Gameplay:  
Ugh. This game just FEELS slow. You beat up robot after robot to be rewarded with walking a little bit and fighting more robots. You never learn new moves, either. You can upgrade your strength, vitality, and mutant power stats, but the enemies get stronger with each level too, so it's like nothing changes.

This game may look like a new version of the classic X-Men arcade game, but it's so slow it doesn't convey the arcade experience. The enemies just walk onto the screen for you to kill them.

That's another thing, sometimes the enemies are slightly off screen and they won't walk on! You sit there draining batteries waiting for these clowns to make up their minds about walking towards you. I don't blame them, they've seen you destroy 20 of their friends about 10 ft. back, but they should have the class to face you.

Control:  
Control is simple. 'A' is your basic attack, 'R' jumps, 'L' uses your mutant power, 'B' is a stronger attack that takes longer to execute. 'A' and 'B' together knocks over those around you if you're getting frustrated, but it hurts you too. The Select button transports you directly to Apocalypse... Just kidding, I think it selects stuff.

Most fights can be won by pressing the 'A' button as fast as you can.

Multiplayer:
Unfortunately I could not access the multiplayer modes. You need two cartridges to play this and I did not have a second.

According to Activision, multiplayer allows two people to fight their way through the game's normal mode. You can also play a versus match which includes 16 more characters you find during the normal game.

Sound:
The sound department! What you've all been waiting to hear! Sorry, I know I suck.

If you like techno, you'll want to turn up the volume and plug in some head phones. If not, turn the volume down and sing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" (it's the quintessential X-Men song if you're clinically insane).

The sound effects are standard punching sounds. Why don't the mutant powers blast you? There's an electric tickle when Storm uses hers, no crack-boom.

OVERALL:
If you're looking for a good comic book-inspired game, go for "Spider-Man: Mysterio's Menace." When the villains attack in that game, it's always a job for Spider-Man. In "X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse," any characters could have been plugged into the one-dimensional gameplay. Perhaps someone should make an X-Men game where you have to play as different characters on different levels— levels that specifically require that character and play to his/her strengths.

Until then, this game is recommended for die-hard X-Men fans, but seems too formulaic for everyone else.

And for people who hate the X-Men, why are you reading this review? You're freaky...

 

The Lowdown on  X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse Aesthetics: Above Average Control: Above Average Gameplay: Average Multiplayer: Sound: Above Average Innovation: 2/6 Lasting Appeal: 4/6 Rating Explanation Overall: Average! "An Average Game"