Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

From Marvel Database

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

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Title

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

Video Game Details

Developers

Raven Software; Vicarious Visions; Beenox Studios; Barking Lizards

Publishers

Activision

Genres

Action RPG/ Adventure

Modes

Single player, Multiplayer, Online

Ratings

Teen

Platforms

PC, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii, Game Boy Advance

Media

BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, UMD, GBA flash cartridge, Wii Optical Disc

Release Date

October 24, 2006

Appearances

Characters that appear as alternate costumes are listed under the original character.
All playable characters have four different costumes, except Moon Knight, who has three.
Characters with a "'" are not available at the beginning of the game, and become available during gameplay.

Easter Egg Conversations

Just like X-Men Legends II, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance features Easter Egg conversations with the bosses. Among these include:

Additionally, there are situations where meeting an NPC ally (even if a playable character isn't being used right now) that will trigger similar conversations. These are:

Locations

It's important to note that despite the game's title, the game does not take place in the Ultimate Universe. Also, there is no word that it definitively takes place in the Earth-616 universe or the X-Men Legends universe, so it gets its own universe, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

Story

Loki (by Glen Angus)

The game starts with Dr. Doom having recently formed a new Masters of Evil. The new evil alliance launches an attack on the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier U.N.N. Alpha and Nick Fury sends out a distress call to all available metahumans, or super heroes. Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man and Wolverine are seen responding to the call and the heroes proceed to eliminate Dr. Doom's forces led by Scorpion, Bullseye, Winter Soldier, Radioactive Man, and Fin Fang Foom. After saving the helicarrier, Nick Fury is given permission to start a task force to fight this new threat and Iron Man gives them permission to use Stark Tower as their headquarters since the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier U.N.N. Alpha was badly damaged by the Masters of Evil.

The first mission of the newly formed group of heroes is to investigate an odd message received from Dum Dum Dugan on the Omega Base, a S.H.I.E.L.D. mobile research facility. The player must fight through awakened Super Soldiers, AIM troopers and the supervillains M.O.D.O.K., Crimson Dynamo, and Mysterio so that they can prevent the Omega Base from crashing into Vondrak Dam and the Masters of Evil from launching several gamma bombs.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance screenshot

The next mission for the heroes takes them to Atlantis, where the inhabitants are being mind controlled by Attuma using Sonic Emitters (which Attuma has Warlord Krang and Byrrah guard one of them) who has usurped Namor the Sub-Mariner from his throne with the help of Tiger Shark. With the help of nano-technology that enables them to breath and move freely underwater, the heroes are able to save Namor and defeat the evil usurper. After defeating Attuma, the heroes meet with Mandarin deep in the catacombs. He escapes with the "Tome of Asarius", but unleashes the Kraken, which the player must defeat in order to complete the mission.

The player is then sent to The Valley of Spirits to confront Mandarin, where they encounter and recruit Dr. Strange. After finding and defeating Mandarin, it is revealed that he had attempted to take command of the Masters of Evil and, upon failing, left the group. He suggests that the Mandarin they saw in the catacombs was Loki, God of Mischief.

Due to Loki's involvement and Nightcrawler and Jean Grey's kidnappings the heroes move their headquarters to Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. The team learns that Professor Xavier has tracked Nightcrawler to Castle Doom, but upon trying to transport the heroes are sent to Murderworld by a spell of Baron Mordo. After defeating a mind-controlled Jean Grey, Rhino, and Shocker, the heroes confront Arcade the master of Murderworld.

Upon defeating the game fanatic, the heroes learn from him that Dr. Doom has used Nightcrawler to gain access to Mephisto's Realm. The team is then sent to Mephisto's Realm. Upon arriving, minions of Mephisto kidnap Jean Grey and Nightcrawler. Blackheart, one of Mephisto's minions, puts them in separate cages above the Infinity Vortex. The player is faced with the choice of whether to save Nightcrawler or Jean Grey. One of them must be saved and another sacrificed, before the team can defeat Mephisto.

Using the Super Soldier Serum, stolen from the Omega Base, a massive army of Super Soldiers attacks Asgard and imprisons the Asgardian Gods. You travel to Valhalla to liberate it from its invading force, and free Tyr (who is guarded by Scorpion and Lizard), Heimdall (who is guarded by Rhino and Shocker), and Balder followed by a battle with Enchantress and Executioner.

The heroes head to Bifrost Bridge to defeat the Wrecking Crew so that Bifrost Bridge can be opened.

