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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       28th October 2005: Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects  Become the Hero. Save the day as a slew of new enemies arrive even as New York City finds itself invaded. Posted by Chris Snook - PlayStation 2,GameCube,Xbox - UK and Europe Nothing is perfect. There are those who come close, others merely aspire to it, a few teeter on the edge and many merely are less than they could be. Nothing can typify this more than Superheroes. They run the gamut of humanity's flaws and graces, now in Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects you get to take on the mantel of some of the best known Heroes and their counterparts the Villains. Rise of the Imperfects is a 3D action adventure game, firmly rooted in the third person using a whole plethora of characters from the Marvel Universe. Some of which seem to appear for the first time as playable characters. Following a tightly woven story with many, many strands of plot that snake through each other, starting with one and then slipping to another as the tale is handed over to the next character to continue in their own style of play, with their own abilities. New York City, hub to so many in the Marvel universe is under attack by mysterious invaders that seem too alien to be alien. They are fearsome warriors, seemingly able to eliminate the Hulk, Captain America and the Punisher to name three, they appear from nowhere, delivering deadly attacks without warning. The Brooklyn Bridge is practically destroyed and the streets of NYC have become a hive of danger. They are also looking for something, or someone, they have a purpose to their seemingly blind attack on one of the greatest metropolises in the world. The story starts on the bridge, with Ben Grimm - the Thing - tangling with the first of the invaders, clobbering all comers, even as Logan, the X-Men's Wolverine battles through those self-same streets to the HQ of the New Avengers group, where he too battles enemies of various abilities. Elecktra, Johnny Ohm, Spider-Man, Iron Man and even Venom and Magneto all fight on the side of good, battling against a group of mutants and others, technologically enhanced to be able to contend with the best that can be thrown at them From Paragon, the most perfect of those called The Imperfects, through to the teleporter Wink and Fault Zone, former ballerina and mistress of Earthquakes. Protégés of scientist Niles Van Roekel, a genius who over time is proven to have more than just a sinister agenda amongst his many secrets. Each character as five or so missions, of varying types, including timed combats and clear all enemies as well as one on one boss fights. If you require a break from the story, you can go online with EA's own network, matching up with people of your own skill around the globe, to show and hone your abilities and skills with your favourite character. There is also a versus mode, initially with a spread of six fighters and three venues from the main story, as you fight more can be unlocked. As can a semi-animated and narrated collection of comic books that deliver information on some of the background to the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. With detailed information on those in the game being revealed on collectable card style unlockables. There is much to see and pick up. Rise of the Imperfects is for the most part a joy to view, with crisp graphics, nice lighting touches and atmospheric places of combat. Motion is smooth and realistic allowing for rapid traversal across the various level maps and a clean and accurate switching from one opponent to another. In many ways things almost seem to shine, with unnatural gloss to some of the combatants in cut scenes, delivering an almost plastic wrapped look for Ben Grimm - a complete reversal of his usual craggy looks. Within the main game this is not a problem but becomes most apparent in the cut scenes for the verses mode and the story itself. There is also a slight discord as the cut scenes begin, a less than perfect flow from engine to set piece, a slight judder as things kick in. Small but noticeable. The character art in the credits however is superb. There was also once or twice when the action was at it's most busy a drastic slowdown and framerate loss for a few seconds. The camera whilst functional and allowing for altering views is as normal hamstrung by the nature of the game it is often not rapid enough at changing viewpoints to be effective. There is also an undocumented feature ties to R3, that of defaulting to a behind view. The action is crunchy, with the effects sounding meaty and full-bodied with snaps grinds, crashes and explosions abundant and let lose with free reign. Speech is limited to a few snatches between mission, introducing a character or before and after the versus combats. Each having two stilted phrases that seem semi-random and whilst in character become easily repetitive over time, with no skip option. Music is again atmospheric, most noticeably the main screen's, delivering a good build up to the action, one piece reminiscent to Mars and in the main game it is flawless. However when in a one on one combat it skips once every so often, too short a gap to be a planed halt at the end of a loop and too long to be the beginning of a loop, occurring most often at the start of a battle but it can crop up later as does a random lessening of volume for no discernable reason. The control layout is simple, with not all the buttons used. Reaction is crisp and efficient, allowing for a flowing and fluid fight in most conditions, there is however no lock-on feature, which when combined with the camera problems and it can be a nightmare finding your next target, doubly so as new enemies 'port in. Loosing crucial seconds on the expansive maps. There is a further almost bewildering propensity, that for one or two missions seemingly to be out of step with others, one moment you are fighting in the streets, the next mission then places you back on the Brooklyn Bridge, even if that character has not really been there. It seems horribly random and with out a ready explanation you wonder why, with either no plot connection at all or one so obscure that it avoids all obvious guesses. AI is less than admirable, as the CPU pulls of moves always flawlessly on the one hand and on the other is unable to realise that there is a wall between you and the Invader trying to shoot you. Difficulty is variable watching Storm try to continually jump up to a ledge for two minutes solid and failing, before returning to ranged blasts of lightning at her target was almost painful. Further, whilst they do say that not all superheroes are born equal there are problems with stats. Most obvious is that Spider-Man and Wolverine both have a strength of four, yet Spider-Man can lift a Yellow Cab and Wolverine is unable to do so, this give the impression of unfairness. Strength four is strength four, in any universe. It is this lack of consistency and the tinge that it may just be weighted against the player is a worry, on top of everything else is forms a patina on the polish of the title, chipping it away from what in all other respects is a fun title that is easy to pick up and get playing. In short it is Imperfect, quite badly so. Chris Snook             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  A potentially brilliant title with a phenomenal multi-threaded story-line that gives some of the rarer Marvel Heroes an opportunity for a workout. Let down with a lack of final polish, no lock-on mode and an AI that caroms from predictable and frustrating to genius within the space of a mission break. Inconsistent usage of stats for characters and a lingering doubt over fairness further cloud this release.  Related Games:  Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects for PlayStation 2  9  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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