Marvel : Ultimate Alliance

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a 2006 action role-playing game published by Activision. Raven Software developed the core game, while Vicarious Visions adapted it for PlayStation Portable. This PSP release brings Marvel's heroes and villains into a portable, party-based adventure built around the same original storyline as the home-console editions.

Doctor Doom gathers the Masters of Evil and attacks S.H.I.E.L.D., prompting Nick Fury to call on the Marvel Universe's heroes. The campaign begins with the defense of the Helicarrier and sends the team through locations including the Omega Base, Atlantis, the Valley of Spirits, Murderworld, Mephisto's realm, Asgard, the Shi'ar Empire, the Skrull homeworld, and Latveria. Along the way, player decisions in optional objectives can shape the outcomes shown in the game's epilogue.

Players assemble a four-hero squad from a broad Marvel roster and can freely switch among its members in battle while computer-controlled allies fill the other roles in single-player. Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, Wolverine, Iron Man, Storm, the Thing, and many other heroes bring distinct attacks and abilities. Familiar comic-book lineups, such as the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights, Defenders, and X-Men, earn team bonuses when their members are grouped together.

Combat combines melee attacks, blocks, grabs, throws, environmental weapons, and each hero's super powers against large groups of enemies and comic-book bosses. Powers consume energy and can be combined into team attacks, encouraging the player to choose a squad whose abilities complement one another. Missions also hide collectibles, trivia questions, concept art, and simulator discs that unlock additional comic-book challenges outside the main story.

The role-playing systems reward experience with character levels, power upgrades, and stronger alternate costumes. Heroes can earn and improve costume bonuses, while S.H.I.E.L.D. Credits provide upgrades that benefit the whole team. The campaign can be replayed with different lineups and choices, and its challenges create further opportunities to develop characters beyond the central quest.

The PSP version has several additions not found in the base PlayStation 2 and Xbox releases. Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Hawkeye, and Ronin are playable here, and the handheld edition includes an exclusive prequel mission plus six exclusive comic-book missions. It also adds three single-player modes unlocked after the main game, including a level-99 solo Uber Hero challenge, and supports ad hoc and infrastructure multiplayer with voice chat and online-recorded player statistics. Its presentation uses the less detailed last-generation visual style rather than the enhanced lighting and models of the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions.