Superman Returns: The Videogame: Not that super
Wrathmourne
60% score
Graphics 3.0 Sound 3.0 Control 4.0 Superman Returns, for yet another dissapointing game. While it was not a bad game, it was not what it could have been. Lets start from the beginning. First and foremost are superman's powers, something that every game has failed at in one respect or another. Finally there is a game that has captured his powers. From flying at super speed to his enormous strength it's all there. You start the game with all of his powers, flying, super breath, freeze breth, heat vision, and super speed it is all there. As you progress through the game, you gain the ability to upgrade these powers for some pretty cool effects. For example your heat vision can take out a city block in one shot. Then there is flying, for the first time superman's speed has been captured in a game, and it is a blast to dart through the skies. The combat system is pretty solid, some of the combo's are a little tricky to pull off, but once you get the timing down they are simple and satisfying. The only true drawback can be the targeting system along with the the occasional crazy camera. The idea of keeping Superman invunerable and giving the city health is a good idea. That being said, it should take a lot more to destroy the city than a few cars being blown up, a tree set on fire, and some citizens injured. Where are the destructable environments? The sound is ok, but where is the superman theme song??? Also, some of the voice acting is just plain boring. The music score for the game is decent, i do enjoy how the music changes depending on if you are flying or on the ground. The unlockables are ok, only 3 ulockable outfits are a letdown. The mini games are definatly something to stop and do, there are 2 mini games, 1 is Bizzaro mode, basically you have to destroy as much as you can in a certain amount of time, the other is a race around Metropolis. They are an easy was to add some health to the city should it take a little too much damage. The problem with the game is with the pretty much everything else. You cannot set the difficulty (I beat the game in just under 6 1/2 hrs) The fights are repeatitive, kill ice dragons w/heat vision, kill fire dragons with freeze breath gets old fast. There is NO tie in to the movie save for the cut scenes. You do not fight Lex Luthor (why it said you do in the GP review is beyond me), you never rescue Lois Lane, you never play as Clark Kent. For bosses you fight Overcast, Mongul, Bizzaro, Metallo, and Riot. That's it!?! What happened to this drawing on 60 yrs of comic history that was hyped? Where's Doomsday, Cyborg, Darksyde etc? Bottom line, the game does show promise for future superman games. Drop the developer (common how many times has EA shortchanged it's games to make a quick buck) and drop the "movie tie in". I think if someone like Rockstar games got a hold of superman, they could make a great game, since they have mastered the sandbox game as it is. All and all it makes a good rental for the superman fan, everyone else is better off skipping it.
