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X-Men Legends
PAL region PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)	Raven Software, Barking Lizards Technologies
Publisher(s)	Activision
Engine	Vicarious Visions Alchemy
Platform(s)	Xbox, GameCube, PS2, N-Gage
Release date(s)	GameCube,[1] PS2,[2] & Xbox[3] NA September 21, 2004 PAL October 22, 2004 N-Gage[4] PAL January 2005 NA February 7, 2005
Genre(s)	Action, role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer (up to 4 players)
Rating(s)	CERO: 15 ESRB: T OFLC: M15+ PEGI: 12+

X-Men Legends is an action role-playing game released on several consoles in 2004. Players can play as one of 15 X-Men characters, switching between four computer (or human) controlled characters within one team. The basic plot revolves around the X-Men battling Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants.

[edit] Gameplay

The game has multiplayer co-operative and skirmish options for up to four players. Co-operative play is similar to Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2, but is more refined with the addition of combination attacks and character interactions. Each character's abilities can be upgraded, and players can equip items found during gameplay to further enhance a character's abilities. This format of a mission and then character development is followed throughout the game.

The X-Mansion serves as a hub that the team returns to after each mission. In addition the team can return to the mansion during a mission via X-traction Points. While at the mansion, one person controls Alison as she explores and learns about herself and the other X-Men.

[edit] Plot

The game begins with Allison Crestmere discovering that she is a mutant and being abducted by the Genetic Research and Security Organization (or GRSO for short). As the GRSO soldiers are taking her away, Mystique arrives with Blob and takes Allison from the soldiers. She is then rescued from Mystique by Wolverine and Cyclops. She is taken back to the Xavier Institute to explore her powers.

As Allison trains, some of the X-Men are sent to protect a ship carrying Magneto that is going to be attacked by the Brotherhood of Mutants. The defense fails, and Magneto is released.

Once Allison’s training is complete, she is given the codename Magma and accompanies the X-Men to Russia to help Colossus, who is trying to prevent the Brotherhood from obtaining weapons-grade plutonium. After accomplishing this mission, they discover that Colossus’s sister, Illyana, is sick, so she is taken back to the Xavier Institute. Back at the Institute, Professor X, Emma Frost, and Jean Grey enter the Astral Plane to save Illyana. They succeed, but Xavier is captured by the Shadow King.

After Xavier’s capture, The X-Men learn from the Morlocks that Gen. William Kincaid, a leader in the anti-mutant movement, is rebuilding Sentinels. Magneto travels to his base on Asteroid M and calls the mutants of the world to join him on “The Mount”.

The X-Men manage to free Xavier from the Shadow King, and Xavier sends them to Asteroid M. There, they discover that the asteroid is heading for Earth, and they are attacked by Magneto, Mystique, and Sabretooth. After defeating them, they defend the other mutants on the asteroid from attacking Sentinels, until Gen. Kincaid arrives in Master Mold. After defeating Gen. Kincaid, Magma steers the asteroid back into space.

In the game's epilogue, it is mentioned that Magneto is still at large and General Kincaid has been arrested for crimes against humanity. The game ends with the President of the United States thanking the X-Men for their service and Apocalypse watching the X-Men in his base.

[edit] Characters

The X-Men engage in a battle against Sentinels.

^† Professor X is only playable during the first Astral Plane mission and during the fight against Shadow King.

Despite being credited, Angel doesn't appear in this game. The reason that Raven Software excluded him is unknown; however, several of his files and references to those files still exist on the disc.

[edit] Sequel

A sequel, X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse was released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC on September 27, 2005, for the PSP on October 11, 2005, and N-Gage in late 2005.

[edit] Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	Xbox: 83.2% (75 reviews)[5]
Metacritic	Xbox: 82 out of 100 (70 reviews)[6]
Review scores
Publication	Score
1UP.com	B+[7]
Eurogamer	7 out of 10[8]
GameSpot	8.2 out of 10[9]
IGN	8.4 out of 10[10]
X-Play	[11]

X-Men Legends received mostly positive reviews. 1UP praised the game, stating "at the very least, is an impressively well-made take on Gauntlet. If you're a fan of superhero comics, it's the best Gauntlet ever".^[7] IGN enjoyed the cel-shaded graphics: "To capture the 'comic book feel,' Raven Soft chose to go for a cel-shaded look with Legends. It's not that the characters look two-dimensional, but they have very basic textures and a cut-out look".^[10]

[edit] See also

• X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official X-Men Legends webpage
• X-Men Legends at MobyGames
• X-Men Legends at the Internet Movie Database