Overall 9 Graphics 9 Sound 9 Addictive 9 Story 10 Depth 10 Difficulty 8
9.3
THE X-Men game of the 90s. rhekyono
If I had to pick just one X-Men game to be stuck with for all eternity, this would have to be it. Containing three of my favorite characters, offering plenty of variety and delivering on atmosphere and a generally good experience, there is little more I could ask for. But that bit of gushing aside, let us get down to business.
Graphics: 9
Everything here is very distinct, and loyal to the subject matter in most every respect. This is very much in tune graphically with what you could expect from the comics at the time; little details are in full display, and everything is clear and concise. Dark, perhaps, but it works in context and aids the mood. Everyone looks as they're supposed to, and no area is lacking for personality.
Sound: 9
Atmospheric, a bit subdued, but mostly, we are once again giving credit to mood. If you don't care for a dark experience, this game will leave you a bit cold. Some things are slightly reminiscent of the cartoon playing at this time, though nothing directly from there; it is largely comprised of pieces you would associate with the precise moment the game thrusts you into. Sound effects are solid, and give a certain amount of weight to your actions. Explosions are perhaps a bit too "poppy" at times, but this is a small (albeit frequent) blemish on an otherwise great setup.
Addictiveness: 9
There is a lot of reason to keep playing. You have six (or seven) characters to play with, relatively long stages to experiment with and search through, and it's only a little routine. There is some repetition, as with most any game of this era, but X-Men 2 goes a long way toward delivering new sights and a sense of accomplishment, for your buck (or Viz, as the case may be).
Story: 10
I am fudging this number a bit, but allow me to explain why. The story in-game is largely delivered through cryptic logs in real-time, as far as the world is concerned, It delivers on a certain atmospheric quality that complements the rest of the game. To be more specific, however, it ties into the Phalanx Covenant story arc, which was a big deal at the time; techno-organic aliens have been called to Earth and threaten human and mutant-kind alike, with the desire to assimilate life as we know it into their collective. Each event here has some connection to a comic book event, tenuous or direct, and it delivers so with the same gusto the event itself promised. Though you will need to read the comics to get the full story, this one remains self-contained enough that it can be appreciated on its own, and to tie them together, you have something quite epic.
Depth: 10
Seven unique characters, long stages, varied enemies and environments, X-Men 2 will give you what you put into it. Each character has both major and subtle differences from the next one over that will make significant changes to how you play. Though the goals remain the same, from one to the next, you find how you approach situations can change quickly. Some characters are better-suited to charging in, others to take an alternate route, or just come from another angle; no one is inherently better than the rest, it all boils down to your preferences. Playing through with a single character the entire way is a challenge, but never impossible no matter who you pick, and you have many opportunities to experiment, seeing what works best for you.
Difficulty: 8
X-Men 2, at its core, is a straightforward experience. It will throw challenges and goals at you which you are familiar with from other games, but this is to ease you into what comes later. What at first was a routine introductory stage, and a slightly aggressive boss at the end of the next, will turn against you gradually, leading to some hectic and challenging instances. There is a certain lack of checkpoints in the stages themselves, so you will have to start fresh after each death, but you can use this time to learn and consider your next action. It can be tricky, but everything is intuitive, and you can actually see what you did wrong by the time you get back. Expect to try again many times, but not to frustrating degrees.
Overall: 9.3
This is the X-Men game everyone wanted at the time. There may be disagreements over the roster of available characters, or you might not be a fan of the arc it takes place in, or just not a fan of X-Men, and this one won't necessarily change you mind. Nonetheless, it goes a long way toward proving a licensed game's viability, and takes great strides to be accessible as well as rewarding.
Graphics 9 Sound 9 Addictive 9 Story 10 Depth 10 Difficulty 8
Review Rating: 5/5
Submitted: 02-12-14
Review Replies: 0
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