Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 - Console Exclusives?

[TemporalFlux]

I think we've gotten pretty used to console exclusives at this point (i.e. Play as the Joker only on PS3). However, I haven't heard a single peep about anything different between the XBox 360 and PS3 versions of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. I would buy the idea that they just weren't going to do it, but the Wii, Nintendo DS, PS2 and PSP *do* have exclusive characters:

Exclusive to Wii, PS2 and PSP:

Blade
Cyclops
Psylocke

Exclusive to Nintendo DS:

Sentry
She-Hulk

Anyway, I'm trying to decide whether to buy the XBox 360 version or PS3 version, but I can find no guidance at all out there. Anyone hear differently? I'm amazed that they would do nothing for the bigger consoles.

 

[Chris3123]

I can't find any mention of any exclusives for Xbox 360 or PS3 either, other than the Juggernaut pre-order bonus available for only those two systems.

So as for which of the two to get... flip a coin.

 

[TemporalFlux]

So as for which of the two to get... flip a coin.

Well, the way I see it is that the PS3 could easily end up with the PS2 and PSP exclusives because it would probably just translate up the ladder eventually. However, the 360 is probably going to have a larger number of gamers available for online co-op play (which is something I never really had the chance to enjoy with the first Alliance).

So with no further enticements, I'm leaning 360. If PS3 had offered an exclusive, I would have probably went with them (so Sony drops the ball again).

Personally, I'm just hoping the programmers have the good sense to develop the Civil War companion event Annihilation as downloadable episode missions. That storyline is ready-made for an Ultimate Alliance style game given the team-up nature and drone type armies that were built into the original story itself.

 

[LutherSloan]

Who wants to play as Psylocke?

 

[LightningStorm]

Who wants to play as Psylocke?

Done right Psylocke can be a good character. Though she's not, IMO, popular (or "big") enough to be this exclusive character that would pull people to that console. No idea what they're thinking there.

 

[CommodoreKong]

So as for which of the two to get... flip a coin.

Well, the way I see it is that the PS3 could easily end up with the PS2 and PSP exclusives because it would probably just translate up the ladder eventually.

If that happens the characters would most likely come to both 360 and PS3 since Vicarious Visions is the developer. The developer of the Wii and PS2 version is N Space. The characters from the PS2 version aren't magically going to filter up to the PS3 version.

 

[TemporalFlux]

The characters from the PS2 version aren't magically going to filter up to the PS3 version.

Nah, I never expected any spells and fairies; I just noticed that these characters had been with a Sony system, so I thought it a safe bet that the Sony relationship would continue. With XBox there was no evidence of any relationship at all, so I believed the potential there was a shot in the dark.

In any case, today I went ahead and pre-ordered the 360 version at Gamestop so that I could get the Juggernaut unlocked.

 

[Praetor]

I was annoyed that the Juggernaut pre-order dealy required a non-reusable code, and I didn't know about it. I was hoping there would just be a regular old unlock code for him, like when I bought the first one and got the card with the Silver Surfer code on it. Then again, I'm not the biggest Juggs fan anyway, and I'm sure he'll be in a downloadable pack in the near future.

Spoiler: Costumes and Characters

Speaking of which, I'm a little disappointed by just how few characters there actually are. Those early lists of characters that didn't distinguish between playables and NPCs led to some serious disappointment on my part. Then again, it wouldn't take too much to make some NPCs playable, but of course, that will be an extra download to pay for.

I'm also annoyed that the game apparently only comes with one pre-loaded alternate costume. Who wants to bet they sell those as downloads, too?

Overall, I like the game so far, but it remains to be seen whether I ultimately like it more than the first one. I think it really hinges on the replay value and expandability, which right now I'm hoping is a lot higher than I'm thinking it's going to be.

 

[dark angel_707]

expect new characters and new costumes as paid for DLC. Its what companies are doing now, Dirt 2 had less cars and tracks compared to the 1st game.

The 1st M:UA game had 4 costumes that changed your abilites, UA2 has only 1 alt costume

 

[The Evil Dead]

expect new characters and new costumes as paid for DLC. Its what companies are doing now, Dirt 2 had less cars and tracks compared to the 1st game.

The 1st M:UA game had 4 costumes that changed your abilites, UA2 has only 1 alt costume

I'm not holding my breath or anything but I'm hoping they'll release DLC campaigns like a House of M or Marvel Zombies storyline that will add the appropriate alternate attires, so like you could play through the regular game as Zombie Spidey, Iron-Man and Colonel America.

 

[Skywalker]

expect new characters and new costumes as paid for DLC. Its what companies are doing now, Dirt 2 had less cars and tracks compared to the 1st game.

