Side scroller meets fighting game and it's actually pretty good.
First off let me start by describing the graphics. Like I said there have been other good side scrollers that have been released for the DS in 3d view. This game has some really good graphics compared to others like Wolverine Origins and Justice League Heroes. The characters look a lot like kiddie versions of the real ones and are made really well. The one thing I like about them is that they mostly have a smiling face and look like little action figures. Very appealing to the little kids and playing such a game makes me feel nostalgic in a strange way because it made me remember how I would think that being a super hero would be fun when I was little because in this game it does appear to be fun to be a super hero and fight crime.
The music is fairly simple, but pretty loud unlike other games on the DS. I was playing this listening to the music the whole time and it didn't irritate me once though it was played in loop several times. The voice acting is pretty good as well. Each character has his own voice, own quotes and groans as well.
As far as the storyline goes, it's fairly simple and would be interesting perhaps for the kids playing this. Dr. Doom needs a Fractal which could help him power up a sword which in turn would help him destroy the world and wreak chaos. He asks Magneto to help him out and they with the help of Mystique and A-Bomination try to get this Fractal. There are some pretty corny parts and dialogue, but if I were still a kid I would absolutely love it.
The gameplay is decent and feels like a mixture of a fighting game and a side scroller. In story mode you also get to choose a different character each time and a different story ensues if you choose a villain, but a variation of the same story ensues if you choose another hero. While doing a speed run which is a very easy thing to do in this game you would encounter a lot of breakable boxes which would usually have a crystal inside. If you press X on the crustal you could get an item from it. It would either be a hammer, a bomb, a Fantastic 4 logo shaped firecracker which you could fling in the direction of your foe, a freeze gun or a health pack among others. This adds a lot of variety to the game and if it were not for this the gameplay would be pretty monotonous. You would actually find yourself running around here and there breaking stuff to get these items. You would also encounter a lot of goons that you need to defeat in order to find a secret card that opens a locked door. Each character has a variation of moves, you can power up using the Y button and holding down a different arrow key gives you different moves. You can use combo moves using the arrow keys and the B button and special moves by using the bottom touch screen.
The Battle section of the game has a fighting style mode where players can wirelessly play one on one with each other or against the computer. All characters are here except Mystique and A-Bomination who have to be unlocked in order to be playable. You can also unlock things for each character like alternate costumes or in the Hulk , Iron Man and Spiderman's cases bonus characters like Red Hulk, War Machine and Spiderman 2099. All these unlockables in the Battle Mode are a pretty good deal and keep your interest in the game if you want to battle against your friend.
Overall it's a fairly good game. I couldn't find anything to complain about except for the fact that even Hard mode is really easy. A really good game for ages 12 and below. If you're older than that, then there's better games out there for the DS, but if you're really bored or just love Marvel, then get this. You won't regret it as long as you're playing, but when you complete it in less than an hour, you probably will.
Graphics: 8/10
Gameplay: 7/10
Storyline: 5/10
Controls: 9.5/10
Overall game experience: 7/10 (Children would love it)