Activision: Marvel Ultimate Legends 2 and Spider-Man, Web of Shadows

Activision hosted a party at the Hard Rock Hotel for the preview night of SDCC 2008. Featured were their two big upcoming Marvel games - Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.

The game engine for Fusion is the same as in the first Ultimate Alliance and X-Men Legends games. This promises the same intense arcade action style of game play. The story line is based on Marvel's Secret Wars, not the Civil War as previously hinted at. In this new game various characters will be able to combine their powers in new and unique ways. Players will have to experiment through hundreds of combinations to find out just what they are capable of. No information was provided as to the release date beyond that this game will be available in 2009. The design of the characters is based on the McNiven style of artwork.

Web of Shadows features a New York City that has been over-run by conquest minded symbiotes and SHIELD has declared martial law. Several other heroes and villains are trapped in New York and will do battle with the symbiotes for survival. Revealed tonight is that Wolverine will be one of those trapped heroes. Actual game play was shown of Spider-Man doing battle with a symbiote controlled Wolverine.

Attendees were also able to play as Spider-Man against the Vulture. The most striking feature of the game play is the vertical nature of the action. Spider-Man leaps and crawls and twists, using his enviornment in ways that have never been seen before. His agility is showcased in unprecidented style. You can leap high and while in mid-air, twist to deliver devestating punches and kicks. This new level of control and motion is thanks in large part to the work of the Shava game company and their vast experience in the world of extreme sports video games.

UPDATE: The Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 game storyline will be based on the "The Secret Wars" with Nick Fury having a key role.