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X-Men Legends

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 36 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 8 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Raven Software
Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Role-Playing Game
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: September 21, 2004
Summary
X-Men: Legends is the first game to capture the complete essence of the X-Men by allowing players to control multiple characters that fight together as a team. The game blends the best parts of the movies, comic books in a fantastic new adventure that allows the you to develop your specialized powers as you succeed through your missions. Penned by Man of Action, a studio of comic industry veterans, X-Men: Legends begins with the rescue of a young mutant and takes players through an engrossing plot that could unite mutant-kind, yet destroy the human race in the process. Along the way, players will be able to assemble their ideal X-Men crew from over 15 of the most popular characters from the last 40 years, including Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Gambit and Beast, to name a few. However, before players load-up their squad with heavy hitters, they will have to take their foes' abilities into consideration as certain situations may benefit from the abilities of specific X-Men. While Cyclops' optic blasts and Colossus' immense strength are great for clearing a path through hordes of enemies, players can opt to bring Wolverine and Nightcrawler along on a stealth intensive mission to help circumvent detection devices. Once the action begins, players can take control of any member of their squad and even execute multi-character combinations such as the famous Wolverine/Colossus Fastball Special. As they progress through the game, characters will gain experience points that players can use to upgrade the X-Men's abilities and even learn new fighting styles. [Activision]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview GameSpy Preview IGN Hands-On Nintendojo Preview Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Nintendojo
I demand a sequel. You hear me Activision, I must have it. There are so many possible story lines and fresh villains to use. I would easily pay upwards of two-hundred dollars for a sequel.
Read Full Review >Xequted
It is fast-paced, long, challenging, and beautiful to look at. The minor flaws with it are easily overlooked when one considers the whole package and realizes that this is probably the best X-Men game to appear on a console in the past ten years or so.
Read Full Review >Warcry
Do you have a buddy that wants to play with ya, also? Simple and easy to get him in. You don't have to have him restart with a gimpy character. You can just have him plug in his controller and join in with you, then just unplug it when he is done. This rocked.
Read Full Review >Cinescape
The beat "em up is a genre that has quietly faded to the side and hasn't had many revolutions on the consoles in recent years. X-Men: Legends takes that style of gameplay, adds a ton of depth to it, four-player support and quite frankly is one of the best X-Men games I've ever played.
Read Full Review >Gaming Target
This is, perhaps, the best videogame ever based upon a comic book. Combine that with the rich pallette of characters that are still untapped and it's no wonder that a sequel is already under way.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
The thing that immediately struck me when playing the game was the amazing amount of minutiae that's been included for eagle-eyed fans.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Stellar cell-shaded graphics, excellent voice acting (with Patrick Stewart reprising his cinematic role as Professor X), and multiplayer mayhem that make Legends look and feel like the A-list game that it is.
Read Full Review >Nintendorks
RPGs and action games are delicious like ice cream, and X-Men: Legends managed to create a happy combination of the two.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
With over 20 hours of gameplay, and one of the most enjoyable cooperative multiplayer experiences I've had, I couldn't recommend Legends more highly to fans and newbies alike. [Nov 2004, p.144]
Kombo
Its blend of great storytelling, great combat, and attention to environmental detail are enough for anyone to get hooked on.
Read Full Review >eToychest
There are some AI issues, and the multiplayer component seems like it was tacked on as an afterthought, but, as a total package, Legends delivers. It is as true to the source material as any game could hope to be, and as a long-time fan of the X-Men, I am more than pleased.
Read Full Review >PGNx Media
A surprisingly natural, action-RPG that remains fun to play through during its length.
Read Full Review >IGN
There are a few things that will annoy people, particularly the accidental suicides, but most of Legends is a joy. The story is good, very fitting for the X-Men universe, and every character but Cyclops is perfectly realized.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Even with the technical snafus that sometimes plague Legends, this is still the best X-Men title ever produced. The Action/RPG elements are nicely integrated within an epic storyline with plenty of intrigue and a huge amount of gameplay that can take 20 hours or more to fully complete.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
What probably makes this game so interesting as an action game though is the ability to play up to four players cooperatively. Even better is how seamless they make this experience.
