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'Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order' is a Switch exclusive
The next entry in Marvel's Ultimate Alliance series will arrive in 2019, but this one's only for players on Nintendo Switch. Announced tonight during The Game Awards 2018 event, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is the first new entry in ten years (excusing HD remasters), pitting heroes and villains in a race to find the Infinity Stones before Thanos and his Black Order crew can get them. The dozens of characters available will include "Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men and more." As you'd expect from an Ultimate Alliance game there are plenty of ways to play with friends, including drop-in/drop-out co-op with four players on one system or playing on their own console. A feature that's new to the series is an over-the-shoulder "Heroic Camera" perspective. Don't expect it to go cross-platform later either, as it's published by Nintendo and is being developed by Team Ninja.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 DLC now available until Dec. 31
As was foretold by The Predictor, you can now download the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 DLC again. Available on PSN and Xbox Live today, the $10 (800 Microsoft Points) DLC pack offers these five new playable characters and corresponding challenge missions: Magneto Black Panther Carnage Psylocke Cable You can also download Juggernaut separately for $2 (160 Microsoft Points). You'll be able to download all of this DLC until December 31, 2010, when it'll once again make like Sue Storm and vanish from your preferred console's marketplace.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 DLC is coming back
It's been a roller coaster ride this year for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 fans. First, all DLC for the game vanished from PSN -- it was explained that the DLC was merely a "limited time offer." Then, it vanished from Xbox Live, too. Now, gamers are forced to simply play the game itself, deprived of access to all DLC. Can you imagine the horror? But fear not, for the DLC is returning when it's needed most -- just like a good superhero. Word comes via Hero HQ that the DLC is coming back, and we've managed to confirm it first-hand with an Activision rep. Sadly, the rep couldn't provide us with a timeframe for re-release, but as soon as The Journalistor defeats Red Tape Man, we'll be sure to let you know the details. [Thanks, Catherine]
Activision: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 DLC on PSN was a 'limited time offer'
Last week, PSN users found that the DLC for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 -- items that included new characters such as Carnage, Psylocke and Cable -- went missing from the PSN Store. Well, after navigating the intricate web of Activision PR, Joystiq can now confirm the DLC simply expired at the end of last year. An Activision rep told us: "The Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Downloadable Content was a limited time offer, expiring on December 31, 2009." Sorry, PSN users -- if you managed to snag the content already, have fun. For the rest of you would-be heroes and villains, looks like you're out of luck, because the DLC isn't coming back.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 DLC pulls a Sue Storm on PSN, vanishes
PS3 heroes heeding the call of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 may have noticed all of the game's DLC has been pulled from PSN. Users on the game's official forums, the Hero HQ, and folks over at the official PlayStation boards are complaining all of the game's DLC has up and vanished from PSN -- something Joystiq can also confirm. So, what gives? Well, we don't know right now, but we've put in word to both Sony and Activision and will let you know when we hear back. [Thanks, @freemantim] Source - PlayStation forums Source - Hero HQ forums
Guitar Hero, Call of Duty franchises lead Activision's 'better-than-expected' Q3 2009
Look, just feign surprise, it makes these financial posts so much more exciting: Activision today reported net revenues of $755 million (on a non-GAAP basis) in the quarter ending September 30, 2009 -- that's $55 million more than the suits hoped to stack, according to previous projections. While the blockbuster adaptation of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen might have played a part in this outpouring of our money, we're gonna go with Kotick's explanation: "Our performance was driven by positive audience response to Activision Publishing's Guitar Hero 5, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, and the Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises, as well as Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft." In fact, the CEO called Guitar Hero the year's "#1 best-selling third-party franchise in North America and Europe" through September, claiming that U.S. sales of music games increased 72 percent year over year in September. Last year's big-band-box edition, World Tour, and Call of Duty: World at War combined for total, world domination, becoming this year's "#1 and #2 best-selling third-party titles" in North America and Europe through September, according to Activision. Additionally, World at War DLC map pack sales continued to climb last quarter and have now surpassed 7.5 million purchases. Needless to say, the publisher is not backing off of its prior financial outlook. Activision anticipates annual net revenues of $4.5 billion (on a non-GAAP basis) at the close of the year. Did you remember to feign surprise?
Civil War breaks out on XBLM, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 demo released
If this Thursday finds you in a superheroic mood, a recent addition to the Xbox Live Marketplace might just serve as an excellent outlet for you to dish out some costumed justice. Major Nelson recently confirmed that a demo for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 has been added to the service. Sure, it's a bit tardy, considering the game came out nearly two months ago. Still, we'll happily accept any free opportunities we can get to pretend to be Gambit for a few minutes. We kin' try talkin' like dis', ma cherie, but ... well, it doesn't really cut it.
