It’s the sort of change you expect with Marvel properties after the Disney acquisition, but the loss of Wolverine and the frontline X-Men is a bummer. The X-Men, a staple of the team in the original game, are noticeably absent, and Guardians of the Galaxy- and Inhumans-related content takes center stage. Unlike the original Lego Marvel Super Heroes, the sequel shows expected deference to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I was surprised to find myself laughing so often there are enough quips and referential nods to keep the world irreverent but charming. Character writing hits more often than it misses.
It’s pretty boilerplate comic book bad guy stuff: a little too complicated, prone to inconsistencies and inevitably thwarted by a plucky band of superheroes. The Nexus shards are scattered all over Chronopolis, and each one has been grabbed up by a supervillain who is either allied with Kang or plotting to take Kang’s throne and then smash the Avengers. They do all have German accents, though.Ĭhronopolis is a mishmash of Marvel universe localesĪs the main storyline unfolds, Avengers and allies from all over the multiverse gather their forces to find the Nexus shards, to open a portal, to call for help, to find some other allies, to eventually, eventually mount an assault on Kang’s citadel in the middle of the map. As you might expect in a game aimed at a younger demographic, Nazi symbology is noticeably absent - these are the green and yellow Hydra, not the swastika-toting ones. In the Hydra Empire zone, citizens extol the virtues of Red Skull and don’t seem too perturbed about living under another, slightly different overlord. Each area is small but well-differentiated in style and missions. There’s Manhattan (as you might expect), but also future and past Manhattan (Nueva York and Manhattan Noir, respectively) a version of Asgard the Kree homeworld Hala the Inhuman city of Attilan as well as quite a few other Marvel locales. Interactive EntertainmentĬhronopolis, as the name entails, is composed of different zones taken from different eras or places in the Marvel universe. Kang also combines a number of physical landmark locations into a single megacity, Chronopolis, the game’s open world. Kang the Conqueror (purple guy, but not the purple guy from the movies) sets out to conquer the universe (naturally), this time using the powers of the Infinity Stone of Time, which allows him to gather forces from all over the Marvel multiverse. It’s a complicated premise that Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 explains surprisingly gracefully. The plot borrows gleefully from Marvel’s 2015 summer event, Secret Wars - just swap out Doctor Doom with Kang the Conqueror. Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 loosely follows the events of 2013’s Lego Marvel Super Heroes but doesn’t require extensive foreknowledge of the series. By the end, an above-average Marvel game is dragged down to the level of a below-average Lego game. And like a typical Marvel movie, the adventure runs a bit too long, gradually wearing out its welcome.
Explosions, elaborate combat and goofy gags ensue.
A dazzling re-interpretation of the Guardians of the Galaxy swoop into action to defend Nova Corps. Like a typical Marvel movie, Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 starts strong.