When we lost the Marvel Heroes MMO; fans of Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Wolverine and the other 700+ litany of characters feared they’d lost that multiplayer experience to the big blockbuster games such as Spider-Man and Avengers. That was before we learned to trust in Marvel Games current gaming masterplan. While it hasn’t always been smooth, Marvel Games have made the most of their developer partnerships. While it may not be the most talked-about release for Marvel’s gaming universe; the Nintendo Switch exclusive Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is the first time an outside license has given you a true reason to own a Nintendo console.

MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 3: THE BLACK ORDER

 

 

Developed by: Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo, Marvel Games

Published: Nintendo of America

Available For: Nintendo Switch

There’s a magic to great Marvel Comics events like X-tinction Agenda, Kree Skrull War, Acts of Vengence; when an evil force can put into motion a single happenstance that organically forces armies of heroes to unite. It’s even better when Marvel acknowledges that not all of these guys and gals get along. While beginning with Guardians of the Galaxy as the tutorial, the game quickly blows up into a true universe of characters as the threat of the children of Thanos forces all of Earth’s heroes into a reluctant team up with Star-Lord’s crew as the race to get the Infinity Gems is on.

Through this linear button mash, you’ll scope iconic Marvel scenery such as Shadowland and Xavier’s Institute just to name drop a pair. The game understands more is definitely more as even mid-level boss fights bring some of the House of Ideas best characters to screen. As the player, you’re far from helpless. Each hero also has a ridiculously over-the-top Extreme move that can fill the screen with damage. Among the best is Wolverine’s Berzerker Barrage with sound design rivals that of the 90’s animated show.

You’ll build a team of four from thirty playable characters you’ll unlock as the narrative progresses (more to be released via DLC). It’s probably the game’s best problem to players, having to decide which characters to utilize. At times the choice becomes more than just your personal popularity contest. In the campaign, at certain spots, you’ll need a specific category of character to open certain paths or take out obstacles to get to hidden bonuses.

The game’s skill trees and RPG elements mean if you come across your favorite character early in the game, you’ll still be able to have their power levels grow for tougher fights later. A lot of those tough fights will be how you unlock costumes in the game’s Infinity Trial challenges where you replay a boss battle under different conditions.

Ultimate Alliance 3 is meant for you and your friends to play. Yet it is still just as much fun in single player with four A.I. companions. There’s a beautiful chaos to seeing four heroes fight waves of enemies on screen. The sound design and visual animations of the characters in battle are a near-perfect panel to joy-con translation. UA is a rarity, a full 10-12 hour story video game that’s worth going back and playing with friends just for an afternoon of junk food fun. In the early Marvel Ultimate Alliance days, this was known as a complete package video game and that’s what consumers will get here.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is the excitement of going to a comic book shop every Wednesday to read the next chapter of an epic crossover. Nintendo has greatly benefited from the influence of Marvel Games. The layer of nuance which lets you look at these characters and story to say that feels like Marvel was missing from Ultimate Alliance 2 and X-Men Legends 2. This game might be a bit on the simple side but it’s no less fun for it.