Fantastic Four (1997 video game)

Infobox VG
title = Fantastic Four


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developer = Probe Entertainment Limited
publisher = Acclaim
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released = 1997
genre = Beat 'em up
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platforms = PlayStation
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requirements =
input = Controller
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arcade system =
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"Fantastic Four" is a PlayStation video game developed by Probe Entertainment Limited and published by Acclaim. The game was released in 1997, and is based on the popular Marvel Comics characters of the same name, and not on the subsequent 2005 feature film.

Storyline

Doctor Doom has developed a device that transports the Fantastic Four (and the She-Hulk) to various locations to do battle with various monsters and supervillains. One or two players (or up to four with a special adaptor) can control Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, Human Torch or She-Hulk through various side-scrolling arcade levels until Mr. Fantastic is able to assemble a time machine that allows him to transport the team to Doom's tiny kingdom for a final battle.

Gameplay

The format of the game is similar to arcade game such as "Golden Axe", "Final Fight" or "Streets of Rage". As the player controls the superheroes through the various levels, groups of thugs, robots and mutants will appear on each screen and need to be destroyed before the player can advance. Each character has various short-range fighting moves (i.e. punching, kicking, jumping, and even tossing enemies into the back or foreground) that can be used to destroy the various minor enemies and the bosses. Some of these minor enemies will leave behind icons that give the player an extra life, or restore their health or superpower energy bar.

Each character has a circular "super power" energy bar; this allows the use various special fighting moves. At the end of each level there is a supervillain to defeat, i.e. Mole Man, Super-Skrull, Attuma, Sub-Mariner, Psycho-Man, Doctor Doom. After the defeat of the boss, without the loss of any player life, there is one of three bonus rounds. The fights here are set against Dragon Man, the Incredible Hulk, or Iceman. During the loading time between each level the player is able to play a mini-car racing game.

During the game (or when there is a loss a life) the player can switch between any of the superheroes (not already being played), and announcer's voice-over tells which character is chosen. Some of the major bosses will also speak briefly before they fight or are defeated; this is affected by the choice of player.

If you use the same move too many times, a "cheesy" icon appears but otherwise has no impact on the game.

Levels

Each level has a title to it, and three sub-stages to it. Most of the sub-stages have a sub-boss to defeat, often a large monster, with the supervillains appearing at the end of the third stage.

* Level One "Attack of the Molemen!" - Boss is the Mole Man.
* Level Two "Subatomic Nightmare" - Boss is the Psycho-Man.
* Level Three "The Last Days of Skrull World" - Boss is the Super-Skrull.
* Level Four "Atlantean Attack?" - Bosses are Namor and Attuma.
* Level Five "Is the World Doomed?" - Boss is Doctor Doom.

Critics

Acclaim's previous PlayStation 1 video game titled "Iron Man and X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal" was a widely popular video game, based on two comic book characters and hopes were high that the "Fantastic Four" video game would be equally as successful. However, most video game magazine critics panned the game for its weak storyline, playability, sound and the odd features such as the mini-battles.

Trivia

* Acclaim reportedlyFact|date=February 2008 wanted to use the Silver Surfer, instead of Iceman for the bonus level battle. However, they could not get the rights to use the Surfer and thus had to settle for Iceman.

* While Galactus does not appear in the game, it is clear that he is behind the destruction of the Skrull homeworld.

External links

* [http://marvel.com/videogames/ Marvel video games on Marvel.com]