Marvel Super Heroes

"Ah...a comic book fight fest!"

Fighting games have taken on several different stages and locations as well as forms over the years. In this, you'll find that Street Fighter has been replaced with X-Men and other various Marvel comic book heroes and villians. This time around, you're fighting for the Infinity Gems that are held by the vile, death loving Thantos who is looking to create a world of death and destruction with the use of these gems! Based loosely upon the Inifinity Gems saga created by Jim Starlin back in the early 90's, fans of the series will recognize the characters and the story immediately, and probably go ga ga over the amount of detail and thought put into this game.

-Game Play 8/10-

Straight up brawling action. But in quest of something. It adds a bit of unique play, having to use gems, each one doing something different, either in increasing your speed, your strength, defense, and adding projectiles. Although it varies, you can get a different gem from every other person you face, and either save them or use them in the fight...it's really your choice! Each gem holds a special power that ranges from speeding up your character, to giving them life recovery and even super armor or the ability to create custom combinations.

They do add a certain upswing to the game play, but they're not there long enough to do much. Combos, the high hitting ones, is where alot of your time will be spent, and not so much in pulling them off, but in mastering a high hit air combo, or two-in-ones into a high hitting combo. Those of you that have played the SF series, will know exactly what I mean once you've started playing.

-Control 8/10-

Every control scheme in Marvel Super Heroes resembles that of the Street Fighter series. Without a hitch, the control movements follow that exactly of SF, and anyone who is familiar with the different move sets of that game will more than likely find no problems here! All of the moves pull off with ease, so wrestling with the control isn't a big deal here. Higher hitting combos however, are a little different, it's not as in-depth as Tekken 2 and 3, where you need perfect timing, and in some cases, quick fingers to get the maximum hits!

-Audio 8/10-

That announcer...with the cheery voice, sounds like he's a DJ more than a fight commentator, which isn't all bad. The other voice over effects are unique to each character, from the high voice of Spider-Man, to the rugged, deep throated growl of Wolverine! The music sets each stage apart, never using the same piece of music twice, and keeps an up-beat, almost dance like tone to the entire game, from beginning to end.

-Visuals 8/10-

Each character is well drawn, almost taken right from the comic, and placed into the game, each with their own body movement that comes off right, if you've played it in the arcades. The only problems that arise, and that you can see when playing, is when the biggest characters come into play, namely Juggernaut, and Thanos, you have some slight sprite slowdown, but nothing that can't be overlooked! Each move from each character, is unique, right down tot he basic punches and kicks, and the animations on the super moves are amazing to watch, coming off with much speed, and little slow down, with a couple of the characters, a shadowing effect is present. All bonuses when playing this game!

-Quarter Crunching 7/10-

Any fighting game is worth a couple of bucks in quarters, and really there isn't a difference here. In the later stages, you'll find your ass being added back to you without pause when facing the later opponents like Juggernaut can be a supreme pain in the ass! Learning the combinations and just what is effective should be added into this, which could make for some long hours at the arcade depending on your ability to learn.

-Overall 8/10-

Not the most ground breaking game out there, it does offer up several different characters from the Marvel world and throws them in a clash against one of the most powerful villians in the Marvel Universe. Anyone with enough knowledge will find that the game offers insight into the Infinity Gauntlet series and novel and will be more than appreciative of it!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/28/01, Updated 09/28/01