X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse
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Comic book geeks are in for a treat with X-Men Legends 2. Acolytes of the Marvel universe, and especially X-Men fans, will be enamored with how faithfully this action RPG sticks to the source material.
Even though the game is essentially a dungeon-crawling RPG, the action-packed combat and compelling plot successfully mask the more tedious role-playing elements. Through five story acts, you control a small, selectable squad of four mutants who battle their way through New York streets, secret military facilities, the mutant nation of Genosha, and even on to the Savage Land.
A roster of more than 20 good and evil mutants is at your disposal, although you won’t have access to all of them in the beginning. Each mutant has a range of upgradeable powers and attributes, some of which are required to solve puzzles or defeat mini-bosses.
The densely packed story is filled to the brim with Marvel characters, which makes for surprising and always satisfying cameos. In addition to playable characters, you can unlock game and comic art—a nice bonus. Well-written dialog keeps the game true to its comic roots, and the voice acting fits the personalities of the comic book characters.
Most of the missions are very straightforward, requiring you to secure artifacts and key components, with the occasional gnarly boss battle thrown in to spice things up.
One of the much touted features of this sequel is the new multiplayer mode, which allows four players to battle in skirmishes or play through the story together. Unfortunately, the matchmaking capabilities are totally neutered, with no way to browse for games on the Internet. And connectivity is fickle and intermittent.
A danger-room sandbox mode offers replayability, but most of the game’s value comes from the 25 hours of single-player action.
Effectively realized mutant powers, well-developed characters, and a tight storyline make this game a no-risk investment for anyone aching to immerse themselves in Marvel mythos. It’s just a shame that the highly anticipated multiplayer mode is not up to snuff.
—Norman Chan
Month Reviewed: December 2005
Verdict: 8
ESRB Rating: T
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