MUA 2

[Ares_God_of_War]

So when can you use Juggernaut in this? I redeemed him but I dont see any info about him at all in the game itself. I went with Cap and I am only startinf the first few missions.

[Talavar]

Well, I've played to where you choose sides in the Civil War, and so far I prefer this to MUA1.  The Fusion powers are cool (mostly), the boost system is a nice change from the items of previous games, the environments/levels are more fun so far than the esoteric ones from MUA1, and the effects graphics are dramatically improved.  I've especially noticed it with Storm's lightning; it's appearance in this game just makes the previous one look anemic.

[captmorgan72]

So when can you use Juggernaut in this? I redeemed him but I dont see any info about him at all in the game itself. I went with Cap and I am only startinf the first few missions.

You can use him the first time you are able to form your own team.

Spoiler

There is a point during the Secret War where you will form Bravo team to support Cap, Wolverine, Spidey and Iron Man. You can select him there. I chose the Fantastic Four for my Bravo team. They look great, especially Thing.

[Ares_God_of_War]

Spoiler

O.k. thats dissapointing. I downloaded him and it went through all the steps on my X-Box and said completed but I actually don't have him. In fact I don't even see his outline on the roster. I went anti-reg and I was at the part where I fought Bishop to save Cable.

*edit* o.k. today he is there

[Podmark]

Spoiler

O.k. thats dissapointing. I downloaded him and it went through all the steps on my X-Box and said completed but I actually don't have him. In fact I don't even see his outline on the roster. I went anti-reg and I was at the part where I fought Bishop to save Cable.

Spoiler

Wouldn't Juggernaut be pro reg?

[Ares_God_of_War]

Spoiler

who knows, I never had access to him at any point at all originally but for some reason today he is there. Also what is weird is my characters seem a few levels higher than when what I had last night

[TheMarvell]

I know for a long time I've been very uninterested in this game, but after seeing videos of the game in action, my interested got higher. After much internal debate, and finding it onsale for $10 cheaper at a local store, and wanting a new game since it's been a while since I got one, I picked this up.

I've played up to the part where you get to pick sides (roughly 3 or 4 hours in) and I definitely find the game fun. It plays just like the first game with some tweaks here and there. No surprises there. The fusions are really the only shining new aspect of the game, and even those are hit or miss. Basically anything involving storm is a feast for your eyes, but it seems like anyone she fuses with has the same result. For example, Human Torch turns her tornado into a fire tornado. Take a guess what Ice Man does. Yeah, turns her tornado into an ice tornado. But some of the fusions are downright stupid. Guess what fusing Gambit and Wolverine does. They run around the room together and anyone they charge into gets hurt...yeah, what? That's the best they could do? Seriously?! (speaking of Gambit, he is my new favorite character to play as. Picking up objects and making them explode is freakin cool.)

Graphics are also hit and miss. Yeah, it looks sharper, but I can't say I like the color palette. The first game was definitely brighter and much more vibrant. This one is darker and grittier, which makes some of the levels hard to tell what's going on in them.

I'm pretty much just rambling right now. Basically the short end of it is that this game is what it is: a sequel with some minor tweaks and a different style. When boiled down, it's more of the same, so if you played MUA 1 to death like I did but want another game in the same genre, you can't go wrong here. It's not a bad game, but it's nothing new. Most people here aren't on the fence anymore (seems like people either already have it or not interested at all) and I understand that, but I wanted to give my two cents coming from someone who had very little interest in the game based off of how the characters looked...and how they'll most likely handle DLC...

oh, and fyi, anyone can get Juggernaut. That's right, no preorder necessary. Just go to the GameStop VIP website (I'll post a link later) and type in random numbers for the receipt number and in a day or two Gamestop will email you with a code.

[Previsionary]

So, if anyone was considering the PS2 version, these are some of the things I've learned:

Spoiler

1. The graphics are considered WORSE than MUA1. Disappointing.

2. Psylocke, Cyclops, and Blade are considered to be good. Psylocke has free telekinesis, Blade got an upgrade and is more useable, and Cyclops is akin to his MUA1 (XBOX360) version.

3. There are some bugs in the game such as the random 100k gold bug.

And for DS, I learned it, too, has two secret characters:

Spoiler

1. She-hulk
2. Sentry

This character exclusive thing has to stop. One of the characters I wanted to play as most is on a system I would never consider buying the game for. Also, can someone confirm how many powers are useable in the 360/PS3 version? I've seen rather conflicting reports about it (IE: only 4 powers per character).

[Ares_God_of_War]

I beat it yesterday on 360. for X-box its about 4 powers each person and then also fusions as well. and depending on if you are anti reg or pro-reg you unlokc certain skills.

[TheMarvell]

well, apparently the website to type in your receipt for a Juggernaut code has been taken down due to "giving out all available codes" (gamestop.com/mua2vip) If anyone has the 360 version, I have an extra code if you want him. Just let me know and I'll shoot you a PM.

kinda stinks for anyone who did preorder the game. ANYONE could get a code by typing in gibberish and their email. This is why I hate preorder bonuses like this.

[captmorgan72]

Finished this today, I went Anti-reg. Contrary to what a certain "Ant" said, the secret character does make sense in context to the story. Though I couldn't help but think of Locutus.  It actually was well done too, at least I think. Very much enjoyed this one, more so than I did the first. Unlocked Thor and Jean Grey but still not the Hulk. Started my second time through and this time I'm joining Tony.  

[TheMarvell]

electro won the code.

