Naturally, this series of reviews will include the alternate platform versions of each game!
Alongside Genepool’s console game loosely tying in to the second X-Men theatrical film, Vicarious Visions created one for the GBA. It has even less to do with the movie, lacking Patrick Stewart’s dulcet tones, alternate costumes, etc. The only remnant is the shining face of box office beau Huge Action on the game’s cover. Otherwise, it hews even closer to the comics universe than its sibling. Also, it’s more fun!
As you might expect for the handheld, it’s a sidescroller. Combat is pretty basic but more balanced than the console game, as you have more control over management of the rage bar, and you regenerate health much faster with claws retracted (both were mechanics in the 3D game as well, but they’re handled better here). The boss fights are a let down thanks to the precision demanded to avoid damage and short windows to fight back. There’s also a focus on platforming, which can be a bit touchy but adds some variety, especially as you unblock new abilities like the wall climb and double jump.
I eventually, again, resorted to cheat codes near the end of the game to save myself from savestate scumming through bosses: the “regenerate health even when claws are out” code was enough to get me through. I balked at the unlockable harder difficulty (which promises an extra boss and a dev gallery for completing it) until activating the invincibility and infinite double jump codes, which let me space jump through every level like a Zero Mission endgame Samus. Cool stuff.
The unlockable gallery is small but a nice inside look at the process of creating the models used to make the in-game prerendered sprites. This graphical style was all over the GBA and works decently well. It doesn’t look as pretty as WayForward’s bespoke sprite animation for “The Official Game” on GBA (which I played through on a stream) but on the other hand this game ended up playing a little better.
The storyline is completely different from the console game’s, although there was no writer listed in the credits for this version. There is one sly reference to Sabretooth investigating a virus, being chalked up to a deception by Magneto. In this story, Magneto is setting up a new Weapon X program, with the first test subject being Jean (the bonus boss is the result of this, “Phoenix-X”). Logan travels to more diverse locations, including the X Mansion and Japan (seen in console concept art but not in that game), fighting “Hellfire Mercenaries” thanks to Mystique’s impersonation of Shinobi Shaw, and a bunch of robots and drones, including Weapon X Shiva droids. Cyclops, Storm, Beast, and Iceman stop by for a chat along with Xavier, while bosses consist of Sabretooth (twice), Pyro, Omega Red, and Magneto.
With its many unique elements this short sidescroller stands apart from the console game it was released alongside, but I enjoyed my time with it more. Sadly as a fan of the movie universe there was basically nothing here for me, but that’s ok, it was still cool. There’s a dynamic screen-zoom feature which scales the prerendered graphics; they could have zoomed out further more often. That’s my final thought.