Activision secured its reputation with comic book fans by bringing everyone's favorite mutants to life in the action RPG titles X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends 2. If a dozen or so superheroes was good, the thinking goes, then 50-plus comic book characters must be great--and the upcoming Marvel: Ultimate Alliance brings together a huge roster of heroes and villains.

The gameplay we saw seemed nearly identical to X-Men Legends, with a four-person team of heroes chosen from a long list of famous characters. Players can switch between characters on the fly or team up with other gamers in a four-person co-op mode. The action is a blend of Diablo and Gauntlet, with simple arcadelike controls, an endless supply of enemies to mow through, and the ability to upgrade your characters and unlock new ones.

Activision is planning a very wide release for the game, creating versions for the PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, and original Xbox, along with portable versions for the Sony PSP and Nintendo Game Boy Advance. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is expected in the fall of 2006.

Article discussion: Heroes on call in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance