Lego Marvel Super Heroes

Lego Marvel Super Heroesis a 2013Lego-themedaction-adventurevideo gamedeveloped byTraveller's Talesand published byWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainmentfor thePlayStation 3,Xbox 360,Wii U,PlayStation 4,Xbox One,Nintendo Switch,andMicrosoft Windows,[1]and byFeral InteractiveforOS X.[2]The game features gameplay similar to otherLegotitles, such asLego Star Wars: The Complete SagaandLego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes,alternating between various action-adventure sequences and puzzle-solving scenarios. The handheld version of the game byTT Fusionwas released under the titleLego Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in PerilforiOS,Android,Nintendo DS,Nintendo 3DS,andPlayStation Vita.[3]ANintendo Switchversion was released on October 8, 2021.[4]

Lego Marvel Super Heroes
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Arthur Parsons
Producer(s)Tom Johnson
Designer(s)Jon Burton
Programmer(s)Steve Harding
Artist(s)Leon Warren
Writer(s)Mark Hoffmeier
Composer(s)Rob Westwood
Platform(s)
Release
  • Xbox 360,Wii U,Playstation 3,Microsoft Windows
    • NA:22 October 2013
    • AU:13 November 2013
    • EU:15 November 2013
    • JP:22 January 2015
  • PlayStation 4
    • NA:15 November 2013
    • EU:29 November 2013
  • Xbox One
    • NA:22 November 2013
    • EU:22 November 2013
  • Nintendo 3DS,Nintendo DS
    • NA:18 February 2014
    • EU:21 February 2014
  • MacOS
    • WW:8 May 2014
  • Nintendo Switch
    • WW:8 October 2021
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer

The game's storyline sees various heroes from theMarvel Universejoining forces to foil the schemes ofDoctor DoomandLoki,who have also recruited a number of villains to aid them and seek to conquer the Earth using the Doom Ray of Doom, a device built from the shards of theSilver Surfer's board called "Cosmic Bricks".Lego Marvel Super Heroesreceived generally positive reviews and is currently the best-selling Lego video game of all time.[5]A spin-off titledLego Marvel's Avengerswas released on 26 January 2016, and a sequel titledLego Marvel Super Heroes 2was released on 14 November 2017.

Gameplay

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The player can visit several locations in the game such as theS.H.I.E.L.D.Helicarrier.

Following the gameplay style of pastLegotitles, players are able to control 180 characters from theMarvel Universe,each with their own unique abilities.[6][7]For example,Spider-Mancan swing on his webs and use his Spider-Sense while theHulk,who is larger than the standard minifigures, can throw large objects, as well as shrink down into Bruce Banner to access computers.[8][9]Galactuswas chosen as the main antagonist of the game.[10]According to game director Arthur Parsons and producer Phil Ring, one of the main settings ofLego Marvel Super Heroesis a Lego version ofManhattan,with players able to explore bothLiberty IslandandRyker's Island.[11]In addition, a Lego version ofAsgardwas created.[12]

The creative team has also incorporatedMarvel Comicsco-creatorStan Leein the game. He is a part of missions called "Stan Lee in Peril" (similar to "Citizen in Peril" missions from previous games). He is also a playable character and has several of the other characters' abilities (such as Spider-Man's webbing, a combination of theHuman Torch's heat beam andCyclops's optic blast,Mister Fantastic's ability to grapple,Wolverine'sadamantiumskeleton when all health is depleted, and the ability to transform into aHulk-like version of Lee).[7]

Players can also explore the Marvel version of New York City, though they can only use a specific character and access buildings after the campaign is complete. Bonus missions are narrated byDeadpool[7]and take place in buildings with their own storylines. There are a total of 15 missions in the main single-player campaign, followed by 11 side missions.[13]

Many of the main LEGO minifigure characters are based on their appearance from their latestMarvel Cinematic Universeappearances from the latest Phase 1 movies up to two recently released Phase 2 moviesIron Man 3andThor: The Dark World.Tony Stark is modeled onRobert Downey Jr.,Nick Fury is modeled onSamuel L. Jackson,Agent Phil Coulson is both modeled on and voiced byClark Gregg,Captain America is modeled onChris Evans,Black Widow is modeled onScarlett Johansson,Bruce Banner is modeled onMark Ruffalo,Clint Barton is modeled onJeremy Renner,Loki is modeled onTom Hiddleston,Thor is modeled onChris Hemsworth,and Maria Hill is modeled onCobie Smulders.

