he X-Men are hot. Once the sole focus of comic-book and graphic-novel aficionados, two X-Men movies have made Marvel's heroes and heroines some of the most popular superheroes in the history of superherodom ... or something like that. That popularity has spawned its share of games based on their famed exploits. Latest in that spawning is X-Men Legends.
Published by Activision, X-Men Legends is an action role-playing game (you know, the genre birthed by Blizzard's Diablo) in which gamers play as famous X-Men, including Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm and many others. In fact, players may pick from up to 15 X-Men to play as they smash, bash, beam and bust (don't you love the way that rolls off your tongue?) their way through the game.
The game plays in real time from an overhead isometric perspective. Simple commands order your X-Men charges to kick, punch, burn or whatever their opponents. As the game progresses, so does the size of the questing party. In the middle to late game, up to four X-men may be simultaneously controlled. Or, to be more precise, a gamer controls one X-Man (or woman) while the artificial intelligence controls the other three—and does a good job of it, to boot. On the other fist, you may enlist your buddies' aid and play multiplayer co-operative, with your friends controlling the other X-People.
The superheroes level up as per typical role-playing game conventions. At each level you may choose the attributes to increase and the skills to learn. Furthermore, your questers will find cool armor, powerups and aids as they battle their way through the levels.
The best action RPG since Diablo
This game is just a blast! It's a cleverly designed gem that well balances nonstop action with interesting character development and an intriguing story. On top of that, the tactics and strategy are as good as anything on the market. For example, it's great fun to let the artificial intelligence control Cyclops and let him blast away at the enemies from afar while you wade in and slash them with Wolverine's claws, or perhaps Storm wails away with a numbing weather effect such as ice or rain. The game offers nearly limitless possibilities. There are special attacks, multiple ways to accomplish missions and just as many ways to kill your opponent. Tired of smacking Wolverine's opponents around? Fine, pick up that garbage can over by the gutter and toss it at them or, better still, pick up a bad guy and toss him off the roof.
And the game looks as good as it plays. Activision intentionally used comic-book-type art in the game, and it works magnificently. There are loud colors in sun, blues in the shade, and just about anything can be picked up, destroyed or both. And the characters? They are true to their comic-book counterparts in looks (although Storm is a bit too muscular) as well as actions. Wolverine slashes, Cyclops glowers, and Storm summons awesome weather spells.
Much the same can be said about the entire game—it is true to the comics. In fact, it evokes the feeling of living inside the comic. X-Men Legends draws on the heroes' legends, expands, embellishes them and makes them into one of the best action role-playing games since Diablo.
This is just so much darn fun I forget to go to bed. I sit in the easy chair, blurry-eyed, mumbling, "One more level." Keep 'em coming, Activision.
— Mark
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