retro gaming ads | early marvel

Early video game ads didn't have the hot-shot graphics that we have today. Advertising for these games was nothing short of a marketing swindle with artwork that really had nothing to do with the game in question. None more-so-than early Marvel titles for the Atari, Gameboy and NES. Making use of some of the hottest comic talents around these ads steered the young consumer hearts straight to the stores; but when we got home that cover art was no where to be found in-game.

Even still, some the artwork produced for these games was fantastic; others are close to laughable. Take a gander of some of these early Marvel video game print ads from various comic books of the time. Presenting the return of the Retro Gaming Ads...

spider-man shattered dimensions

PLATFORM: PS3

RELEASE DATE: 9/2010

DEVELOPER: Beenox

PUBLISHER: Activision

ESRB RATING: T for Teen

Progress: Finished

I am a huge comic book fan, have been for as long as I can remember; so it stands to reason that I would be attracted to superhero video games. This genre has a pretty ugly track record. Most superhero games are created to supplement a major motion picture and, as every gamer should know, that does not make for a good game. With the advent of the latest generation of systems superhero games have greatly improved with a few standout performances. Spider-man Shattered Dimensions, the latest in the Spider-man franchise of games, takes the often formulaic game play and adds some new twists and turns.

marvel super hero squad (psp)

PLATFORM: PSP
RELEASE DATE: 10/2009
DEVELOPER: Blue Tongue

PUBLISHER: THQ
ESRB RATING: E10+

Progress: 100%

Welcome to the junior version of Marvel Ulitmate Alliance (MUA): Marvel Super Hero Squad (MSHS). I fell in love with these inexpensive, smurf size plastic toys when they first hit the shelves and collected a few of my beloved X-Men. Soon after an animated TV show depicting these bite-sized versions of the heroes hit networks, a video game was launched soon after. Aimed at younger viewers, these family friendly heroes are ready to put up their dukes in the name of the Avengers (err... I mean squad).

marvel ultimate alliance 2

PLATFORM: PS3
RELEASE DATE: 9/2009
PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION
ESRB RATING: T
Progress: 80% at time of posting

Building off of previous great brawler games: X-Men Legends 1 & 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 1, developer Vicarious Visions, released Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (MUA2) in mid 2009. The premise for the story, which involves all the mainstay heroes from the Marvel Universe, is 2009's Civil War story line. Civil War is a fan favorite mini series that pits hero against hero against villains over a new government ruling that all super heroes need to be registered or considered terrorists. It's an exciting tale that parallels modern society in some ways. You can play through two campaigns of the Civil War story line as either pro-registration or anti-registration; both giving you access to certain characters and different battles.

punisher: no mercy

PLATFORM: PS3 

RELEASE DATE: JULY 2009

PUBLISHER: ZEN STUDIOS
ESRB RATING: M
Progress: 80% at time of posting

A PlayStation Network-exclusive, Punisher-themed, first-person shooter sounded like such a great idea. I could easily pass for a Punisher fan boy. I've seen all three movies. Used to love Jim Lee's work on War Journal in the 90's but stopped just short of buying a skull shirt. This was an impulse purchase for me and I paid the price. The following is less of a review and more of a warning to interested gamers.