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AVENGERS: BATTLE FOR EARTH (WIIU)
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Publisher: Ubisoft.
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec. Released: January 2013 (Europe). Genre: 3D Fighter. Other versions: X360. Posted 1st July 2021. By Shane Battams © 2021 |
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Like any console with distinctive controls, the Wii U endured a few rough months as developers tried either to figure out the intricacies of the Gamepad, or bypass them entirely. Avengers: Battle for Earth opted for the former, with Ubisoft Quebec focusing its systems around Gamepad swipes. It’s a noble idea and with more exploration, might have made for a standout experience. Unfortunately, it ends up rendering the fighting shallow, lacking the depth necessary to sustain interest through its already brief runtime. As a result, it’s a poor option next to other Wii U fighters like Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Injustice.
A 2v2 fighter, gameplay relies on either the drawing of the Gamepad or the motion controls of the Wiimote and nunchuck. The former is preferable, as the Wiimote motion doesn’t feel quite right, often failing to register inputs correctly. But even Gamepad controls aren’t perfect, as some zig-zag motions prove unresponsive and a delayed input can result in cheap misses when attacking. Oddly, Gamepad controls confine you to the screen of the pad, unless you have a Wiimote handy to swap the camera on your TV. It seems like a weird oversight, one of many that give the impression of a rushed product, such as a lack of unlockable costumes for most of the cast and not being able to use the Skrull form of fighters from the story.
A 2v2 fighter, gameplay relies on either the drawing of the Gamepad or the motion controls of the Wiimote and nunchuck. The former is preferable, as the Wiimote motion doesn’t feel quite right, often failing to register inputs correctly. But even Gamepad controls aren’t perfect, as some zig-zag motions prove unresponsive and a delayed input can result in cheap misses when attacking. Oddly, Gamepad controls confine you to the screen of the pad, unless you have a Wiimote handy to swap the camera on your TV. It seems like a weird oversight, one of many that give the impression of a rushed product, such as a lack of unlockable costumes for most of the cast and not being able to use the Skrull form of fighters from the story.
Battle for Earth is proof that simply wheeling out the big, box-office names isn't enough to make a good fighting game
But the killer is that the core of Avengers, the fighting, is sorely lacking. Along with standard attacks and being able to change between two fighters on the fly, you’ll use swipes to perform specials. Dealing or taking enough damage allows you to perform combo breakers and Ultra specials. There is a combo system, where using Launchers allows you to chain multiple specials together and even tag your partner in to do co-op combos. But these can’t salvage a fighting system that lacks depth, boiling down to a basic game of rock-paper-scissors with a roster of 20 fighters that all feel the same, but for aesthetic differences. Not even fan favourites, like Wolverine and Spiderman, can help distinguish brawls from one another.
Battle for Earth revolves around the Secret Invasion story, where a race of shapeshifters known as the Skrull invade earth and other realms of the universe, forcing the Avengers to unite against a changing foe as they are sabotaged from within. Across 40 stages, which feature pre-determined opponents often donning the green skin of the Skrull, you can blow through this mode in around two hours, with most fights being a cakewalk. The only fight where you’re in serious jeopardy of losing a round is the final fight. Arcade sets up a 10-match gauntlet with unlockable costumes as tribute, Challenges offer training as well as special scenarios and Versus lets you use Wiimotes to fight against a friend. Co-op is also available for Arcade and Story, but isn’t enough to make these modes fun.
Battle for Earth revolves around the Secret Invasion story, where a race of shapeshifters known as the Skrull invade earth and other realms of the universe, forcing the Avengers to unite against a changing foe as they are sabotaged from within. Across 40 stages, which feature pre-determined opponents often donning the green skin of the Skrull, you can blow through this mode in around two hours, with most fights being a cakewalk. The only fight where you’re in serious jeopardy of losing a round is the final fight. Arcade sets up a 10-match gauntlet with unlockable costumes as tribute, Challenges offer training as well as special scenarios and Versus lets you use Wiimotes to fight against a friend. Co-op is also available for Arcade and Story, but isn’t enough to make these modes fun.
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The presentation is pretty basic too, looking like a higher-res Wii game at times. Characters have a light lick of cel-shading but lack detail or fluid animations. Panel cut-scenes fit nicely, even if they’re so short they add little to the narrative. But the scenery quickly becomes very repetitive, with only five separate areas which look completely underwhelming. Performance is a bit uneven too, with frequent stutters and weird visual bugs if you pause on occasion. The sound is bare too, with a handful of tracks, canned lines that repeat far too often and uneven effects that lack impact.
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Serving as Ubisoft’s first crack at a Marvel game, Avengers: Battle for Earth proves a disappointing waste of the lauded franchise. Its admirable attempts to utilise the capabilities of the console backfire, resulting in a rote fighting experience that is severely short on depth. Fighters lack distinction between one another, the bare content can be blown through within hours, and everything just smacks of a game rushed onto shelves without much thought beyond the basic concept. With a litany of superior fighting games available on the Wii U, as well as stronger fighting games starring Marvel characters, Battle for Earth proves hard to recommend for anyone but the most dedicated fans of the comic giant.
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VERDICT
"Avengers: Battle for Earth proves a rote fighting game severely short of depth, lacking in content and bearing all the hallmarks of a game rushed to store shelves.” OVERALL: 4/10 |