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When I saw that what was described in pre-release materials as an X-Men RPG was going to be released, I was totally pumped, and like most people I feel pretty let down. DC Universe Online was a similar bad buy for me at the beginning of the year, but for totally different reasons. First of all this game is not an RPG, at least it's not in the Mass Effect, Fallout, or Dragon Age franchises sense of the word. You get to pick from 3 character templates, and along the way your actions decided if they will side with the X-Men or The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Beyond, that you get to pick between two powers every once in awhile when you level up, but the character customization is pretty much non-existent. On top of that the three characters you get to pick from are all kind of bland, and I didn't really get invested in any of their stories (which are pretty brief and generic).
Story is a major problem in the game, with all the great X-Men storylines they could have used for source material I don't know why they picked Bastion and The Purifiers. There are plenty of cameos by your favorite good guys and bad guys, but honestly they just made me wish this was more like a Ultimate Marvel Alliance game, or the X-Men games from the previous generation of consoles, where I could play as my favorite character instead of some generic one I didn't even get to create.
The game play is very much a button masher, there is really very little skill involved. The game is monotonous a lot of the time, pushing the same buttons to defeat waves of generic bad guys, and once in awhile it's frustratingly difficult for no apparent reason (maybe other than to stretch the game play time out?). I didn't find the graphic as all out awful as a lot of people seemed to, but they are nothing special at all. I've seen what the PS3 can do, and what other Marvel titles looked like on the system and this game is a let down in regards to both. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, and Wolverine: Origins, both games that are over two years old look better and sound better overall than this one does.
There is a not a lot of replay-ability with this title either, when I first put it in I thought I'd play through as an X-Men, and then go again later with one of the other templates as a bad guy with the Brotherhood. Having played through once, I don't have the energy, if I was that bored the first time I'm not going to bother, and from what I can tell it really makes little difference which side you choose anyway.
All in all a pretty big let down as a casual gamer, and as an X-Men/Marvel fan. At least I'm not gonna get screwed out of reselling or trading this one in like the developer or powers that be did with DC Universe.
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I am a big fan of Wolverine and the X-Men, they're probably my favorite in the Marvel Universe. So naturally I was excited to hear about this game. The idea of an action RPG with character choices and power abilities at my disposal that wasn't a cheap-movie tie-in? Sign me up. I read everything and watched everything I could find about this game before it came out. There began a growing fear that this game was not what I kept hoping it would be. But I got it anyway.
X-Men Destiny is a beat 'em up, hack 'n slash sort of game. This isn't a bad thing. I enjoyed various hack-'n slash and beat'em up games on my GameCube. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the best beat 'em up game I've played on the PS3. But lest I be faulted for continuing to compare this game to others, let's review it for what it is...
Storyline:
You take control of one of three mutants who has a short, very short back-story. You sorta care about this character through the dialogue, though it seems the same past story-line elements come up over and over for whatever character you choose. On a bigger scale, you find yourself in the middle of troubling times for mutants. The X-Men are scattered, lost and confused, the Brotherhood is preparing for war, the Purifiers are attacking and well, you get the idea. You have to find out what's going on and put an end to it. Because let's face it somebody wants Mutants dead.
Graphics:
The graphics are drab. They look like something from the previous system or a bad Wii port. I mean the character models are ok, but the levels just look sad. The corridors begin to blend together, the environments aren't interesting or convincing. The textures are just ok and the modeling and animation is sub-par. If this game was made by a some guy in a basement I would applaud his work and support him. But this is a full-blown retail game. Let's face the facts, this game looks sub-par.
Sound:
The voice acting is good, but not great. The sound effects do the job, but like much of the game are rather lack-luster. Sometimes odd sound effects stand out because of volume or because they seem out of place. The quietness leads to these weird moments and these effects are repeated almost noticeably.
