamlined and simplified, which means it’s easy for younger players or newcomers to gaming to get in on the action. Other than your standard light and heavy attack you also have up to 4 special moves which can be combined to create more powerful synergy attacks.
Special attacks do more damage but drains a character energy bar. While you can’t chain attacks into combos there is some advanced combat options with block and dodge which you need to learn to use otherwise you will become the amazing human corpse before you can Thanos snap your fingers.
You also have unique ultimate moves which when used in tandem with the rest of your team at the right time can devastate foes.
There's an in game currency system that let you improve your teams, health, energy attacks, defence and equip stat boosting crystals calls ISO 8’s to help give you an edge in combat and at some basic customisation to your team.
Through playing the game, you also unlock Infinity Trials. These are challenges designed to test you and teach you new ways to use some of the characters. These trials also unlock more stat boosting items, in game currency and costumes. The teams you assemble can also receive buffs to the groups stats buffs depending on your combination of heroes - for example Avengers, or antiheroes or web warriors to name but a few.
While the arcade brawling is fun the game feels linear and can get a little repetitive. With you following a simple route fighting enemies that get tougher on your way to more waves of foes before stopping off at a save point to fight a boss.
Characters seem a lot more unique and its really worth experimenting and unlocking them all to find your preferred play style. Different enemy types do have different resistances, I felt this was to make me change my roster and try other approaches more but instead I just levelled up my preferred team more and slugged it out. Three DLC have also been announced with X-men, The Fantastic Four and Marvel Knights coming soon these will add new characters, story missions modes and costumes.
Performance on the Switch was good but not as polished as I would expect from an exclusive title. The camera and be a little weird and of course when there's lots of effects for ultimate moves on screen the frame rate gets choppy and resolution drops.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 supports multiplayer with couch co-op and online with but with no split screen. In multiplayer the game shines and is much more enjoyable working with your friends and synchronising attacks, and helping each other, reviving downed teammates.
Ultimately Alliance 3 may not be revolutionary but it’s a fun firework display of a game. It’s a game that knows very well it’s a fun brawler. The simplicity works for and against the game and despite some clunkiness it's most rewarding when you coordinate with other players to inflict maximum damage on your foes. Overall it’s a welcome return for the franchise. While lacking depth, it makes up for it with style and fun. With DLC on the way, the Infinity Trials and other unlockable treats there's enough here to keep you busy for an absolute age of Apocalypse.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 The Black Order is out now for £49.99 on the Nintendo eShop.
