Captain America: Super Soldier Review for Xbox 360

System: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, 3DS
Dev: Next Level Games
Pub: SEGA
Release: July 19, 2011
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Mild Blood, Mild Language, Violence

To spice up the combat even more, upgrades like the Ricochet Shield, which will strike up to three enemies in one throw, and Shield Shockwave, which has you smash your shield into the ground, are available for purchase after you've amassed the required amounts of Intel Points.

With combat being the highlight of the game, it's no surprise that the most addictive feature in the game is Challenge Mode, where you're pitted in a sizeable amount of scenarios (after they're unlocked, of course.) You'll be working against the clock to accomplish objectives, both survival-based and acrobatic, earning a bronze, silver, or gold medal depending on your finish time. You'll also receive more Intel Points to spend.

Captain America: Super Soldier Screenshot

Although the combat animations are well-implemented, the characters themselves look detached from the backgrounds, which oftentimes results in limbs magically disappearing into walls and tables. The castle itself is nothing spectacular, and the sterile design of the rooms, hallways, and machinery leaves much to be desired. Even explosion effects seem half-baked and unrealistic, which seems counterintuitive for a game based on a comic book. All the artistic elements just feel like they were done completely separate from each other and then carelessly slapped together.

The music, on the other hand, is absolutely superb. Composer Bill Brown, whose extensive credits include many of the Tom Clancy games, really outdid himself with Captain America: Super Soldier. He created compositions that perfectly fit every scene of the game. I would even put his work on par with legendary composer John Williams.

Just as good are the sound effects, which have the perfect amount of resonance for everything from gunshot echoes to explosions to the various WWII-era machinery. And boy, do the Captain's punches crack! When timed perfectly with the slow motion close-ups, they emphasize the fact that he's no average Joe in a fancy outfit.

While many movie tie-ins fail by sticking too close to the big screen story (which are always better to watch than to play), Captain America: Super Soldier tries a different approach by being very loose with the plot. Unfortunately, this tactic doesn't improve the model. But if you can overlook the subpar script and lackluster graphics, the gameplay itself is rather enjoyable. It may be simple and unchallenging, but it's satisfying nonetheless, with nice pacing to keep the action moving. And with a healthy Challenge Mode and tons of collectibles to gather, this superhero fares far better than most of his comic book brethren in the video game industry.

By Sean Engemann
CCC Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.5

Graphics
While the combat animations are smooth and clean, the rest of the game is jagged and dirty.

2.8

Control
Simple but flexible ways to engage multiple enemies. There's simply not enough to challenge the finely-tuned reflexes of a gamer.

4.8

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Amazing music score and sound effects. Why couldn't the story and graphics be just as good?

3.2

Play Value
It's not terribly long, and very linear. But the satisfying combat and extra content offer some redemption.

3.3

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Become Captain America: Engage in combat against enemies bent on world domination during World War II. Use your abilities as the ultimate Super Soldier to infiltrate HYDRA's Castle and annihilate the forces of evil.

Use Captain America's Shield: Your shield is your most powerful weapon and your best defense. Use it to take out multiple enemies from a distance, block incoming attacks, destroy objects, solve puzzles, and reflect incoming fire back at enemies.

Acrobatic Platforming: Extensive acrobatic abilities allow you to scale walls, climb ledges, and vault from poles to overcome environmental challenges. Master timing-based controls to execute advanced moves and discover multiple paths through missions.

Free-Flowing Combat: Move freely through the castle battlefield with acrobatic precision as you take down multiple enemies with devastating combos. Take control of a turret or grab a soldier from behind and use his weapons against him. Execute punches, kicks, grabs, vaults, and shield throws to unleash the power of Captain America.