Plot

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While searching the universe for planets for his masterGalactusto consume,Silver Surferis captured byDoctor Doom,and his board shattered into multiple "Cosmic Bricks". Having been warned about Galactus' upcoming arrival on Earth by an imprisonedLoki,Doom aims to build his "Doom Ray of Doom" using these bricks, which will allow the pair to defeat Galactus and then take over the world. Meanwhile,Nick Furyenlists Earth's heroes to retrieve the bricks before they fall into the wrong hands.

SandmanandAbomination,hired by Doom to retrieve a brick, holdGrand Central Stationhostage for it, but are defeated byIron Man,Hulk,andSpider-Man.The brick is left in theFantastic Four's care at theBaxter Building,butDoctor Octopussteals it, forcingMister FantasticandCaptain Americato pursue him. Aided by Spider-Man when the fight goes through theDaily Bugle,they defeat him inTimes Square,but he tosses the Brick toGreen Goblin.Tasked with retrieving it,Black Widow,Hawkeye,and Spider-Man infiltrateOscorp,but are forced to fightVenomwhile the Green Goblin escapes.

Iron Man and Hulk respond to a prison riot atthe Raft,orchestrated byMagneto,Mystique,andSabretoothto break out Loki and other villains. Aided byWolverine,they defeat the escaped inmates and Sabretooth, but Magneto destroys Iron Man's armor and escapes with Mystique and Loki. Captain America and Tony Stark go toStark Towerso that the latter can get his latest suit, only to encounter Loki,Mandarin,andAldrich Killian,who have hackedJ.A.R.V.I.S.,turning it against the heroes. After restoring J.A.R.V.I.S. back to normal, they defeat the Mandarin and Killian, but Loki escapes with one of Stark's experimental arc reactors.

After S.H.I.E.L.D. tracks the reactor's signature to aHYDRAbase beneath theEmpire State Building,Black Widow and Hawkeye investigate and discover that theRed SkullandArnim Zolaare building a portal generator powered by the stolen reactor, which Loki uses to travel toAsgard.Human Torch,Captain America, and Wolverine arrive to help defeat Red Skull, but inadvertently damage the portal generator in the process. Pursuing Loki withThor's help, the trio discover that he invaded Asgard, aided by theFrost Giants,and has stolen theTesseract.Loki unleashes theDestroyerupon the heroes, but they defeat it and retrieve the Tesseract, despite Loki's escape.

Wolverine takes the Tesseract to theX-MansionforProfessor Xto analyze it, but Doom dispatches theBrotherhood of Mutantsto retrieve it. TheX-MendefeatToad,Pyro,andJuggernaut,but fail to prevent Magneto and Mystique from stealing the Tesseract. Tracking it down toLatveria,Nick Fury and the Fantastic Four stormCastle Doom,defeat Green Goblin, and rescue Silver Surfer, but Doom and Loki escape.

Iron Man, Thor, and Spider-Man later infiltrate aA.I.M.submarinewhere Doom is hiding out, defeatingMODOKand capturing Doom withJean Grey's help. However, Magneto magnetically controls theStatue of Libertyand uses it to rescue Doom. Despite Mister Fantastic, Wolverine, and Hulk's attempts to stop him after defeatingMastermind,Magneto brings the Statue to an island filled with dinosaurs from theSavage Land,whereupon he uses a nuclear core stolen fromRoxxon Industriesto power his space station,Asteroid M.Captain America,Storm,andThingpursue Magneto and defeatRhinoand Mystique (disguised as Magneto), but fail to prevent the station's launch.

Iron Man, Thor, and Spider-Man board Asteroid M and defeat Magneto, before confronting Doom and Loki, who have finished building the Doom Ray. After Doom incapacitates Iron Man and Thor, Captain America, the Thing, and Storm arrive to help Spider-Man defeat him. However, Loki reveals that he had manipulated Doom into building a flying pod, powered by the Tesseract, that will allow him to control Galactus and destroy Earth and Asgard. After Galactus arrives to consume Earth, Loki mind-controls him into destroying Asteroid M, though everyone aboard survives.

