X-Men Legends is a superb game that does justice to the comics like no other game has in recent history. The only other console game that comes close is the latest Spiderman game, but that is like comparing apples to oranges. All in all XML is a game that anyone who loves action or RPG games should buy. Let me break down the game in it strengths and weakness
Strengths:
Real-time combat system that is fun. The melee combat is simple, but has enough depth and when combined with the powers is a blast.
License adaptation is simply one of the best that has ever been done. It is not perfect, for example the voice of Cyclops does not follow the stoic nature of character, he is too carefree in this game. In any case the characters are typically portrayed very well and the game really shines when it comes to the extra bits for the fans. You can walk through the mansion and gain information on the X-Men throughout the game. There is always more bits of information every time you go back to the mansion.
4 player co-op is excellent in this game. People can come in and out of the game as much as they want and you don't have to restart the game. It is mind boggling that any game with co-op would force people to start a separate game.
AI does its job well. There is nothing really to complain about when it comes to AI, Especially if you have every played with casual gamers. What I mean is that the AI is actually better than most casual gamers. It is true that once in a great while a AI character will fall off a edge. It is also true that the AI will fight in doors thus forcing you to take control of them, and move them. As annoying as theses things can be, they don't happen nearly as often when you play with a friend who barely knows how to hold the control. In short the AI does it job well.
Story line is good and works for this game. The story is a combination of a lot of different X-Men story lines and does them all justice, while creating it own unique blend.
Weaknesses:
Buying system doesn't feel integrated into the game, it feels tact on. While it is functional it seems out of place in this game and really could have been removed. This is especially true when there is NO need to buy a potion when you can get them for free from the danger room.
The danger room was not designed as well as it could have been. It is clear that the purpose of the DR was three fold
1. Learn how to play the game
2. Gain experience
3. Infinite supply of potions
It is this last part that is the most flawed. The ability to go to the DR and get as many potions you want is clearly flawed. Not only can the player get potions, but they can get rare equipment as well. Isn't the DR suppose to be a simulation? What compounds the issue is that the DR is accessible from nearly everywhere. Almost all extractions points, which are save points, you can access the danger room
4 player co-op is not supported through out the whole game. There are a half a dozen missions where only one or two people can play. While the number of player always correlate with the story it upsetting to the other player to have to sit out.
RPG light is a better way to describe the game. The game has character development and equipment, but beyond that it is not much of a RPG. True there are conversations and hidden information on the characters, but if you are looking for a game that has a strong RPG element, XML is not it.
Power puzzle are few and far between. I don't know about you, but I enjoy game that require me to think things through and XML doesn't have a lot of puzzles. Puzzle in this game are primarily limited to these examples
1. Break through walls to get to alternate areas
2. Create bridges or fly over drop offs.
Yes there are other types of puzzle, but they are very infrequently used. The upside is that the puzzle center around the characters powers so they do make sense within the game reality. The first time you realize that you can bust through a wall to solve a puzzle, it is a good feeling.
All stated at the beginning of the review this is an excellent game. I give it a 9.5 out of 10, however I do admit that 1.0 is bias since I like the marvel/X-men work and the game in general.
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