Last year’s X-Men Legends still stands as one of the finest games to be based on a comic franchise. Taking the top-down isometric view as well as the deep action-RPG elements of games like Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath, Legends was a fun game and a very competent multiplayer experience. Now, the sequel is hitting stores with the same brand of deep multiplayer mutant action as its predecessor. However, this time around, the adventure is portable, marking the series’ debut on the PlayStation Portable. Fortunately, Activision has cut no corners with this one, giving it all the bells and whistles of the console versions, even going so far as incorporating multiplayer support through both ad-hoc and infrastructure multiplay through wi-fi. If you enjoyed the first X-Men Legends or are just looking for the next great RPG for the Sony PSP, then X-Men Legends II should be at the top of your to-do list.

X-Men Legends II does things a bit differently by having you play not only as the X-Men, but also as the Brotherhood of Mutants led by Magneto as the two factions form a shaky alliance to bond against a common threat, the evil Apocalypse. You must temporarily put aside your differences in order to neutralize this threat.

For those who didn’t play (read: missed out on) the first X-Men Legends, it was a top-down action RPG that gave you complete control over the Uncanny X-Men. You could have a party of up to four mutants (you could choose from around 15 at various extraction points throughout the game). As you defeat enemies and gain levels, you’ll be able to increase your players stats and abilities, giving your characters new special moves that exploit their individual mutant talents. Changing control over your characters was done on the fly, simply by pressing a direction on the D-Pad. This was important because certain obstacles and environmental puzzles could only be solved by certain mutants. For example, if the way across a ravine was out, then Iceman could be used in order to make an ice bridge for the party to cross.

Legends II works on the same principles, this time giving you more mutants to control and more areas to explore. You now have access to the Brotherhood, with fan favorites like Magneto, Toad, Juggernaut and Deadpool becoming playable characters in your repertoire. This leads to some very interesting developments in the storyline, as the X-Men and the Brotherhood don’t/won’t always get along.

One of the best elements in X-Men Legends II is the introduction of online play. This entry marked the first in which players could link up co-operatively with other gamers online on consoles, and the PSP version continues this nicely, by supporting online play locally through ad-hoc or through the Internet in infrastructure mode. The gameplay in the multiplayer portions was smooth and fun, and led to some great teamwork situations.

The game isn’t without a few flaws, however, though most of them are geared at the PSP hardware itself. The lack of a second analog stick makes camera control difficult, something that becomes noticeable in hairy battles. Secondly, the loading times are a bit of a pain, as they are quite frequent and usually last around the thirty-second mark.

The graphics in X-Men Legends II are very good, which some excellent and crisp character models and detailed environments. The special effects are also quite good, rivaling the console’s look. However, the game is not without a few graphical issues. The overall look is a little too dark at times, making some areas unnecessarily difficult to see. Also, the framerates do get quite choppy, complicating matters when the action gets intense.

The sound is very capable, presenting the deep score of the console version and all of the great voice acting (featuring Patrick Stewart returning as Prof. X) and sound effects are here.

X-Men Legends II is a great continuation of the original hit game, and makes the transition to the portable gaming realm very nicely. Check it out if you are a comic fan or a lover of deep and engaging action-RPGs. 

Gameplay: 8.9
The gameplay is great, and feels right at home on the PSP. The controls are quite comfortable, and (expect for the lack of camera control on a second analog stick) work just as well as the console iterations. The action-RPG elements are quite fleshed out and the customization options will keep you engaged for hours. The only real noticeable issue is the loading times, which can be quite lengthy and frequent.

Graphics: 8.0 
Graphically, Legends II looks good, except for a few trouble spots, like overly dark areas and choppy framerates. The character models are solid and the special effects look just as good as they do on the consoles.

Sound: 9.0
The epic soundtrack fits nicely with the game’s mood, while great sound effects and voice acting round out the package.

Difficulty:  Medium
 

Concept: 9.0 
X-Men Legends packs a huge amount of game into a very small package, making this an adventure to get if you’d like to spend some quality time with your PSP.

Multiplayer: 9.5

The multiplayer elements are superbly done, offering wireless play with a few friends or even with gamers from across the nation.

Overall: 9.0

X-Men Legends II is a great entry into this promising franchise, and the PSP version pulls no punches, giving gamers all the action in a small package.