Later, the heroes head to Niffleheim and defeat Kurse and Ulik. The Twilight Sword is found to be shattered, having been used to take Odin's powers as stated by Sif. The heroes learn before their battle with Ymir that Dr. Doom and Loki took Odin to Raven's Spire. After a battle with Baron Mordo and Ultron, the heroes face off against Loki. After Loki is defeated at Raven's Spire, the player is sent to free the Destroyer Armor, to use against Dr. Doom. It is revealed that you were tricked in to freeing the armor for Loki. The heroes defeat Loki and the armor, but Dr. Doom appears, and reveals that he has stolen Odin's power. He uses it to try and kill the heroes...

...Or so it seems. Uatu the Watcher saves them and transports them to the base of the Inhumans on the Moon. Uatu reveals the only way to beat Doom is to find the M'Kraan Crystal and steal the Muonic Inducer from Galactus, who is currently attacking the Skrull homeworld.

The player is sent to the Shi'ar Empire where they help restore Lilandra Neramani to the throne so that they can get a portion of the M'Kraan Crystal and thwart Deathbird.

After retrieving the crystal, the heroes travel to the Skrull homeworld to destroy Galactus' shield generators, and with the help of the Silver Surfer disable him to obtain the Muonic Inducer.

While the heroes are away, Dr. Doom conquers Earth and corrupts many heroes after defeating them as well as using Odin's powers to create evil clones of the playable heroes. Upon arriving back at Stark Tower, the team finds that Doom has converted it into "Doomstark" tower. The player must fend off an army of Iron Man-based robots so that they can reactivate the tower for their use.

The final level is set in Latveria, home of Doctor Doom, and whilst there they defeat the corrupted evil heroes, evil clones of the heroes, many clones of the Fantastic Four, and confront Dr. Doom. The heroes use the two devices obtained earlier to weaken Doom and upon being struck down by the heroes, Doom is blasted by a bolt of lightning sent by a rejuvenated Odin, leaving nothing but his mask behind.

Nick Fury tells the heroes that the team must disband and asks the heroes if S.H.I.E.L.D. can count on them when another threat happens. Captain America replies by saying that the world can count on them. Meanwhile, Galactus vows revenge on the heroes who stole from him and plans to destroy Earth.

Subplot

During the game a subplot takes place where Weasel attempts to find proof that the Black Widow is a double agent, and the player needs to obtain various pieces of information to aid his efforts. Ultimately the players call Nick Fury with information of Black Widow's apparent betrayal, it is revealed that Black Widow is innocent and her suspicious activities were part of an operation to try and retrieve plans that Dr. Doom had stolen from S.H.I.E.L.D. However, a phone call made during the credits reveal that the Black Widow had been using Weasel to steal information from S.H.I.E.L.D. then setting up Weasel for the fall.

Future

After the game, Uatu tells the player of how his/her actions in the game (such as not completing missions the right way, or not completing side missions) have changed the future. Here are the futures that Uatu explains:

• If the player prevents the Super Soldiers from destroying the S.H.I.E.L.D. Omega Base computer that contains research data on the Legacy Virus, it's information will lead to a cure several years later that will save the mutant race from possible extinction. If not, the mutant race may go extinct.
• If the player succeeds in finding the rare Walek Seaweed as one of the ingredients to a medicine that will heal Namor, he will begin to trust surface-dwellers and join a world-wide organization of superheroes that will save the Earth from many dangers that would've destroyed it. Otherwise, war between Atlantis and the surface world may ensue when Warlord Krang overthrows Namor and caverns stolen nuclear missiles to use against the surface world.
• If the player succeeds in saving Senator Robert Kelly from within Murderworld, he would successfully sponsor the Mutant Aid bill which will allow government funds for schools like Professor X's which will prove to be very perfective in training young mutants how to control their powers. If Senator Kelly isn't rescued, he will instate a bill where all mutants are forced to go to re-educational camps so they will be educated to NOT use their powers.
• If the player chooses to save Jean Grey from being dropped into the Infinity Vortex, Mystique will avenge Nightcrawler by infiltrating the X-Mansion at night to vent her frustration upon Professor X where he will die in a coma months later and the X-Men will disband forever. If the player saves Nightcrawler from being dropped into the Infinity Vortex, Jean Grey doesn't die in the Infintiy Vortex and will return to Earth in the form of the Dark Phoenix to exact vengeance upon those that didn't save her.
• If the player finds Valkyrie's sword Dragon Fang, Asgard will be easily freed with her aid, Loki will be imprisoned in chains, and Ragnarok never comes to pass. If the player doesn't find her sword, Valkyrie and Balder fall in battle during the prevention of Ragnarok and the people of Asgard are forbidden to contact Earth for a century.
• If the player recovers Volla's ring, she will warn Odin about an attempt on his life which will lead to the capture of the villainous fire demon Surtur in the years to come. If not, then Odin will be killed, Lady Sif dies in battle, and Thor will rule Asgard as the greatest of the gods.
• If the player frees Lilandra Neramani, the Shi'ar will give Earth their advance technology that will wipe out Earth's diseases and hunger and the Shi'ar technology will eventually enable humanity to colonize other planets. If the player doesn't, the Shi'ar will refuse to help the heroes when an asteroid comes to destroy the Western coast of the United States.
• If the player saves the Skrull homeworld from destruction, the Skrulls will soon form a tentative partnership with Earth and later come to the aid of Earth when the Kree threaten to enslave humanity. Otherwise, the Kree and the Skrull will go to war with one another separately, costing millions of lives.
• If the player frees Odin from his dark magic machine confinement at Castle Doom, he will help Thor prevent Thanos from taking over Earth in the near future. If the player doesn't, he won't help Thor fight Thanos who will end up enslaving Earth for centuries.
• If the player successfully finds the damaged Ultimate Nullifier in a laboratory at Castle Doom, Mister Fantastic will repair it and use it one day to prevent Mephisto from invading Earth before all is lost. If the damaged Ultimate Nullifier isn't found, Mephisto is still repelled, but only after heavy casualties.
  

