Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 on PSP doesn't revolutionize the genre, but it's a definite hit for the portable console.
The first game was known for being almost identical on every playable console, and it's true the PS3, PS2, and PSP versions were almost the same, the main difference being the graphics resolution. Is it the case with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2?
Well, yes and no. First, the story is the same on every console, and I found it more interesting than the original, as it is based on the Civil War series (even the interface reminds us of it). It's easy to enter the action, and the tutorial chapter explains pretty well the gameplay. There are some differences with the PS3 version concerning progression, but the PSP version doesn't feel as "watered down".
There is no infrastructure multiplayer on the PSP version, but you can play with up to 3 of your friends in ad-hoc mode. It's pretty bad Activision abandoned Internet multiplayer for the PSP, but the AI characters do their job pretty well, even though they pretty much attack as a group rather than individually.
Concerning the graphics, they're a bit better than in the original game, but the framerate does suffer a bit. In my case, I never experienced in my 12 hours of play the same chopiness as shown in Gamespot's video review, but this can be an issue for some gamers.
The Marvel cast is HUGE as ever, and every character has its own powers. Speaking of powers, the major novelty in MUA2 are "fusion" powers, where you can ally two party members to make a large attack on your enemies. It's really effective and adds to the "coolness" of the game.
As for the missions, there are plenty and their lenght is similar to the ones in MUA, so you will get plenty of action for your money.
It may not be a masterpiece, and it may lack some of the PS3/X360 edge, but Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 for PSP is a great action game that is just plain fun.
Pros:
- Great Marvel cast
- Great story
- Good graphics
- Good controls and gameplay
- Fusion powers
Cons:
- No real originality
- Framerate issues¸
- No Internet multiplayer