Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet – Xbox 360 Review

One glance at the cover of Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet will tell you that this is definitely a game aimed at younger players.  Based on the six episode comic series and cartoon of the same name,  Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet ticks many of the boxed required for a successful children’s title:  familiar cartoon characters? Check;  cheesy voice overs? Check; Co-op play? Check. Colorful environments filled with breakable objects? Check;  and the list goes on.  If you’re not a big fan of the Marvel universe and if you’re aged over 7 (and haven’t got any kids or nephews and nieces handy) you may want to steer clear of this one.

As far as the story goes, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet follows the diabolical scheme of Thanos to capture the six stones of the Infinity Gauntlet.  If you’re not a big Marvel fan, the Infinity Gauntlet is a very special gauntlet which, when combined with the Infinity Sword, allows you to control all of the powers of the universe. And, as for Thanos?  Well, he’s from Titan and his name is derived from Thanatos, the personification of death and mortality in Greek mythology.

Got all that?  Good.

Anyway, so, as I was saying,  Thanosis intent on getting his over-sized mitts on the six stones of the Infinity Gauntlet, and with them he will be able to harness all of the power of the universe.  Luckily for the universe, Iron Man and the Hulk just happen to be shopping in space (for a new pair of boots for Thor, no less) when a mix up at the counter means that someone else has been given the box with their new booties in.  The customer just so happens to be Super Skrull.

They hitch a ride on the back of Super Skrull’s rocket ship and over hear Thanos’s plan to find the stones and conquer the universe. (Deep throated, mwah, hah, ha laugh at this point, please).

Over the next twelve hours or so, you’ll be tasked with controlling some of Marvel’s most iconic characters in your attempt to track down the stones and save the day.  Through brightly coloured levels sprinkled with power-ups and puzzles you’ll get to don the mask (and tights! – Editor) of a host of Marvel superhero’s including Ironman, Captain America; Wolverine; Hulk; Thor; Invisible Woman; She-Hulk and Spiderman.  On the villain’s side, you’ll find yourself trading blows with family favourites such as Doctor Doom, Galactus; Silver Surfer; Nightmare; Super-Skrull; Thanos; Loki; Enchantress; Hercules; Abomination; Grandmaster; Nebula; MODOK and Red Skull.

Pretty much in the vein of the Lego games series, you’ll be accompanied by a partner hero controlled by the game’s AI. Together you’ll utilize each character’s unique abilities to solve puzzles, traverse brightly coloured, child friendly levels and knock the stuffing out of hordes of villains.

Graphically, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is far from the eye candy levels of some adult games out there.  Instead, the characters are short, squat and childlike in their proportions.  The levels lack any great detail but are colourful and easy on the eye. Its worth mentioning that this game boasts production values as high as any on the cartoon network.  The heroes and villains are voiced by gaming stalwarts such as Mark Hamill (of Arkham Asylum and of course Star Wars fame) who plays Red Skull,  Star Trek’s George Takai who helps bring Galactus to life and Jim Cummings and Steve Blum who, between them, have been credited in almost every great cartoon show and comic based game ranging from Batman: The Brave and the Bold to the anime series Cowboy Bebop.

As well as the story mode, the game also offers a Challenge and Free-play mode which allows you to play levels that you have already unlocked.  With these optional extras thrown in, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet has hours of replay value as you can revisit completed levels and try to beat your own score.

Although aimed at much younger players, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is a great game for youngsters aged between 7 and 50.  If you’re a fan of the Marvel universe or really loved playing Lego Star Wars, Indiana Jones or even Harry Potter, then this is definitely worth taking a look at.

Score: 7/10 – Good

REVIEW CODE: A complimentary code was provided to Brash Games for this review. Please send all review code enquiries to editor@brashgames.co.uk.

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