8.4 out of 10
IGN.COM

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A four-player dungeon-crawling RPG in the same mold as Baldur's Gate and Champions of Norrath, X-Men Legends begins with Wolverine's arrival in New York city to rescue a young mutant, Allison Crestmere (better known as Magma), who's being hunted by the Brotherhood of Mutants. Saving her sets in motion a series of events that lead to a cataclysmic battle worthy of the X-Men moniker.

Man of Action penned this 20-hour epic, which is a group composed of various comic creators who know the X-Universe like the back of their hand. That knowledge pays off in a very authentic story. Though the character design is clearly taken from the Ultimate X-Men comics, the back-story of each character is rooted in the classic Uncanny series. Things have been shifted around somewhat and the story itself doesn't take place within any one specific continuity (comic or movie), allowing for both an instant familiarity with the characters and their pasts, but also freeing up the writers to create a dramatic X-Men story that isn't beholden to any previous X-events (including the death of Colossus a few years back).

A sizable game worthy of the $50 price tag, X-Men Legends allows gamers to play as fifteen classic X-Men. You'll also run into other mutants who will fight alongside you and there are a few surprise cameos that will put a smile on just about any X-fan's face. Toad, Avalanche, Blob, and Mystique -- characters who rarely make it into X-Men games -- are among the highlighted enemies, though you will also battle other X-staples like Juggernaut, Magneto, and a few other surprise villains I won't spoil for you as well.

If you're not big on the Xers, don't worry, as Legends does a superb job of introducing every little element of the X-Men and their history to the uninitiated through guided tours of Xavier's mansion and optional conversations with NPCs. If you want, you can learn details on more than 20 X-characters, the function of Xavier's Institute, Muir Island, and just about everything else X. If you know this stuff, it's easy to skip or can serve as a nice reminder of what's kept the X-Men in our conscious thoughts for nearly 40 years.

x-Men history has definitely been given a lot of attention in Legends, as there's a sense of a real world here -- one that shows signs of life outside of the events of the game. These characters have lived some interesting lives in the comics and that history is evident throughout the Legends experience. A lot of other X-Men games -- and comic book games in general -- ignore the angst each character feels over relationships or how their powers interfere with a normal life. It's these things -- the personal relationships -- that propelled Marvel beyond DC in the '60s and Legends pays homage to this with allusions to lost loves and deep regrets for various characters. Suffice to say, Legends is a large game packed with X-Men history, factoids, and characters. As a fan of the X-Men since I was a wee lad, Legends is a very satisfying endeavor. Developer Raven Software has done the X-Men justice.

[INFO PROVIDED BY IGN64.COM or wherever you got it from xD]

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X-Men Legends doesn't really impress technically in terms of sound or visuals, but it's really all about the combat anyway. The fighting is simple, addictive, and enjoyable throughout the long adventure. It's nice to see the X-Men get their due with a game that truly showcases what has made the comics great for three decades. 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. It's more fun with friends, but is still enjoyable all by your lonesome. With a long, involved story mode and bonus modes beyond that, this one will take up a chunk of your life. X-Men Legends is a must for any X-Men fan or fan of dungeon-crawling RPGs.
~IGN.COM

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