Arnold-KatayevWhen the first Iron Man movie came out in 2008 many of us had a hunch that it'd turn out just fine. With Jon Favreau at the helm, the franchise was in good hands. But after seeing the movie, it turns out that many of us underestimated just how fantastic the movie would be. See, it's the direct opposite when the videogame version came into question. We all knew it would suck, and no one was wrong. But of course, with the sequel almost here, that means we have another videogame on the way, as well.
Unlike the first game, which followed the movie, this second game has very little to do with the motion picture. Instead, Iron Man 2 uses a unique story written in part by Iron Man writer Matt Fraction. Because the game isn't limited to just the story of the flick, the developers are able to take creative liberties in how they design the game, which means they aren't confined and restricted when it comes down to numerous gameplay mechanics. One such example of this is, unlike the movie, in the game you'll battle Soviet supervillain Crimson Dynamo, one of Iron Man's oldest enemies.
The story revolves around Tony Stark who reveals a new bit of technology that is designed to make the world a better place. Stark's philanthropy is thwarted when that technology gets into the wrong hands and is then used for the wrong purposes. Armed with the Iron Man armor, complete with a host of upgrades, you'll have to take down enemies as large as skyscrapers.
Because you have the role of Tony Stark, expect to be able to customize your suit and weaponry just as Tony Start would in the comics and movies. No word on just how deep the customization and upgrade system will be, so you'll have to wait for the review to find out. In order to truly feel the power of Iron Man, the game will allow you to destroy the environment around you, by blowing holes through walls, knocking down massive structures, and demolishing vehicles. Combat will, once again be both close-range and distant, with all new melee attacks added for your close-range combat.
Hopefully, this game plays nothing like the first. I'm hoping for tighter controls, better graphics, gameplay that isn't so repetitive and redundant, and combat mechanics that don't feel so flakey. Iron Man 2 ships May 4th, 2010.