Gameplay:
The game-play is a Beat 'Em up sort of game. The best part is you can chose one of three characters, you can choose your powers and even choose other branching elements within this powers that give you new abilities within this power set. That's the best part, the rest is downhill from here. You can also equip yourself with mutant x-genes from key franchise characters but most of the time these do little to actually make your character better or alter your character to be like the franchise characters and actually seems a little tacky. The beat 'em up is often a button mashing fest with hordes of the same enemies rushing you again and again. The missions (if you can call them that) are rarely varied from get from point A to point B. You stop and talk to other mutants (which is sorta RPG element). But the game is hardly inspiring, making me upset that I bought it more than anything else. Eventually you learn what is most effective and you do some of the same combos over and over again. Then the game will have you do these climbing parts (which are stupid and uninspiring). Then beat up some more guys, then search the environment for an x-gene or a collectible, then go to point B then beat up some more people, then talk to a mutant, ask him some questions, then go to point C and beat up some more people. The enviornments are bland and mostly corridor like-always, they look like corridors even when they're not. This wouldn't be so bad if the beat 'em up part was awesome (like LOTR: ROTK) but it's not, you don't feel like a kick-butt hero, you feel sluggish and you begin to wonder when the game will end. There are a few bosses and mini-bosses but on the whole the game is repetitive, uninspiring and frankly lackluster. Towards the end of the game you do unlock some pretty cool powers but they end up in all reality just being bigger-badder versions of what you've already been doing for the past hour or so.
Presentation:
The comic-book presentation and the simple menu layout is effective and easy to navigate, probably the strongest point in the game. The nice little collectibles that are like trading cards of x-men are fun, but pointless and don't make the poor graphics or bland environments more enjoyable to tromp through. Did I mention the environments and levels are bland and mostly corridor-like? So boring.
Conclusion:
The X-Men franchise is of course a fun universe to find yourself when playing a video game. For that reason, I would recommend you rent this title, as it's a fun weekend romp around the X-Men Universe. But the lack-luster graphics and game-play really disappoints on a whole. It's truly a good thing that Professor X was dead for this game though its' existence probably made him turn over in his grave, poor chap. In fact, Wolverine goes crazy at one point in this game and I suspect it's because the game is so down right bland and boring that he couldn't handle it anymore, and needless to say, I couldn't either.
Buy X-Men: Destiny Now
The provided Amazon Emma Frost code does not work, but thanks to D. Norris ("a cheat code?" X-Men: Destiny product discussion) I was able to get it.
There are three characters/back stories and three different powers you can choose from. While during the game you can pick how your powers expand -do you want an orb that floats around you and zaps your enemy or a personal damage dealing shield that also can shock your enemy -it's pretty linear. Starts off in SF at a peace rally and all heck breaks loose. Emma Frost talks to you, instructing you, and along the way you run into other various mutants (both X-Men and Brotherhood). Talking to them, they pretty much reinforce the msg of "you may not have chosen this life, but your choices define you."
During various missions, you'll run into both an Xman and a Brotherhood so you can pick which mission do you want to do. Nightcrawler needs your help freeing some mutants and Mystique wants you to douse some buildings with gasoline so Pyro can make quite the explosion and take out the enemy (the Purists/anti-mutants).
Hits:
Be your own mutant
Pick your side
Various X-genes to customize/enhance your playing style
Depth to the characters you pick
Graphic details of the three characters you can pick
Fighting mechanics are easy to pick up, fairly easy to figure out
Lost? The game points the way pretty well. When in doubt, look for the giant X and beam
Rewards people who take the time to explore (hint: don't hesitate to pause/main menu and check out statistics.)
Emma Frost looks pretty hot despite being cartoon-ish.
Liking the plot so far -hopefully this keeps up.
Misses:
Female NPCs suffer the "block-y" hair. Gah!
Flames are 2D
Over reinforced message of "your choices make you..."
X-genes I've discovered so far have been lack luster. (Bigger chance to dodge projectiles. Regen mutant energy faster. Absorb mutant energy faster. Get an extra mutant energy bar. YAWN!)
If you skip something, you can't go back.
It's a little weird that you can jump/climb faster than you can run.
Despite the misses, it's not bad. I hope in the future there is more customization available in regards to characters and mutant powers.
