Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is sort of newsworthy, as it’s the first Marvel game to be released since the company was snapped up by a voracious Disney. But does it build on the first game (which I, for what it is worth, deemed to be drivel)? Let’s see!

IGN (full review here) scribe Greg Miller clearly isn’t impressed by the game, but then, going entirely against his own words, gives it 77%. Because this is how numbers work in IGN Land:

“The Stark Tower hub is nearly identical, the cutscenes don’t look good, the audio logs to find aren’t interesting, and the presentation of the Civil War really doesn’t do the emotional storyline justice. In the end, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is fun at times, but it’s nothing impressive overall.”
77% (?)

GamingTrend (full review here) is a little kinder, actually writing a review that corresponds to its final score, and singling out the leveling system for praise:

“One could sum up my issues with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 by the liberties that were taken with both the story and the characters. It’s the only thing in my mind that keeps the game from being truly great, because the gameplay mechanics and leveling system are really top-notch.”
88%

1UP (full review here) seems to succumb to a slight case of fanboyitis, and basically says that the inclusion of Iron Man and his other superhero chums does it for them. Fair enough:

“[...] Ultimately, even though a lot of things about MUA2 aggravate me, the moment-to-moment gameplay of superheroes beating the crap out of robots/mutants/soldiers with fists, mystical hammers, repulsor rays, giant tongues, and what-have-you feels solid and enjoyable.”
B+

Meanwhile, GameZone (full review here) says MUA2 comes recommended for the core Marvel fans:

“While the combat is a bit too much on the button mashing side, the RPG elements are solidly implemented and the different stories make for a branching experience that hardcore Marvel fans should check out.”
85%

[Via Metacritic]