Marvel Nemesis Review
From LoveToKnow VideoGames
Platforms Reviewed: Xbox, PS2, GameCube
Reviewed by: Doctor Gonzo
What Marvel Nemesis Could Have Been
Honestly, when I first played the demo for this comic book/fighting game fan's wet dream, I was blown away. I remember it well. I was in my favorite game store and I saw the booth, featuring the title I had heard about, but was not too hopeful given Marvel's track record with fighters. I stepped up to the booth and an employee challenged me to a duel. If I won, I got a copy of the demo to take home with me. If he won, I had to pre-order a video game.
Well, after rocking his world, I took my prize and decided to pre-order Rise of the Imperfects. The demo led me to believe that they could have actually gotten things right. Since that was my first time playing the game and I apparently hadn't done too poorly at it, you can tell right away that it doesn't take a genius to figure out the controls. In fact, sometimes I wasn't sure what the hell I was doing With a controlled form of button mashing one could easily fake their way through it.
So, Was the Story Any Good?
To put it lightly... no. It had the feel of a David Lynch movie ran in reverse and spoken in foreign languages (hich might actually be one of his movies). Niles Van Roekel is some alien/scientist/planetary terrorist. He's trying to create the perfect army, but he keeps making nearly perfects... or... "Imperfects." These failed test-tube babies will become your greatest adversaries while you play through a couple dozen levels of not-so-hotness with a cast of characters.
Seeing as there are so many levels to be played through with only a few maps to host them in, you get this constant deja vu feeling. Even though you have different goals in each level and get dropped off in a different part of the map, you get this constant deja vu feeling. You primarily fight with the same three generic bad guys between bosses, leading to this constant deja vu feeling. See my point?
Multiplayer action is where this game is at, but unfortunately, in order to snatch the games hidden goodies you'll have to trudge through single player mode as well.
Online Play
Well, the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game boast an awesome online play, and they weren't bluffing. If you have a choice between the three newer generation consoles, I would play Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects on the Xbox, if not only because their online gaming is the most intact.
Uncharacteristically of my reviews, the GameCube version actually came in last, based on the fact that their online strategy is non-existent (putting the PS2 in second place for this title). With the online game play you can expose this game for what it should have been, a multiplayer fight-fest of superhero magnitude. It keeps track of your stats and most of the people online don't operate as predictable as the AI on the single player mode.
Doctor's Orders
I have to hand it to the Marvel franchise. They're taking strides in the right direction with this one. It needs some major tweaks to camera angles and the unbalanced ability to demolish an opponent by throwing explosive barrels at them from across the room. But with a little work, they could make one hell of a 3-D fighter, a genre which has been in demand and under produced as of late.
Still, if you can get past the grinding solo mode and have friends to multiplay with, this is a winner. Or if you're one of those people who love the superhero characters a lot.
Again, if you have the choice, I recommend Xbox version above all, PS2 secon, and due to its lack of online functionality, GameCube sucks it up in last. Rent the game first to see if it holds your appeal for more than a few days. Otherwise, wait until you find a used copy, because I don't think everyone who bought this game because of the demo will be holding onto it for long.
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Comments
I wish that there would have been more characters in the game like cyclops mr. fantastik beast punisher hulk captain america jean grey sabretooth mystiqe toad moon kight iceman and colouss. They should have made more sense in the story mode for example what happened to all the marvel characters like Daredevil Electra storm the thing magneto andiron man. i feel like i don't want to play it any more
-- Contributed by: Inderdip
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