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9/29 Update: After being the game, I feel like shrugging my shoulders. The game is not bad. There are many elements that were really yawn inducing, a few surprising and decent elements, and the biggest perk of this game is the concept. This is a game where it's best to rent instead of buy.
Pros:
1] Each character has a background that rears its head from time to time
2] Fighting mechanics are easy to learn/use
3] X-genes have some unique characteristics, and some you can "level." (Level 1 Magneto X-gene lets you hover off the ground)
4] The challenge arenas are pretty fun and the difficulty is welcomed
5] Giant X's and red beams will guide you to where you need to go
6] Spending a little time looking around/exploring will net you a decent amount of xp
7] Within your chosen starting ability, there are variations on later abilities (i.e. personal zapping energy ball or personal zapping energy shield)
8] X-suits look awesome, and you get your own personal one depending who you pick in the end (X-men or Brotherhood)
9] If your 3 X-genes and your suit match, you can utilize the "X-mode" which has various bonuses depending who you pick
10] The plot does have a somewhat surprising twist
11] The game takes place in SF, CA after Xavier has been killed (by Bastion) and so Cyclops is the leader of the X-Men
12] Comic book pop up text (in general) look pretty neat!
Cons:
1] You cannot skip the cut scenes!! And some can be painstakingly long
2] Graphics are not bad, but hardly impressive. There is still the block-y hair issue, and there are 2D flames in the game. Epic fail
3] Destroying anti-mutant propaganda, collecting "dossiers," X-genes, and X-suits makes it seem like exploration is encouraged, right? Wrong! If you remotely do not follow the defined path, the game can "teleport" you back to the last checkpoint. At the same time, you need to do some level of exploring to get all the challenge arenas and the propaganda. This is a frustrating paradox
4] Extremely linear gameplay the end boss is a hardly known villain
5] If for the game you need to jumping in order to progress and climbing in order to progress is almost uncontrollably fast (this will cause annoyance in some parts of the game) but for exploration, even if it looks like you can jump/climb to a destination, the game will prevent you from doing so
6] While you can "fly" in the game, it's more of a fast hover that looks cooler than sprinting. Gliding around a room looks cool, but "utility" (which is the type of X-gene it is) it can be quite hindering
7] Once you clear a checkpoint, (even if by accident) you cannot go back
8] Unlike most RPGs, you cannot talk to everyone -just one person/two people who are directly involved
9] Max collectibles are broken down by "missions." Given the urgency push from the plot, sometimes it's difficult to know whether you didn't get everything -or haven't had the chance to check (so you're screwed)
10] Everything is auto-saved so you can't go back to a specific time/save
11] For each new game, you must "re-apply" any codes (i.e. Emma Frost code)
12] Fighting mechanic is basically spam square and triangle -unless you have the "M-power" to unleash a stronger mutant power attack
13] Also, if you jump up somewhere, you CANNOT JUMP ONE LEVEL DOWN. So if you're holding onto a ledge that is about to get electrocuted... Tough luck
14] Pet Peeve: if you play Adrian, as a Purifier, the buzz baton is important to him. Post mutant powers, it is still a part of his costume but he never uses it or incorporates it. lolwut?
Read Best Reviews of X-Men: Destiny Here
I got this game, hoping that all I heard about it prior to it's release would all add up to an exciting and interesting game. Boy, was I sorely disappointed. You start off as either Aimi, Adrian, or Grant, 3 new mutants who's powers develop at a rally. You choose their base power, and you're sent on your way. Here's where the problems begin.
1. I chose Aimi. This isn't a problem in itself, but she is supposed to be a Japanese girl straight off a frigate from Japan. She has no accent nor does she attempt to emulate one. Instead, she interjects random Japanese words in her dialogue in an attempt to seem more Japanese. Colossus and Nightcrawler manage to at least have their respective accents when they speak.
Grant, consequently, is an incorrigible stereotypical jock. He hits on everything with boobs that moves, and makes several horny passes at Emma Frost, Mystique, and Surge.
