Marvel: Ultimate Alliance [PS3]

The old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." An addendum should be added in video game context, however, that states, "Just give people more of the same." That's exactly what Activision and Raven Sofware do here: They take all that was good about X-Men Legends, encompass the entire Marvel universe, and pretty things up as only the Xbox 360 can.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is every comic-book fan's dream come true. It features 20 heroic icons to play as -- from popular crews such as the X-Men and Fantastic Four, but also some more obscure stars like Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel. In turn, they battle a potpourri of evil that's even more varied. A thin but intriguing storyline attempts to tie it all together, but it's the inside jokes and pop-culture references where the writing really shines. However, in games like this, the story is just a conduit between maps full of button-mashing combat anyway.

The combat doesn't reinvent the art of punching someone in the face by any respect, but it's still plenty fun. Slight tweaks like debris you can wield and better throws subtly enhance play, and the smarter teammates are very welcome. That's not to say they won't get stuck in corners once in a while, but a quick tap of the shoulder button warps them near your position to make their superhero paychecks. A good percentage of characters can fly or have other unique double-jump mechanics -- Spidey slings, and Deadpool teleports. These help make traversing the wide terrain a little more entertaining.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance has no health or energy potions, but pickups are plentiful -- along with coins you'll be motivated to collect. When (not if) one of your teammates bites it, they'll be out of commission for a certain time limit. You can replace them at a checkpoint, or wait until they're rested to re-insert them. These elements seem in place to keep the action going, and they're successful.

The boss battles of Ultimate Alliance -- which are sometimes the dullest parts of these games -- almost always bring something new to the table. Often, your foe is massive, and the designers take advantage of this with clever fights. Galactus requires hanging ten with Silver Surfer, while the ice giant Ymir has you climbing up his body, God of War-style, to deliver a spear to his back. Even the battle against massive cranium MODOK is interesting, as it starts with some general-knowledge trivia.