Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
A 2006 action RPG uniting Marvel heroes against Doctor Doom.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a 2006 action role-playing game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. Set within the fictional Marvel Universe, it features many superheroes, supervillains, and supporting characters from Marvel Comics. The game allows players to select from a vast cast to create the ultimate superhero team and follows an original plot in which heroes must defeat Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
- Publisher
- Activision
- Director
- Dan Vondrak
- Designer
- Keith Fuller
- Producer
- Matthew Paul
- Artist
- Dan Hay
- Writer
- Robert Love
- Programmer
- Daniel Edwards · Gil Gribb
- Composer
- Mark Griskey · Chance Thomas · Cris Velasco
- Engine
- Vicarious Visions Alchemy
- Platforms
- Xbox / Windows / PlayStation 2 / Xbox 360 / Game Boy Advance / PlayStation Portable / Wii / PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
- Genre
- Action role-playing
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was developed by Raven Software and published by Activision, sharing gameplay similarities with Raven's earlier X-Men Legends titles. The game features an original plot where heroes must join forces to defeat Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil. Players select a team of four characters from a roster of at least 23 playable characters, with some needing to be unlocked and certain consoles offering exclusive characters. The game includes multiple possible endings depending on optional missions completed, and features trivia, concept artwork, and simulator discs that unlock additional comic book missions.
Reader's Guide
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was released on multiple platforms in 2006, with the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360 versions launching on October 24, followed by PlayStation 3 and Wii versions in November. The game received largely positive reviews for its simple but entertaining gameplay and impressive selection of Marvel characters. It was re-released in 2016 on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, ported by Zoë Mode. A sequel, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, was released in 2009, and a third game, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, was published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch in 2019. The game's legacy includes its role in popularizing team-based Marvel action RPGs and its varied console-specific content, including downloadable characters for the Xbox 360 version.
Did You Know?
- The PlayStation 3 version was one of three launch games for the system to run at 1080p resolution.
- The Game Boy Advance version is a 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up with minor RPG elements, significantly different from other versions.
- The Xbox 360 version had eight downloadable characters released in two packs: a Hero Pack and a Villain Pack.
- The PSP version includes four additional characters: Black Widow, Captain Marvel, Hawkeye, and Ronin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Marvel: Ultimate Alliance?
A 2006 action role-playing game made by Raven Software and shipped by Activision, set within the Marvel Universe. Players build a squad of Marvel characters and work through an original campaign centered on stopping Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil.
What kind of gameplay does Marvel: Ultimate Alliance offer?
You select from a broad roster of heroes, villains, and supporting cast to form a four-member party and fight real-time combat encounters. Each character carries their own signature moves and abilities inspired by their comic-book versions.
How does the story of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance end?
The assembled team defeats Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil in a final showdown, putting an end to his scheme to dominate the Marvel Universe. The game closes with the heroes having saved the world from Doom's rule.
Why is Marvel: Ultimate Alliance notable in the crossover RPG space?
It was a landmark title for letting players freely combine a large, diverse Marvel roster into one party while mixing action combat with RPG-style progression. Its formula set the template that subsequent Marvel crossover RPGs built upon.
On which platforms was Marvel: Ultimate Alliance released?
The original 2006 launch covered PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PSP, PC, and GBA, with PS3 and Wii versions arriving in November 2006. A 2016 re-release handled by Zoë Mode made the game accessible to newer audiences.
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