To stop Loki and Galactus, the heroes and villains form an uneasy alliance, and manage to open a portal to an unknown region of space and send the two through it, destroying Loki's pod and freeing Galactus from his control in the process. While Nick Fury recovers the Tesseract, the heroes decide to give the villains a head start to avoid capture. With his board rebuilt, Silver Surfer recovers his powers and leaves Earth, promising to lead Galactus far away.

In amid-credits scene,Fury oversees the repair of the Statue of Liberty, when theGuardians of the Galaxyarrive, having been called earlier to help against Galactus, but they arrived too late. ThoughStar-Lordwarns Fury that there issomething else threatening Earth.Later while having lunch with the construction crew, Fury encountersBlack Panther,who was looking for his cat Mr. Tiddles and tells Fury that the people ofWakandaare grateful to him.

Reception

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Lego Marvel Super Heroesreceived generally positive reviews upon release. Among its strengths, reviewers cited its humor, variety of missions, characters, and open-world gameplay. According to Metacritic, it received an average review score of 83/100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally positive reviews".

Steve Butts ofIGNgave the game a 9 out of 10, praising it for being: "the best thing to happen to the Marvel games since 2006'sMarvel: Ultimate Alliance".He added," it's a warm and witty, multi-layered approach to the brand that ties in hundreds of Marvel's most iconic characters, settings, and stories ".[24]Steve Hannley of Hardcore Gamer gave the game a 4/5, calling it "one of the best Marvel games this generation".[30]Game Informergave the game a 9 out of 10, whilePolygongave the game an 8.5 out of 10.[22][27]GameZone's Matt Liebl, regarding the PS4 version, stated, "on a console filled with shooters likeKillzoneandCall of Duty,TT Games'Lego Marvel Super Heroespresents a nice break from the complex sports titles and intense shooters that overrun the console ".[31]

During the17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards,theAcademy of Interactive Arts & SciencesnominatedLego Marvel Super Heroesfor "Family Game of the Year".[32]

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment President David Haddad has stated that Lego Marvel Super Heroes is the best-selling LEGO video game of all time.[5]

A sequel titledLego Marvel Super Heroes 2was released forMicrosoft Windows,Nintendo Switch,PlayStation 4,andXbox Oneon 14 November 2017.

