| X-Men: Next Dimension | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Platforms | GameCube,PlayStation 2,Xbox |
| Release | |
| Genre | Versus fighting |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
X-Men: Next Dimension (alternatively titledX-Men: Mutant Academy 3) is afighting game, released in 2002 for thePlayStation 2,Xbox andGameCubevideo game consoles. It is the third installment in theX-Men: Mutant Academy fighting game series, followingX-Men: Mutant Academy andX-Men: Mutant Academy 2.[4]
Next Dimension expands upon the concept of the first two games by adding several new characters, 3D maps, and a story mode, which allows the player to fight a series of battles in between short movies that move the plot along. The game's plot serves as a sequel to the events of the comic story "Operation: Zero Tolerance".
The gameplay mechanics are tailored to a very gradual learning curve: super attacks are performed by pressing two punch or kick buttons simultaneously, and multi-hit combos can be executed by pressing the punch and kick buttons in a particular order. The game features an extensive combo system, including normal chains, air juggles, and air launchers. In addition to the basic blocking system, various counterattacks can be executed by pressing the counterattack button and a direction on the controller. The counter-attacks are specific to the type of attack the player is countering.
The fighting stages are fully 3D rendered stages with their own layouts. As inDead or Alive 3 it is possible to knock an opponent to a different part of the stage, which functions as its own individual stage. In theX-Mansion, for example, an opponent can be knocked from the Hangar to the Hallway, then to the outer courtyard where, after the 2nd round, the basketball court opens up, allowing a player to be knocked back into the Hangar.
While in Story Mode, only a limited set of characters are available for each battle; Arcade Mode allows the player to select from any of the playable characters in a series of eight battles. The Two-Player Versus Mode also allows players to choose from any of the unlocked characters. The game also features a Survival Mode, in which a single player is pitted against a never-ending flow of computer-controlled opponents in a test of endurance.
In addition to the standard moves, the player can also access special and super attacks. The special attacks include blasts/beams (some of which can stun an opponent), physical attacks that have special effects (such as moving to one side before hitting) and attack throws. There are several different types of super attacks, and each have four different levels of power.
The GameCube version includes exclusive modes: Team and Practice. TheXbox version features an extra stage and the ability to play asPyro.
Narrated byPatrick Stewart (reprising his role asProfessor Charles Xavier from theX-Men films), the game's plot is built around thePrime Sentinels retrieving the head ofBastion, and Bastion's subsequent attempt to wipe outmutants. The Prime Sentinels free Bastion fromS.H.I.E.L.D. imprisonment, then disguise themselves and sell the defense plans of theX-Mansion to theBrotherhood of Mutants.
Juggernaut and the Brotherhood (consisting ofMystique,Toad, andSabretooth) make their assault on the mansion. Xavier is curious as to the nature of their attack, worrying that it seems "too focused, almost like a distraction" and sends Forge to investigate the grounds. He discovers that the attack was a distraction, and that the grounds are now being patrolled by Prime Sentinels.
After attempting to fight off the Sentinels, Forge is abducted and the Brotherhood retreats. Restrained in the company of Bastion, the seemingly human Sentinel tells Forge he intends to use the man's mutant gift to bring about the extinction of mutants. He steals various weapon designs from Forge's mind, including a powerful weapon capable of stripping a mutant of their powers. In an attempt to throw the X-Men off his scent, He sends the Brotherhood to different locations across the world. The X-Men split up and engage each member in a bid to find Forge and stop the Prime Sentinel. After their defeat, the Brotherhood retreats to findMagneto in theSavage Land, only to find that Magneto has been hunted down by the Sentinels as well and is no longer in control of his fortress. The X-Men, having followed the Brotherhood, also arrive and Magneto charges the Brotherhood to fight them off long enough to convince them to join forces.
With the X-Men and the Brotherhood forming a temporary alliance, the team fights their way through a legion of Sentinels, though not without losses of their own. In the end, Magneto,Wolverine, Juggernaut, andPhoenix invade the tower for the final battle with Bastion. Bastion uses Magneto's trans-mat system to transport Juggernaut away from the tower, then escapes to Asteroid M, but he is followed by a piggybacking Wolverine. Wolverine, whose healing factor was disabled by the Sentinels earlier, manages to defeat Bastion. Magneto and Phoenix arrive to help Wolverine, and Magneto prevents a weakened Bastion from escaping again. The two battle, and Magneto is defeated.
When Bastion returns to the central room, he finds Phoenix, who challenges and finally defeats him. The Prime Sentinels are disbanded, and the X-Men and the Brotherhood agree to a temporary cease-fire while the wounded are restored to health. Forge is freed and he reverses the effects of his weapon, restoring everything to normal. With Bastion returned to S.H.I.E.L.D., the X-Men are free to continue training to fight for a better future.
Upon reaching the ending level of Asteroid M, the player has the chance to fight Bastion as three characters: Wolverine, then Magneto, and finally Phoenix. Whether Wolverine defeats Bastion or is defeated himself, the game proceeds to Magneto's fight with Bastion. If Magneto defeats Bastion, the finale video is accelerated and Phoenix does not fight Bastion. If Magneto is defeated, Bastion and Phoenix comprise the final fight of the game.
Alternate endings:
X-Men: Next Dimension features twenty-four playable characters, plus one additional character exclusive to the Xbox version. Nearly every character fromMutant Academy 2 returns, with the exceptions ofProfessor X andSpider-Man. Many can be unlocked through gameplay in other modes, and alternate costumes for each character are also available. The main costumes for each character are based on the two main X-Men comics at the time,New X-Men andX-Treme X-Men. Of these, two essentially mirror other characters, although still retaining their individuality: Phoenix is essentially similar to the unlockable Dark Phoenix, although the two differ in certain Supers (Phoenix's are more psi-based, while Dark Phoenix takes her powers from the fiery appearance of the Phoenix). Similarly, Betsy and Psylocke are essentially the same character, given that "Betsy" is based on the Betsy Braddock's telepathic incarnation and employs a "psi-blade" emerging from her fist, and "Psylocke" is based on the more recent telekinetically powered version and manifests a fully formed psionickatana in combat. New characters are marked below inbold:
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | (GC) 62.62%[5] (PS2) 61.79%[6] (Xbox) 59.30%[7] |
| Metacritic | (GC) 63/100[8] (PS2) 61/100[9] (Xbox) 56/100[10] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | (PS2) 8/10, 6/10, 6/10[11] |
| Eurogamer | 3/10[12] |
| Game Informer | 7.75/10[13][14] |
| GameRevolution | C+[15][16] |
| GameSpot | 6.4/10[17][18] |
| GameSpy | 1.5/5[19][20] (Xbox) 1/5[21] |
| GameZone | (GC) 7.3/10[22] 7/10[23][24] |
| IGN | (PS2) 7.2/10[4] (GC) 7/10[25] (Xbox) 6.7/10[26] |
| Nintendo Power | 3.6/5[27] |
| Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | 3/5[28] |
| Official Xbox Magazine (US) | 7.3/10[29] |
Much likeX-Men: Mutant Academy and unlikeX-Men: Mutant Academy 2,X-Men: Next Dimension received mixed or average reviews.GameRankings andMetacritic gave it a score of 61.79% and 61 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version;[6][9] 59.30% and 56 out of 100 for the Xbox version;[7][10] and 62.62% and 63 out of 100 for the GameCube version.[5][8] Some critics and fans saidNext Dimension is the best game in theMutant Academy franchise. Others criticized the GameCube and Xbox versions for its inspiration fromDead or Alive 3. Despite the criticism, many praised all versions for its improved gameplay, new characters, and excellent 3D environments.
