Review
Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet Review (PS3)
We've got one for the kids today, in the form of Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet. Meant as an accompaniment for the animated TV series, the game plays in a very similar style to the recent run of co-op Lego titles - Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman etc. One or two players can take on the roles of a whole host of Marvel characters, fighting for justice with the likes of Iron Man, Wolverine and the Hulk.
If you're a parent looking for something to keep the little ones occupied - or even perhaps a game to play along with a young'un - then Super Hero Squad will do a fine job. It's simple to play, yet has enough depth that children will enjoy exploring every nook and cranny and completing every challenge. If you're planning on buying this for someone whose voice has already broken, however, then it's probably best not to bother - the simplistic puzzles and button-bashing won't be to their taste.
The baddies are up to no good, and only the Marvel Super Hero Squad can stop them power-up the all-powerful Infinity Gauntlet. A huge roster of both good and evil characters are thrown into the mix, and provide an entertaining storyline that gamers of any age can enjoy. Beginning with Iron Man and the Hulk, you are granted new Marvel characters as you progress through the story, each with their own unique abilities.
Marvel Super Hero Squad can be played both as a single-player and a co-op experience. In one-player mode, the second character will simply follow along behind you, helping out whenever there is a puzzle. Press start on a second controller at any point, and your friend can jump in to help out. It's great for parents wanting to get involved with their child's gaming, or for two younger children to play along together.
Everything about the game is kept relatively simple. Players can punch, shoot, block and perform a special attack, and each character has his or her own special abilities that allow them to reach areas in each level that other Marvels could not. Playing through levels with different characters to unlock all the hidden secrets adds plenty of replay value to the game.
Each character has their own set of challenges too - called Heroic Feats - ranging from 'collect all these fragments' to 'defeat this boss in this manner'. There aren't too many of these challenges, but since there are so many Marvel characters to play with, it will take a good while to beat everything. In between levels, players can roam around the central hub, checking stats and seeing what else they have left to do. Completing challenges and levels unlocks special arena challenges and extra costumes for the characters.
The Challenge mode is separate from Story mode, and allows up to four players to battle it out in a variety of different minigames. There are races to zip around, and levels in which all four players smash stuff until the time runs out - the winner is, of course, the person who smashes the most. It's nothing ground-breaking, but again, children will have a blast.
For the bigger children among us, however, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is a little too rough around the edges. Graphically it looks pretty average - it could quite easily be a Playstation 2 title - and any older Marvel fans hoping to play as their favourite Marvel heroes will be in for a shock when they discover that all the characters are shrunk down, Super Hero Squad versions, with stubby legs and silly voices.
The gameplay will also be far too simple and dull for most players. Puzzles never get anymore difficult than simply 'push this button' or 'pull this lever', and most of the time is spent bashing baddies by hammering the buttons. Even when one character dies, the other can revive them to nearly full health in a second - and even if you both die, you'll respawn pretty much in the same place you were up to. If your age is double figures, you'll easily be able to blast through Super Hero Squad in a matter of hours.
It's all about the target audience - pick this up for a child, and they will be enthralled all the way through. The likes of Lego Star Wars are still much better and do a greater job of keeping the adult happy too, but as a tool for playing along with your kids, Marvel Super Hero Squad is entertaining enough - although if they've never heard of Marvel before, it may all be a bit too confusing.
Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is simple, childish fun that never tries to be more than it can be, and younger kids will have a great time helping their favourite superheroes save the world. Anyone who has hit puberty, on the too light on real gameplay for your tastes.other hand, should steer clear as Super Hero Squad will be far
Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Top Game Moment: Discovering secrets in earlier levels by using different characters.
If you're a parent looking for something to keep the little ones occupied - or even perhaps a game to play along with a young'un - then Super Hero Squad will do a fine job. It's simple to play, yet has enough depth that children will enjoy exploring every nook and cranny and completing every challenge. If you're planning on buying this for someone whose voice has already broken, however, then it's probably best not to bother - the simplistic puzzles and button-bashing won't be to their taste.
 |
| There are plenty of familiar faces from the Marvel franchise |
The baddies are up to no good, and only the Marvel Super Hero Squad can stop them power-up the all-powerful Infinity Gauntlet. A huge roster of both good and evil characters are thrown into the mix, and provide an entertaining storyline that gamers of any age can enjoy. Beginning with Iron Man and the Hulk, you are granted new Marvel characters as you progress through the story, each with their own unique abilities.
Marvel Super Hero Squad can be played both as a single-player and a co-op experience. In one-player mode, the second character will simply follow along behind you, helping out whenever there is a puzzle. Press start on a second controller at any point, and your friend can jump in to help out. It's great for parents wanting to get involved with their child's gaming, or for two younger children to play along together.
Everything about the game is kept relatively simple. Players can punch, shoot, block and perform a special attack, and each character has his or her own special abilities that allow them to reach areas in each level that other Marvels could not. Playing through levels with different characters to unlock all the hidden secrets adds plenty of replay value to the game.
Each character has their own set of challenges too - called Heroic Feats - ranging from 'collect all these fragments' to 'defeat this boss in this manner'. There aren't too many of these challenges, but since there are so many Marvel characters to play with, it will take a good while to beat everything. In between levels, players can roam around the central hub, checking stats and seeing what else they have left to do. Completing challenges and levels unlocks special arena challenges and extra costumes for the characters.
 |
| The visual are a little, shall we say, 'old school' |
The Challenge mode is separate from Story mode, and allows up to four players to battle it out in a variety of different minigames. There are races to zip around, and levels in which all four players smash stuff until the time runs out - the winner is, of course, the person who smashes the most. It's nothing ground-breaking, but again, children will have a blast.
For the bigger children among us, however, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is a little too rough around the edges. Graphically it looks pretty average - it could quite easily be a Playstation 2 title - and any older Marvel fans hoping to play as their favourite Marvel heroes will be in for a shock when they discover that all the characters are shrunk down, Super Hero Squad versions, with stubby legs and silly voices.
The gameplay will also be far too simple and dull for most players. Puzzles never get anymore difficult than simply 'push this button' or 'pull this lever', and most of the time is spent bashing baddies by hammering the buttons. Even when one character dies, the other can revive them to nearly full health in a second - and even if you both die, you'll respawn pretty much in the same place you were up to. If your age is double figures, you'll easily be able to blast through Super Hero Squad in a matter of hours.
 |
| Great for kids, not so great for big kids |
It's all about the target audience - pick this up for a child, and they will be enthralled all the way through. The likes of Lego Star Wars are still much better and do a greater job of keeping the adult happy too, but as a tool for playing along with your kids, Marvel Super Hero Squad is entertaining enough - although if they've never heard of Marvel before, it may all be a bit too confusing.
Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is simple, childish fun that never tries to be more than it can be, and younger kids will have a great time helping their favourite superheroes save the world. Anyone who has hit puberty, on the too light on real gameplay for your tastes.other hand, should steer clear as Super Hero Squad will be far
Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Top Game Moment: Discovering secrets in earlier levels by using different characters.