[Core]

finished the game earlier today. anti baby! i started a new game on legendary setting so i will go back and do pro this time.

each character has 4 powers, not including fusions. each character also has 4-6 abilities that increase their stats (i.e. focus, power damage, resistances).

gameplay wise, this game is excellent! the level design has improved greatly over mua1 (no swimming whatsoever, thankfully). thor is godly and the coipel costume looks great!

personally, i could whine about the devs character choices and and lack of costumes, but i won't (anymore).

i didn't really care for the story after act 2.

Spoiler

and i was very disappointed in the secret character!

[Glitch Girl]

http://www.anders-fischer.net/marvel-ultimate-alliance-2-review/
Not an official review, but very thorough none the less.  Some of the stuff he mentioned about the previous games mirrors my own views, which has helped me decide on if I need to get or wait on this one.

[Talavar]

I can't say I agree with much from that article having played all these games myself, and I've enjoyed many of the changes myself (costume-specific bonuses irritated me, because the best were often the ugliest; magic items didn't fit the setting - though boosts don't really either, and I always found there to be too many redundant or filler powers, so 4 decent ones + passive abilities for each character don't bother me at all).  He's right, the storyline does suck, but so did the one in MUA1, and neither of the XML games had stories worth writing home about either.

[Previsionary]

Glitch, that IS very thorough. BTW, what system were you thinking about getting it on? If it was for ps2, I'd say skip it. Not only did the game suffer graphically, but it's seems to be the buggiest version (Wii as well) + the shortest of the console versions because they removed tons of extras and most of the actual civil war part of the storyline. Heck, I didn't even mention the slow save and loading times, but all the games seem to suffer from that to some degree. Honestly, from all I gathered, Xbox360 got the best deal of all the versions of the game and PS3 got second best. Why second best, you ask? Well, somehow VV left out the rumble feature for ps3 and the graphics are noticeably worse for ps3 when compared to xbox.

Kinda a mess all over with all these different developers handling different versions of the game, no? In brighter news, DLC content will be announced soon, so maybe they can fix some stuff like saving only works for the host during online play and stuff like that.

[Glitch Girl]

I already got warned away from the PS2 version.  Since there looks to be a PS3 in my future, it'll be for that one if and when I get it.  To be honest, I was surprised when I heard it was going to be for the PS2 at all, and now it seems to have been done as an afterthought.

[captmorgan72]

Hey Previsionary, where did you hear about DLC content getting announced soon? I frequent the MUA2 boards and the devs stated so far there is no news on DLC.

[Podmark]

Aren't PS2 versions these days usually similar to/ports of the PSP releases? I remember reading that was the case for Web of Shadows.

About the exclusive characters it doesn't bother me if the DS version has different character than the 360 and PS3. I consider them to be two different versions of those games. Are there any exclusives between the PS3 and XBox? Characters that one has but the other doesn't?

[Previsionary]

Aren't PS2 versions these days usually similar to/ports of the PSP releases? I remember reading that was the case for Web of Shadows.

About the exclusive characters it doesn't bother me if the DS version has different character than the 360 and PS3. I consider them to be two different versions of those games. Are there any exclusives between the PS3 and XBox? Characters that one has but the other doesn't?

No... ps2 and psp aren't ports of each other. If PS2 gets a game, it's usually developed for that system with no regards towards PSP and vice versa. The lack of the extra stick on PSP kinda affects that a little. As for PSP's MUA2, it wasn't developed by the same people who did Wii/PS2/DS... whole different company. So, I'd expect some changes on that system as well.

Capt, I remember reading that somewhere, but I can't recall where. I didn't take a note of it in my "bookmark" like I usually would.

Also, no, XBOX/PS3 have the same character line-up.

[Jakew]

I'm avoiding this game sheerly because a friend said it was a short play and the initial levels were boring.

[captmorgan72]

The first DLC is.....http://ps3.ign.com/articles/103/1033439p1.html

[UnfluffyBunny]

I had absoultely zero interest in this game untill that last link was posted o_o

[captmorgan72]

His alt:

Spoiler

[Podmark]

Cool Ultimate Carnage alt. I wonder if it's the Pete or Gwen version.

[Tomato]

When I can find it for under 40 for ps3, might pick this up... depends on my mood. *shrug *

[detourne_me]

apparently it's $30 for wii and ps3 at radioshack.

and really, the wii version is VERY barebones. I played the DS version first and the maps/missions are nearly identical on the Wii version. :/

[TheMarvell]

You know, I hate to say it, but did I totally call this or what? The game hasn't even been out for a whole month and they already announced DLC. It better be pretty cheap, but I highly doubt it.

how do you guys feel about Carnage being one of the first DLC characters? A lot of people feel it's kind of wrong to have this serial killer villain run side by side with heroes like Captain America. Personally, I think he looks pretty cool and as far as I know there has yet to be a game where you can play AS him. However, this kind of makes me wish they'd just make another game called Marvel Ultimate Villain Alliance. It'd be a unique twist on the formula, I think.

[Previsionary]

Well, considering the team (and Cap) is already running around side by side with Norman and people-eating Venom... Carnage isn't that much of a stretch. My only problem with him being in the game is that he is a character that has literally not been used since the early 2000s? The only reason I can even think of him being a part of the game is because they wanted to balance Spidey and Venom out AND Spider-man (comic) is currently treading in a very 90s direction.

Other than that, though, I find it odd that they're adding in new characters right now when the game is so short. I figured they'd add in new levels or events first, but ok.

[captmorgan72]

It was confirmed by a dev why Carnage was the first DLC. He apparently won a popularity poll given by VV when MUA2 was still in development. Everyone is screaming VS MODE on the MUA2 boards and I hope that VV listens, because that is exactly what this game needs.