Downloadable content

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Two add-on packs were released for the game. The first,Super Pack,included 7 characters:Dark Phoenix,Winter Soldier,Symbiote Spider-Man,Hawkeye(classic),Beta Ray Bill,ThanosandA-Bombas well as two vehicles: The Spider Buggy and Hawkeye's Sky Cycle, and 10 races that can only be done with the new vehicles. The second,Asgard Character Pack,was released in November to coincide with the release ofThor: The Dark World,and included 8 characters:Malekith,Kurse,Sif,Volstagg,Odin,Hogun,FandralandJane Foster.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Nunneley, Stephany (12 June 2013)."Lego Marvel Super Heroes E3 trailer released, game coming to PS4 and XOne".Archivedfrom the original on 22 October 2013.Retrieved12 June2013.
  2. ^"Some assembly required: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes out now for Mac!"Archived8 May 2014 at theWayback Machine.(18 June 2014).
  3. ^"Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril, game coming to 3DS and PS Vita".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on 28 October 2013.Retrieved25 October2013.
  4. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes coming soon to Nintendo Switch".Brick Fanatics.9 August 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 10 August 2021.Retrieved10 August2021.
  5. ^abPierce, Tanner (16 June 2017)."LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Is the Best Selling LEGO Game To Date".Dualshockers.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2017.Retrieved3 July2017.
  6. ^Conditt, Jessica (26 May 2013)."Lego Marvel Super Heroes adds Venom, Human Torch to the roster".Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2013.Retrieved27 May2013.
  7. ^abc"LEGO Marvel Superheroes: Stan Lee Hulks Out - Comic-Con 2013".IGN.20 July 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2013.Retrieved20 July2013.
  8. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Game Reveal".GameTrailers.com. 4 April 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2013.Retrieved20 May2013.
  9. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes On the Way".Marvel.com.8 January 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2013.Retrieved8 January2013.
  10. ^Narcisse, Evan (11 January 2013)."Giant-Sized Hulk Will Smash Galactus in Lego Marvel Super Heroes".Kotaku.Kotaku.Archivedfrom the original on 29 January 2013.Retrieved27 January2013.
  11. ^Henson, Ben (18 January 2013)."Your Video Primer For Lego Marvel Super Heroes".Game Informer.Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2013.Retrieved27 January2013.
  12. ^Lego Marvel Super Heroes E3 2013: Character Walkthrough (Cam).12 June 2013.Retrieved12 June2013.
  13. ^"Walkthrough - LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Wiki Guide - IGN".11 June 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2021.Retrieved1 July2021– via www.ign.com.
  14. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – PlayStation 4"Archived1 July 2021 at theWayback Machine.Metacritic.
  15. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – PC"Archived1 July 2021 at theWayback Machine.Metacritic.
  16. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Xbox 360"Archived1 July 2021 at theWayback Machine.Metacritic.
  17. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – PlayStation 3"Archived1 July 2021 at theWayback Machine.Metacritic.
  18. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes – Wii U"Archived1 July 2021 at theWayback Machine.Metacritic.
  19. ^Marriott, Scott Alan."Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Review".AllGame.Archived fromthe originalon 14 November 2014.Retrieved18 August2017.
  20. ^"LEGO Marvel Review".Archivedfrom the original on 22 January 2014.Retrieved31 May2014.
  21. ^Zeidler, Brett (6 November 2013)."Review: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes".Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2014.Retrieved31 May2014.
  22. ^abCork, Jeff (22 October 2013)."Lego Heroes, Assemble".Game Informer.GameStop. Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2021.Retrieved22 October2013.
  23. ^Barylick, Chris (29 October 2013)."Avengers disassemble!".Gamespot.com.Archivedfrom the original on 31 October 2013.Retrieved29 October2013.
  24. ^abButts, Steve (22 October 2013)."Make Mine Marvel".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on 1 July 2021.Retrieved22 October2013.
  25. ^DelVillano, Ron (6 December 2013)."LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Review".Archivedfrom the original on 25 January 2021.Retrieved30 April2021.
  26. ^"LEGO Marvel Super Heroes - Review".Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2014.Retrieved31 May2014.
  27. ^abKollar, Phillip (22 October 2013)."LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES REVIEW: ONWARD AND UPWARD".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on 1 July 2021.Retrieved22 October2013.
  28. ^Goodman, Paul. (26 October 2013)."Lego Marvel Super Heroes Review - Minifigures, Assemble!"Archived9 February 2015 at theWayback Machine.The Escapist.Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  29. ^Whitehead, Dan (2 September 2021)."Lego Marvel Super Heroes review - Avengers reassembled".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on 2 September 2021.Retrieved2 September2021.
  30. ^Hannley, Steve (30 October 2013)."Review: Lego Marvel Super Heroes".Hardcore Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on 2 December 2013.Retrieved25 November2013.
  31. ^Liebl, Matt (29 December 2013)."LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (PS4) review: Finally, a game for kids".GZ.Archivedfrom the original on 2 January 2014.Retrieved10 January2014.
  32. ^"2014 Awards Category Details Family Game of the Year".interactive.org.Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.Retrieved28 November2023.
  33. ^Fahmy, Albaraa (27 December 2013)."LEGO Marvel Super Heroes trailer showcases Asgard character pack - watch".Digital Spy.Hearst UK.Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2020.Retrieved19 May2020.

Bibliography

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  • LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Prima's Official Game Guide.Authored by Sir Michael Knight and Nick von Esmarch. Published by Dorling Kindersley, 2013.ISBN0-80416-132-1
  • Lego Marvel Super Heroes Strategy Guide & Game Walkthrough - Cheats, Tips, Tricks, and More!.Authored by 2up Guides. Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017.ISBN1-97750-335-7
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