Not Marvel vs. Capcom 2, but a worthy effort.
Graphics – 7.0
The graphics in X-Men: Next Dimension excellently recreates the X-Men and Gambit even has his playing cards. Some of the X-Men are a little off model, but not enough to be detrimental to the game. X-Men: Next Dimension’s battle areas are also well put together. Many of them are interactive and fighting inside the academy can lead you outside to the courtyard. The only bad part about the areas is that sometimes when you are near the edge of them, instead of seeing a normal floor or wall, you see a black space. It can also be hard to see the action when the action nears a corner.
Controls – 7.0
X-Men: Next Dimension’s controls are like many of the PS2’s other fighting games. The downside is that they aren’t as polished as they should be. When you go for a special move you can hit the exact right combination and come up empty. It is also quite difficult for the user to block, unlike the computer who can block your moves with ease. It is also like other games because to get some of your good moves off you need to remember ten button combos and enter them perfectly.
Modes / Features – 9.0
Story Mode: A unique part of X-Men: Next Dimension is that it actually had a story mode with a story. In story mode you play as both the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The stories come straight from the comics which is an added bonus for fans of them. Don’t fret; you do not have to read the comics to understand the story. Between battles there are cutscenes that describe the events and actions leading up to the next battle. Another nice feature of story mode is that if you want to skip the cutscenes you can, so if you already played through once you don’t have to watch them over.
Arcade Mode: This is your typical arcade mode. You battle ten opponents and depending on your difficulty level you may unlock stuff.
Versus Mode: This is your typical versus mode. Two players battle in one on one combat and can fight for any number of matched that they wish.
Survival Mode: Survival mode is a one player fame and the player fights against a never-ending series of computer opponents with only one life to do it.
Fun Factor – 9.0
While the game may be difficult to get used to at first, for X-Men fans this is a fun and engrossing fighting game for the PS2. The most fun and enjoyment comes from being able to do the moves that comic fans have read about in comics and watched on TV and in the movies.
Replay Value – 9.0
The game contains many unlockables that encourages the player to play the game over and over. The only downside is that when there are no other people to play with the gameplay gets monotonous and can become boring. The challenge of survival mode also encourages players to play the game over and over in order to perfect their fighting skills. Also, a player must become adept at plying with all of the characters in order to unlock all of the secrets held within this game. This will take much time and effort and also enhances the game’s replay value.
Overall – 8.1