Available exclusively on Nintendo Switch
1 to 4 players, local or online.
Standing in front of the laundry detergent aisle and having to choose between LaveMieux with a lavender scent, TouDou for softer laundry and Lessivox, which even washes away dishonour. That is the same sense of bewilderment a newcomer can feel in front of the video game shelf, especially if they have to buy one for someone else, such as a child. So, inevitably, the helpless mind clings to the slightest familiar landmark. That is why you will opt for the detergent you saw on television, or Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order for your little nephew, because the name Marvel is familiar to you.
Inevitably, faced with the plethora of games that come out almost daily, there is every reason to feel lost. Betting on a recognised brand is therefore a proven way of standing out. Back in the 90s, when parents had to choose between boxes showing the tree from Secret of Mana, the armed robots of Mega Man X or the face of Tintin, it was probably the latter that ended up in the basket. Even though, objectively, it was probably not the best option.
The marketing dressing-up technique is therefore well known. It is an easy solution that can serve as a cover for something lacking. A familiar face should, paradoxically, arouse suspicion. You might think that today this booming and culturally established industry would no longer need to resort to this kind of strategy. And yet.
I am Groot-ed
There is a garland of characters from the Marvel universe, which you can combine to form your dream team. Regularly, you can change its four members and so vary the pleasures.
When you think of superheroes, a brawl is never far away. The gameplay remains ultra-basic, since you have to alternate between two types of attack, weak or strong, to defeat the enemies before wandering to the next room. It is impossible to get lost, everything is laid out as corridors. Unfortunately, the action is often unreadable and you just end up hammering the buttons. The fault lies with a camera that tends to position itself where you can’t see anything. In addition, I found the graphics particularly poor and unpolished in handheld mode. Once connected to the TV, things nevertheless improve.
The Spider-Man of the morning…
MUA3 is therefore content to be an utterly classic action game, one that spends its time bellowing at you that it is a Marvel product. Its simplicity furiously reminded me several times of the games bearing the Lego stamp (Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2), but without the humour that characterises them. I therefore recommend favouring the latter. And reserving Ultimate Alliance 3 for the… ultimate fans, not too fussy about how well the detergent washes.
The great Marvel villains have seized the Infinity Stones.
The graphics lack finesse and detail.
Being able to play with several people is still a small plus.
Characters are unlocked (easily) as you progress.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/zY46t_vapTM?t=64
He works in Switzerland on the themes of excessive screen use, notably with families. He uses video games as a therapeutic tool and keeps a close eye on news about the medium (new releases, trends, impacts, etc.). Alongside his professional activities, he voluntarily runs a game review site (www.semperludo.com), as well as a nationwide association of gamers (www.gamingfederation.ch), through which they aim for responsible video game practice.
Twitter: @niels_weber, @semperludo, @GamingFed
