X-Men Legends Developer Diary #1

GameSpy has begun a new developer diary for Activision’s X-Men Legends, with the first installment discussing the challenges of integrating team-based gameplay. An excerpt to follow:

The result of all this is that even though X-Men Legends is an action RPG, it is still packed with team activity. Everything the heroes do is designed to evoke the feeling of a melee from the pages of the X-Men comics. Powers flare up, punches are thrown all around, and enemies are hurled across the room and through walls. The feeling is chaotic, but the player is always in control.

These elements create entirely new play tactics. When in combat, players can switch between characters as needed, so they never have to wait for their powers to recharge. If a hero is knocked down or knocked out, the player can pick up another immediately. If the player feels they are too far from the action, they can switch to someone who is in the thick of it. Players can call their allies to arms and fight by their side, or break off a single character to handle some unique task.

The challenges we’ve met while creating X-Men Legends has been a true learning experience for Raven. By creating something we have never seen done before, it has allowed us to grow as game creators and bring new elements to the superhero genre. It is our hope that it will change how people think about team-based games.