Marvel dates, prices upcoming Ultimate Alliance 2 DLC
Marvel has finally confirmed the price and release date for the first batch of DLC for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. The pack will debut on November 5 for $9.99 on the PSN and 800 ($10) on Xbox 360. Included in the pack will be new simulator missions, boosts and, most important of all, three new characters. Namely, players will be able to get their hot little hands on Carnage, Psylocke and Cable. In addition to the DLC pack, Juggernaut will also be released as a downloadable character. Originally, he was available only as a pre-order bonus but, starting November 5, anyone will be able to tell Charles to get out of their head for the price of $1.99 on PSN and 160 ($2) on Xbox 360.
Cable arrives from the future as a playable Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 character
Cable, the mutant with the amazing power to have a gun (he has other powers, but the gun one is the standby), appears in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 as an NPC, but the latest announced downloadable content for the game adds him as a playable character. Soon, you'll be able to have a big futuristic space-gun in the game as well! Activision didn't specify a time frame for this DLC. It's just "upcoming."Video game fans might know Cable best as one of the cheapest characters in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. For the sake of this game, let's hope he's a bit less powerful now.%Gallery-76411%
Marvel.com spotlights upcoming Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 sim missions, Psylocke
In a recent blog post, Marvel.com spotlights upcoming downloadable content for the superhero action title Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, which will add simulation missions and the previously Wii- and PS2-exclusive character Psylocke to the game. According to Marvel Games Intern Randy Ma, the katana-wielding "ninja babe" -- his awkward words, not ours -- is a welcome addition to the HD version of the game, giving Jean Grey's mind powers "a run for her money." In the spotlight, Marvel also reveals tidbits of information for two of the game's upcoming simulation missions. Insidious Alliance pits players against some of the universe's toughest bosses in an arena-style match and adds an achievement/trophy for defeating the mission without using any health canisters, perfect for gaming masochists. According to scenario designer Mark Webster, the mission Balance is an homage to classic 2.5D brawlers like (get this!) the original X-Men arcade titles. More DLC news is expected in the coming weeks.[Update: Corrected quote attribution] %Gallery-76161%
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2's first DLC character is another Spider-Man
We can only imagine the meeting at Vicarious Visions where the development team behind Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2's DLC was arranged. "Well, we've already got Spider-Man and Venom, but we really feel like the game's still lacking in the Spider-Man spinoff department -- what about that other Spider-Man guy?" And thus, Carnage enters the fray as the game's first downloadable character. Known for his stint in the super-violent Spider-Man mini-series "Maximum Carnage" and, um, that SNES game we played so long ago, Carnage will assuredly lend an over-the-top je ne sais quoi to MUA2's proceedings. We're not exactly sure what happens when you pair him with Spider-Man and Venom on screen, but we worry they might get eaten by Carnage, which could be really awkward.%Gallery-75268%
Stan Lee: Game development is a 'miracle'
For all our too-cool-for-the-room cynicism about video games, it's refreshing to hear the beautiful innocence of a child's perspective on them. In the absence of a child's perspective, however, we're willing to accept the perspective of an old, old man, which is basically the same thing. Speaking with The Guardian, Stan Lee admitted that we was fundamentally clueless about the mechanics of game making, adding "It's like a miracle." Let's try something, just for today. Let's try to ape Stan Lee's attitude. Let's try to remember that from the games destined to be classics down to the games made by Destineer, they're all miracles; especially when you consider that 50 years ago, the industry didn't even exist. We're living in the future, friends, and if someone as rich and old as Stan Lee can realize it, we should be able to as well. Excelsior. [Image credit: vissago]
Metareview: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
While Marvel's Ultimate Alliance of heroes doesn't appear to BIFF POW much new ground in Activision's new sequel, reviews describe the game as a solid effort that's likely to appeal to fans of the original outing. Even better, it features the return of any comic book lover's greatest nemesis: the Marvel trivia minigame. GameDaily (80/100): "Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 may seem like more of the same, dig a little deeper and you'll reap its rewards. A great storyline, satisfying beat-em-up action, nifty Fusion attacks and a cornucopia of familiar and new characters make this a very friendly Alliance." IGN (77/100): "I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the trivia game and mission simulator are back and welcome distractions, but they're presented in the same way as the original game. It eventually gets to the point where you have to scratch your head and wonder why this game took three years to produce when it's so similar to the last one." Gamespot (75/100): "Not only will the campaign last you around 15 hours or so, but the branching story gives you a good reason to return. ... While Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 may not take the series in a big and bold new direction, or benefit from the kind of refinement you would look for in a sequel, it does deliver the button-mashing, power-flinging, over-the-top action fans of the original would expect. And it's just good fun, even if you don't know Iron Man from Iron Fist." 1UP (B-): "It's still satisfying to have some buddies hop into a game and take out robots together. And I still smile when I answer a bunch of dorky Marvel Universe trivia questions in a row. I just hope that for the next Marvel Ultimate Alliance (or whatever they call it, maybe Ultimate Marvel Amalgamation or something), either Raven returns as the developer, or Vicarious Visions learns from its missteps and crafts a better game." %Gallery-48082%
