I am an “experience” (as opposed to experienced) gamer.  Meaning, I have to be totally engaged with it and I won’t continue with a game just for the sake of beating it. There are few games that have stamina to keep my attention all the way to games end.  If the story dies, if new game play techniques aren’t introduced, and if the levels aren’t challenging but achievable, forget it, I’m already rubbing up on the glass of the 360 case at Hastings. 

X-men - The Official Game follows the story line of The Last Stand yet stays with “comic” style, which may float the boat for some Xmen fanatics, but is disappointing for me.  I want the cinematics and I want to feel the graphic awe.  You don’t get either here.  The cut scenes are non animated comic strip sliders with voice over scripts that really cheapen the overall feel.  The game play graphics are not as good as comparables for next gen systems and the visual let down leaves the entire worth on game play. 

You are limited to 3 characters; Wolverine, Iceman, and Nightcrawler which is downer to some extent, some of the other characters could have been a blast to play.    Iceman is the flyer and can surf the sky on his icy pathways shooting freeze bombs at ships or putting out fires in the city.  Wolverine is the bad ass brawler and Nightcrawler is the teleporter which makes him the slickest character in game play and a lot of fun to move around.   There is very little mental challenge which feels a little like grinding to level in world of warcraft, so it’s a good thing the levels are fairly short. 

The deal with achievements is sketchy, I’ve done 7 or 8 levels and have not gotten any 360 achievement points.  It seems you earn game points and when you reach 950 game points you start getting achievements.  I will probably not find out, but I left you a list down below of what should be available. 

All in all, the game just doesn’t meet the expectation levels of 360 gamers.  If you want some mindless entertainment, try Nightcrawlers parallel, its pretty fly use the teleportation in your fight sequences, that’s about the coolest part of the game.   

Danger Room (20)
Complete Act 1

Danger Room (20)
Complete Act 2

Danger Room (30)
Complete Act 3

Xavier Institute (0)
Complete Nightcrawler’s training mission

Xavier Institute (0)
Complete Iceman’s training mission

Xavier Institute (0)
Complete Wolverine’s training mission

Evolution (125)
Upgrade Iceman with all available mutations

Evolution (125)
Upgrade Nightcrawler with all available mutations

Evolution (120)
Upgrade Wolverine with all available mutations

Champion (70)
Collect all Sentinel Tech as Iceman

Champion (70)
Collect all Sentinel Tech as Nightcrawler

Champion (110)
Collect all Sentinel Tech as Wolverine

Secret Identity (70)
Collect all Weapon X Files as Iceman

Secret Identity (80)
Collect all Weapon X Files as Nightcrawler

Secret Identity (110)
Collect all Weapon X Files as Wolverine

X-Men (50)
Accumulate a 950 achievement score

Kiss Kiss,

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