The 1st M:UA game had 4 costumes that changed your abilites, UA2 has only 1 alt costume

Yep, nowadays it's all about the DLC. Gets on my nerves.

 

[FordSVT]

I loved the first game, but it was a bit easy. Put all of your points into Iron Man's hand repulsor rays and you can practically one-shot enemies by the end of the game.

 

[exodus]

Who wants to play as Psylocke?

Done right Psylocke can be a good character. Though she's not, IMO, popular (or "big") enough to be this exclusive character that would pull people to that console. No idea what they're thinking there.

She used to be.

 

[dark angel_707]

Yep, nowadays it's all about the DLC. Gets on my nerves.

Nothing wrong with DLC unless it rips off the gamer

I'm not holding my breath or anything but I'm hoping they'll release DLC campaigns like a House of M or Marvel Zombies storyline that will add the appropriate alternate attires, so like you could play through the regular game as Zombie Spidey, Iron-Man and Colonel America.

I wanted this game to be the Marvel Zombies story, but you are right not to hold your breath, its going to be more super heroes (or even recycled characters from the 1st game)

 

[Samurai8472]

I loved the first game, but it was a bit easy. Put all of your points into Iron Man's hand repulsor rays and you can practically one-shot enemies by the end of the game.

So just like X-Men Legends 2

 

[exodus]

Has anyone encountered the bug in the NYC scenario?

 

[TemporalFlux]

Has anyone encountered the bug in the NYC scenario?

Didn't see that one; what is it?

However, I did run afowl of the bug during the first stage of the Negative Zone prison level. You get to the end to fight Equinox and...nothing happens. Turns out there's a soldier hidden behind a door that you can't access or even see; you have to use someone with a distance attack like Human Torch's flame pillar to kill the soldier behind the door before it will initiate the boss fight with Equinox.

 

[exodus]

Has anyone encountered the bug in the NYC scenario?

Didn't see that one; what is it?

However, I did run afowl of the bug during the first stage of the Negative Zone prison level. You get to the end to fight Equinox and...nothing happens. Turns out there's a soldier hidden behind a door that you can't access or even see; you have to use someone with a distance attack like Human Torch's flame pillar to kill the soldier behind the door before it will initiate the boss fight with Equinox.

Good to know.

In the NYC scenario if you recuse the civilian victims in the wrong pattern, no exit to the next board comes up. You have to start the level all over again and go north then west to rescue the victim under the grating first before rescuing the one under the bus. Doing it any other way will lock the level.


They don't use game testers anymore to find these things before releasing the games?

 

[dark angel_707]

Has anyone encountered the bug in the NYC scenario?

Didn't see that one; what is it?

However, I did run afowl of the bug during the first stage of the Negative Zone prison level. You get to the end to fight Equinox and...nothing happens. Turns out there's a soldier hidden behind a door that you can't access or even see; you have to use someone with a distance attack like Human Torch's flame pillar to kill the soldier behind the door before it will initiate the boss fight with Equinox.

Good to know.

In the NYC scenario if you recuse the civilian victims in the wrong pattern, no exit to the next board comes up. You have to start the level all over again and go north then west to rescue the victim under the grating first before rescuing the one under the bus. Doing it any other way will lock the level.


They don't use game testers anymore to find these things before releasing the games?

they do but they let the games get shipped with bugs (mostly due to the publisher) as they can just patch it with auto-updates. Its become the "accepted" standard for modern games

 

[exodus]

Didn't see that one; what is it?

However, I did run afowl of the bug during the first stage of the Negative Zone prison level. You get to the end to fight Equinox and...nothing happens. Turns out there's a soldier hidden behind a door that you can't access or even see; you have to use someone with a distance attack like Human Torch's flame pillar to kill the soldier behind the door before it will initiate the boss fight with Equinox.

Good to know.

In the NYC scenario if you recuse the civilian victims in the wrong pattern, no exit to the next board comes up. You have to start the level all over again and go north then west to rescue the victim under the grating first before rescuing the one under the bus. Doing it any other way will lock the level.


They don't use game testers anymore to find these things before releasing the games?

they do but they let the games get shipped with bugs (mostly due to the publisher) as they can just patch it with auto-updates. Its become the "accepted" standard for modern games

I'm going to take it from your rolling eyes that you find this a poor business practice too. What adds insult to injury is if that's what they planned, we the consumer are still the ones getting shafted. We're paying $60 bucks and up for these games, for that type of money these games should have all the bugs worked out before they're released. Having us pay that much and not doing their job completely is giving us a big F-U because they think all of us will buy the game regardless.

Seriously, where's the accountability?