Comic book writer Marc Sumerak contributed to the game’s script, and while it is not the most in-depth plot for a superhero game, it hits all the right notes when exposing players to the world of Marvel while still appealing to longtime fans via fan service. Even in stints where gameplay could get repetitive, I still wanted to see what happened next kept me enthralled. Every five or ten minutes a new hero, villain, locale, or reference would be introduced. I see that as the greatest purpose of a comic book crossover game like this, so I could not be more pleased that this title succeeds at that.Īs an avid fan, the game’s story also managed to consistently keep things fresh and interesting. The original Marvel Ultimate Alliance was one of the most integral parts of my introduction to this comic book universe during my childhood, and with its large cast and an extensive database with a lot of information, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order can totally serve that same purpose for today’s up and coming fans. It is truly great to see the X-Men (and soon the Fantastic Four) back at the forefront of Marvel when it comes to both games and films, and I’m hoping that this game is just the start of that.
Capcom Infinitehas been ridiculed in the past for not including MCU-friendly characters, that is not the case with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. There are a ton of characters MCU fans will instantly recognize, but some more obscure villains and heroes like Thane and Elsa Bloodstone do share the spotlight. While Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3’s roster and story seem like they will just be made up of the MCU’s greatest hits at first glance, that actually is not the case. ” Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is definitely a game you will want to approach as a current or aspiring Marvel fan first and foremost.” The game ultimately strives because does a good job at both introducing players to a wide breadth of the Marvel universe as well as action-RPGs just as the Marvel Cinematic Universe gears up for Phase 4.
The camera, technical issues, and the sometimes hard to keep track of action do ultimately detract from the experience, but Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is one of the most jam-packed superhero games in years from a story and character standpoint.
Fortunately, Nintendo and Koei Tecmo’s Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order falls into the former category meeting the bar set by its predecessors over a decade ago despite a few quirks. That being said, games like that can falter if they choose not to fully embrace their roots or sully them with unnecessary or awkward design decisions, like with EA’s Star Wars Battlefront II. Ubisoft’s South Park: The Stick of Truth and its sequel, for example, get by not just as solid RPGs, but by being the most authentic South Park games ever with characters people know and love. Like it or not, some licensed video games live or die on not just their gameplay mechanics, but their fan service as well.