"Good but not near as X-Men Legends"

X-Men Legends 2 Rise of Apocalypse is the next installment of the Legends series on the PS2, GameCube, and X-Box. However, unlike it's previous counterpart, X-Men Legends 2 adds a varirety of new features and cast of characters like no other around. '

Gameplay (8/10): Unlike it's previous counterpart, X-Men Legends 2 has new set of moves that each character can learn. Remember how you were only confined to four moves that could be controlled through a flick of the D-Pad? Not here. Though it still has four moves that can be accessed from the D-Pad, if you hold it down and press up or down on the control stick, it opens a variety of different moves in each area. The typical combos and attacks are upgraded here. Back in X-Men Legends, it was practically easy to mash buttons together and expected an instant combo but it's somewhat harder to do in X-Men Legends 2. Timing and execution is important while performing a basic or advanced combo with two characters. As you might have guessed, you assemble a team of X-Men and Brotherhood characters in order to take on Apocalypse. Issuing commands and performing attacks is as similar as in the previous counterpart which isn't a bad thing. Upgrading stats and other items are easy to manage through a more complex system than before. For example, after you gained a new level, you gain four stat points that can added anywhere to improve your character's attack, health, or defense. Moves are unlocked as you upgrade others similar to a basic tech tree. The only problem I had with the gameplay is mostly issues with characters getting stuck between the environment or tend to act incredibly stupid in terms of attacking an enemy.

Sound (7/10): Compared to X-Men Legends, the sound in this game is mediocre and somewhat dull. Characters don't sound like their previous counterparts in X-Men Legends, (Storm, anyone?). I just felt that it was an overhaul of talented voice actors that were either replaced or made to sound older for this type of game to show character development. Generic music tends to blast out in various environments areas which is common. Enemies tend to grunt and groan through not how you expected it to. Overall, the sound is alright but not great.

Storyline (7/10): Apparently you take control of a cast of characters from both X-Men and The Brotherhood in order to defeat the awakened Apocalypse. Apocalypse's first strike includes the abduction of Xavier and an attack on the world leaders causing resistance to fall world wide. As expected, you are to move around taking out minions that are loyal to Apocalypse, the Four Horsemen, and Apocalypse himself. Though this sounds somewhat exciting, the cast of characters isn't nearly as exciting as I felt when I was controlling Magma for the first time in X-Men Legends. I enjoyed the storyline much more of X-Men Legends compared to it's sequel because it was well developed and structured. In X-Men Legends 2, it seems that your just moving from place to place defeating a variety of enemies to move from Point A to Point B. It really doesn't get interesting until the later end of the game which was somewhat anti-climatic to begin with. Overall, the storyline isn't that strong nor exciting to those that played the original but for the new comers, it'll suit them just well.

Graphics (7/10): Characters and enemies look somewhat detail and like their comic book counterparts. However the environments are somewhat gritty and unappealing to look at. As you can expect, mutant attacks and special attacks are well animated during gameplay. Some of the characters can clip into each other during battle which is annoying to begin with.

Replay Value: (6/10): You can do a four player mode during the storyline and in the danger room. A collection of art works, intros, and character screenshots, are a nice welcome to view and for 100 percent completion. However, I felt that the replay value is somewhat low for a game like this.

Closing Comments: X-Men Legends 2 Rise of Apocalypse is a good step forward in the Legends series but not the type you would expect. There are a number of annoying flaws like generic environments, sounds, and weak storyline, that can't be ignored by the common player. In terms of comparison of the two, I felt that X-Men Legends surpasses X-Men Legends 2 in terms of overall storyline while Rise of Apocalypse surpassed X-Men Legends in gameplay. The completion of this game takes about 15-20 hours which is extremely short for game of it's standards. If your a X-Men fan and enjoyed X-Men Legends, than I would recommended you get this sequel, just don't expect it to be the same standards of the original.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/19/07

Game Release: X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (US, 09/20/05)