Cast

• Dee Bradley Baker - Nightcrawler
• Adrienne Barbeau - Sif
• Gregg Berger - Attuma, Galactus, Thing
• Steven Jay Blum - Wolverine, Venom
• Trev Broudy - Captain America
• Gabrielle Carteris - Elektra, Enchantress
• Larry Cedar - Loki
• Cam Clarke - Thor, Daredevil, Weasel
• Chris Cox - Silver Surfer
• John Cygan - Iron Man
• Robin Atkin Downes - Dark Cyclops, Dr. Bruce Banner, Crimson Dynamo
• Greg Eagles - Luke Cage
• Paul Eiding - Ymir
• Greg Ellis -
• Quinton Flynn - Spider-Man, Arcade
• Crispin Freeman - Winter Soldier
• Nika Futterman - Black Widow, Deathbird
• Michael Gough - MODOK
• Richard Green - Magneto
• Kim Mai Guest - Crystal
• Michael Hagiwara - Wong
• Dan Hay - Additional Voices
• James Horan - Doctor Strange, Ultron
• Jerry Houser - Hank Pym
• Marabina Jaimes - Clea, Ronin
• Tom Kane - Grey Gargoyle, Professor X
• John Kassir - Deadpool
• Josh Keaton - Human Torch
• Phil LaMarr - Black Panther, Colossus, Moon Knight, Uatu
• Dawnn Lewis - Storm
• Nancy Linari - Medusa
• Peter Lurie - Executioner, Hulk, Sabretooth
• Scott MacDonald - Corsair, Cyclops, Dum-Dum Dugan, Nick Fury
• Danica McKellar - Invisible Woman
• David Naughton - Mister Fantastic
• Nolan North - Ghost Rider
• Khary Payton - Blade
• Phil Proctor - Baron Mordo, Edwin Jarvis
• Steven Rattazzi - Mandarin
• Peter Renaday - Odin
• Clive Revill - Dr. Doom
• Roger Rose - Vision, Captain Marvel
• James Sie - Ancient One, Fin Fang Foom, Radioactive Man
• David Sobolov - Blackheart, Titannus
• April Stewart - Ms. Marvel
• Fred Tatasciore - Mephisto
• James Arnold Taylor - Iceman
• Joe Thomas - Namor the Sub-Mariner
• Tasia Valenza - Spider-Woman
• Sarah Waits - Jean Grey
• Beau Weaver - Tiger Shark
• Dave Wittenberg - Gladiator
• Kris Zimmerman - Additional Voices
  

Notes

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an action role-playing game released by Raven Software and Activision in October 2006 in U.S. Previously referred to as Marvel-Legends, this game features over 24 playable characters and 140 character appearances.

• Requirements: Wifi support, Xbox Live, PNP, WiiConnect24, Internet
• Input: Mouse, Keyboard, SIXAXIS Controller, Xbox 360 Wireless controller, Wii Remote ,Nunchak

Features

Fantastic Four (Marvel Ultimate Alliance)

The game features over 140 characters from the Marvel Universe. Players are able to create teams, and have online and co-operative play, for up to 4 players. In arcade mode players will have to fight for the most kills in order to get the experience points at the end of the level. There are also special comic book missions, revisiting a moment in a character's past and facing a classic arch rival. Characters may have up to four costumes, which can alter the stats of the character.

Players will fight in mid air, underwater and on the ground, with fully destructible and interactive environments in over 17 locations, traveling around different locales on planet Earth, different dimensions, and even the depths of space by the end of the game. The game has alternative endings, affected by the decisions the player(s) make throughout the game. These endings are based on whether or not the player chooses to complete optional missions.