Read Full Review >Nintendo Power
A Marvel Comics fan's dream. [Dec 2004, p.144]
Inside Gamer Online
If you'd rather not bother with these RPG-style elements, the game nicely offers the option to have the points automatically placed, though you still have to access the character menu in order to do it.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Packs in a good number of different playable characters and great-looking graphics into an easy, but fairly lengthy adventure. It all combines to form a great action RPG with strong action and a well-told story.
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
Inadequate controls and chaotic 4 player co-op mode keep it from being a great game, but fans of the comics and movies should have plenty to be happy about.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
Legends is a compelling game for those who aren't fans of the license, but it's an absolute must-have for X-Men followers; the bigger the fan, the more you need this game.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
Single-player is fun, but the game truly shines with four people in the mix. It's a little easier, but there's still about 20 hours of co-operative campaigning to be had.
Read Full Review >NintendoWorldReport
Not only one of the best X-Men games ever produced, it also brings the characters into a strong action-RPG structure that fits the team perfectly.
Read Full Review >1UP
If an absolutely brilliant story, finely detailed characterization, and faultless attention to canonical detail are what you're after, then, X-Men Legends is not what you're looking for. If you want a good game, though, and an especially good game to play with a couch full of superhero fans, this is the game to get.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
The storyline is classic X-Men fare, and little details like characters' lines and dorm rooms (Colossus has an easel in his room, for example) really add a lot to the fan service.
Read Full Review >Four Fat Chicks
A varied and entertaining romp through an involving storyline in the X-Men universe. Fans of the comics and films will find this well-done game a must-have.
Read Full Review >DailyGame
Good for fans, but action-RPG gamers probably already have a better game in hand.
Read Full Review >GameCube Europe
There are a few annoyances like bridges you can fall off a little too easily, the AI that's quite clumsy in places and the fact that it does get repetitive in the end. But you can't stay mad at a game that lets you chuck a complete jet ski at an opponent as Rogue or Colossus, admit it!
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Given a little patience, however, X-Men Legends will reward you with a good storyline and fun gameplay.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Despite recycled levels, repetitive enemies, chaotic combat, and unbalanced characters, just controlling four X-Men and using their powers is usually enough to make up for Legends' flaws. [Holiday 2004, p.100]
Detroit Free Press
I liked this game for its intensity, its strategy and the superpowers that the good guys you control -- the X-Men -- use to defeat the evil Brotherhood and save the world.
Read Full Review >Total Video Games
The game does have quite an "old-school' feel to it that some may not like, but it's a definite foundation for the franchise to develop over time.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
There's no denying that the level of interaction in here is humbling. [Nov 2004, p.54]
games(TM)
It's far from perfect, but Marvel fans have been served well, and those who like their Gauntlet served with extra statistics will have a game they can place just behind the last Dark Alliance. [Dec 2004, p.109]
G4 TV
The overhead camera feels constrained. We simply want an isometric view to get a better perspective.
Read Full Review >Gamer.tv
How is it possible to make a tedious game about the adventures of heroic mutants with super powers?
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 8 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Geogre gave it a10:
It' a friging awesome game Rouge hot. I think Anna Paquin and Shawn Ashmore did a awsome job as playing Rouge and Icemen.
JDub gave it a10:
This game is sick and there has to be a sequel.
Chaos gave it a 10:
I loved this game! I was suprised to see Alex (Havok) as a bad guy... although he may be unlockable. I loved Jamie's cameo and that Kurt was so useful. Cyke was also useful no matter what others say, I could do 759 damage in one hit from him.
Matt Z. gave it a 10:
this is one of the best games ever you have to make a sequal hopfully on the the next one you can play as good or evil.
JC Knight gave it a 10:
Best Game in the world!!! Voice casting is great, action is awesome, weide large maps a definite plus. 100% great.
LGD Gamer gave it a 9:
This game is excellent! Out of all of the X-Men video games, this is the best one. Its very fun and addicting. Especially if you are a fan, I recommend buying this game!