PAX 2009: More characters for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Activision isn't officially at PAX this year, the publisher just dropped in to hijack our eyeballs for the evening so we could spend some with with Blur, Tony Hawk Ride, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. In the midst of the gaming and socializing, Acti revealed a few new playable characters in MUA2: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and exclusive to the Wii ... Goofy!Okay, we jest. The ink still isn't dry on that contract yet, but we hope that future versions of this game will gave us some sort of Disney hint, even if it's just a Scrooge McDuck level where you have to swim through gold coins. All kidding aside, MUA2 has added Iceman to the PS3/360 version, while the Wii inexplicably gains the cooler characters of Cyclops, Psylocke, and Blade. Where's the justice?! While we go vigilante and deal with this news, feel free to check out the gallery below and the new Iceman video just after the break.%Gallery-49195%
Ms. Marvel lends her talents to Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Joining confirmed characters Juggernaut, Penance, Songbird and Deadpool is the latest addition to the Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 cast: Ms. Marvel. Activision just sent us a press release with some media showcasing the super-strong, super-fast super-blonde doing, well ... doing what looks like a lot of the same stuff she did in the first game. There's flying, there's lazerin' and plenty of dudes getting the business. Check out the video above to see her in action, then be sure to head into the gallery below for some in-game shots.%Gallery-70075%
See Juggernaut smash, Penance blast in new Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 media
Activision has dropped a whole heap of new Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 media. Perhaps the beefiest of the bunch is the trailer above. While it contains some snippets we've seen in other trailers, there's plenty of new action in there too, including some sweet Venom and Gambit action.After the break you'll find quick looks at Juggernaut and (exclusive character for Ultimate Alliance 2 pre-orders) Penance. You can also find a pair of Penance screenshots in the gallery below. Be sure to check out our recent hands-on impressions of the game too.%Gallery-68926%
Hands-on: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
First, let's get the latest playable character reveals out of the way: Jean Grey and Gambit. There. That was easy, if not the best-kept secret. What is a surprise, though, is that I was able to clearly distinguish Jean from the other on-screen heroes and mess of beaten-down baddies as I stood a distant twenty feet from a Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 demo at a recent Activision games showcase. As I approached, I was amazed by the difference three years makes. MUA2, at least on Xbox 360 (and PS3, presumably), is a hot dayam–better looking game than its predecessor. This is not a last-generation production brushed with high-res assets.Vicarious Visions proves a worthy successor to Raven Software, taking over lead development of the franchise -- and finally ending its streak of assignments to Activision's lesser ports. While it was evident the first time we played MUA2, it's worth reiterating that the game's camera angle has been adjusted to provide a closer perspective of the foreground and more distant view of the background. I could identify Jean from across the room because the character models are larger and more detailed. Additionally, updates to Vicarious' Alchemy game engine have added Havok physics and more on-screen enemies. While the grandiose (super) heroism has been amplified by newer technology, MUA2's style is still very much that of a Saturday morning cartoon.%Gallery-48082%
Stan Lee makes first video game appearance in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 [update]
Known for making appearances in a variety of movie adaptations of his comics over the years, Stan Lee will be making his first ever video game appearance in upcoming action/RPG Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. According to Shacknews, he'll be playing a character "significant to the game's storyline," though more details are unfortunately unavailable.Lee is apparently quite excited to have his likeness finally put into a video game, saying, "I am thrilled to be making my first onscreen video game cameo." What we're excited about though is the possible release date of MUA2, revealed by multiple online retailers to be September 15. We've asked Activision for comment on the release date and will update this post as we hear more.Update: Activision has confirmed to us that the September 15 release date for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is correct. [Image]
Pre-order Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, get the Juggernaut
In revealing the latest Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 character, Activision has also revealed its pre-order bonus. As part of an ever growing trend, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will award pre-ordering players with exclusive in-game content. In this case, it's the Juggernaut (obligatory NSFW YouTube link), and he's only available to those that pre-order the game from GameStop. He's also only available on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, according to GameStop's website, so Wii and PS2 owners will never know his sweet, crushing embrace.If you'd like a closer look at his glory, you can check out yet another 3D screenshot of the game -- from the future, we presume -- after the break.
The future is now: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 screens in 3D
Normally we don't get excited for new screens in the "Holy S! It's the future in front of my eyes!" kind of way, but friends, today is an exception. Vicarious Visions has posted its second 3D screenshot of upcoming superhero extravaganza, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (both found after the break) on its website and, to be honest, it's really impressive, allowing you to spin the full image in three dimensions.The newest one features Deadpool leaping into the air and firing dual pistols at a bunch of fools, while the first (and even more impressive) screen has Thor combining with The Human Torch's powers to create some form of fire tornado. That's right -- a fire tornado. And no, things don't get much sweeter than that.[Thanks, Wombat!]%Gallery-48082%