The game is quite rewarding for fans of Marvel's characters, providing lots of bonuses and nods to knowledgeable fans who know their comic history. Putting together teams of characters who have a shared history together, for example, may give team bonuses (ex. using Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Ms. Marvel on the same team would yield you the Avengers, giving you a boost in attack damage for all team members). Using particular characters to interact with other NPCs can also yield additional dialogue, and villains will also react accordingly when met with their nemeses(for example, Bullseye will talk directly to Elektra upon seeing her in the first chapter). The game also features trivia games, artwork and many more references to the Marvel Universe.

While many characters in the game by default are rendered with the appearance they have in the Ultimate Marvel line of comics, the world of the game is predominantly based upon that of the original Marvel Universe, with many villains, character designs and references to events that exist only in that continuity (for example, Galactus is the original Marvel Universe's version, not Ultimate Marvel's hive-minded robotic version).

Versions

The game is available through several gaming systems.

Game Boy Advance

"Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" has been altered for the Game Boy Advance port and has become a side-scrolling fighting game with minor RPG elements, such as the ability to alter your characters' stats. The graphics are simplified for this system and the selection of characters has also been reduced. Some additional gameplay modes were added into this version of the game including a S.H.I.E.L.D. Simulator, Time Challenges, Scavenger Hunts, and a Survival mode. Teams for this port consist of three characters and a striker, a non-playable fourth character who can be summoned to perform a powerful attack directed toward on-screen enemies.

Playable characters include Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iceman, Blade, Captain America, Deadpool, Elektra, Ms. Marvel, Thor, & The Thing . Special characters included in the game are Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, Dark Phoenix, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Vision. Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Iceman are the game's starter team but as the game progresses, characters become unlocked as more missions are completed.

PC

The PC version is customizable, and many characters and their skins can be obtained from modding sites for play within the game. Also, the PC version's graphics vary depending on the customization of a user's settings. The PC version also features "intuitive mouse controls" and works with a gamepad.

Playstation Portable

The PSP version features simplified graphics, different characters, and extra features including the four exclusive playable Marvel characters Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Hawkeye and Ronin. Other things unique to this version are 6 exclusive comic book missions including one which contained Swordsman, an exclusive prequel mission, and three exclusive single-player gameplay modes. Added features include online play, microphone support (voice chat) and online-recordable player statistics.

Wii

The Wii version has a few features unique to its version including specific motion-sensitive controls for normal moves, Motion-sensitive controlled Special attacks, unique for each character, and access to any special move at any time. In this version there is no online play, but there is a normal multiplayer mode in which up to four players may play at once. It also features the characters Moon Knight and Colossus.

Xbox 360 and PS3

The Xbox 360 version and the Playstation 3 version are virtually identical, with no major differences apart from the PS3's SIXAXIS controller.

Activision released 8 additional downloadable characters on the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Marketplace on April 26, 2007 in a set of packs: a hero and villain pack, both costing 500 Microsoft points each. However, if desired, the user may download both in a bundle pack, slightly reducing the overall cost of both separate for 800 Microsoft points. Four heroes are included, being Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Hawkeye, and the Hulk. There are also four villains - Magneto, Sabretooth, Venom, and Doctor Doom.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance: Gold Edition was released for the Xbox 360 on May 22, 2007. It has all eight downloadable heroes and villains that were originally available only on the Xbox 360 through download on Xbox Live. It also includes 12 new Xbox LIVE achievements and exclusive character costumes.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance: Special Edition (Platinum Hits) was released for the Xbox 360 on September 25, 2007. The feature set includes all of the Gold Edition extras and a bonus DVD.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was also released as a companion with Forza 2 in specially marked Xbox 360 consoles during the Christmas season 2007. This release contains a copy of the initially released version of the game.

PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits

On August 19, 2007, a Special Edition Greatest Hits version was released for the PlayStation 2, including the game in its original form and a "bonus" DVD containing a making-of featurette.

Xbox

The Xbox version of the game has no changes from the standard PS2 edition, however, a community-based modification has been released which adds Colossus, Moon Knight, Gambit and Angel to the game. ^[1] The mod includes new team bonuses for the characters, as well as updates and fixes for existing characters. An update is planned for summer of 2008 which will include additional features and fixes. All four exclusives are courtesy of Teancum of Marvel Mods, who took up the project.

Trivia

• Activision is planning Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 for2008.

See Also

• Characters from Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
• Other things related to Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
• Video Game Gallery: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

Links and References

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance wallpaper

• X-Men Legends
• X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance's official site
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance trailer on youtube
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance on youtube
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Gallery on ign.com
• Gamespot trailer
• IGN: PS3
• 1up look into M:UA
• Gamespy information on M:UA
• Marvel Legends: An Unofficial Forum for M:UA