2. The voice acting for the player characters are dull and uninspired. For a person who's just discovered that they have "taboo" genetics, they're very calm and collected. This is made more problematic by Adrian, who has been raised to hate mutants his entire life.
3. The characters' back story is dull, the most interesting being Adrian's, who's dead father's voice pops in now and again to shame him. Aimi and Grant have abysmal back stories that offer nothing to the game.
4. Speaking of stories, the main story of the game is dull, at best. The bosses are not introduced, saved for the first and the last. In between them, there are only about 2 other major bosses, neither of which have any introduction whatsoever, considering they're fairly big characters in the story, one of them named. It's just suddenly boss fight. On top of it all, there are several plot holes and missing information that you're often left reeling and wondering what happened to get that person there, or what was it that you were fighting to do. In fact, towards the end of the game, these plot holes become worse, as you start to get randomly teleported to areas that lead you to the final boss.
5. The game is less than 6 hours long, if you've played a video game before. You don't have to be experienced at video games to get through it that fast.
6. The so called X-Genes are boring. All they do is change the color of your character's base power, change the damage it does, alter attack speed, change your movement speed, extend your energy bar, and alter your health and energy bar recharge speeds. Nothing exciting. It makes it extremely pointless to actually collect X-Genes and costumes. Even the X-Mode doesn't offer any differences from these same few changes.
7. The so called choices in your powers are pointless. You get stopped every 3 times after the picking your powers at the start to choose a new ability, the last of which isn't a choice at all. These powers in no way alter the game.
8. Choosing whether to ally with the X-Men or the Brotherhood has absolutely no consequence as to the story of the game. You follow the same story line till the end of the game no matter what you choose. In fact, the game is very skewed towards the X-Men, making it very clear that they are the good guys, and the Brotherhood are the bad guys, often making you feel guilty for siding with the Brotherhood.
9. The graphics are awful. Just plain awful. These I would expect from the X-Box or PS2, not a PS3 or 360. Within the first five minutes of the game, you run into the most flagrant of graphical problems. As the first mutant you meet appears and leaves, you can see his face fracture into the polygons used to create the 3D model for the character.
10. Combat is repetitive and boring. Once you unlock a certain combo, there's no reason to use any of your other abilities.
11. The so called "Challenge" missions are equally boring. They all require kill count and a rare one, possibly 2, call for item destruction. You only need to spam your combo to complete it.
12. There isn't any need to deviate from the path. The unlockables are pointless and you can hear when you're near an X-Gene/Suit. Also, there isn't really anything you can discover that you won't already know. Unlike other Marvel games, there is no delving into Marvel lore.
13. The so called RPG aspect of this game is nonexistent. This game gives a pitiful illusion of being an RPG, but again, like so much else, leaves you with crippling disappointment.
All in all, X-Men: Destiny isn't worth purchasing. You're much better off renting it if you MUST play it. Less than 6 hours of game time is not worth the 40-60 price tag, and for a game that seemed to have so much potential, it failed miserably to deliver. Given a better developer, this game could have been astounding, and possibly a must have game of the year for comic book buffs, Marvel's answer to the much acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City games. In fact, those games are actually worth your money, so get those instead. If you want Marvel games, go with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 1 and 2, which are much better investments and much more fun in terms of comic lore and actual play. X-Men Legends 1 and 2 are amazing as well, even if they're for older generation consoles. Anything, really, is better than X-Men: Destiny, so don't waste your money on it.
Want X-Men: Destiny Discount?
I' am not going to go into a full detailed review about this game when other people have done a fine job outlining it all. Any game that can be completed in less the 6 hours is not worth the $60 dollars being charged for it. While the story was interesting, the execution of it was not. This game felt rushed and left me very unsatisfied after completing it. There was so much potential for a great, indepth gaming experience here but sadly it was poorly done. Looks like somebody is just trying to cashing in on the X-Men fans by feeding us what was suppose to be a great in-depth RPG, but sadly we got the fatty scrap from that meal.
Its worth the rental, waiting until it hits the bargin bin, or buying it used once it hits the cheap shelf.
