X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse Cheats & Secrets

Released roughly a year after its predecessor on September 20, 2005, X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse is the direct sequel to X-Men Legends. Series veterans Raven Software would return for the sequel, aiming to make the game a “bigger and better” version of its predecessor by adding several new features. One of the most important enhancements X-Men Legends 2 makes over its predecessor is the inclusion of online co-op for the game’s campaign, which would prove to be a major selling point for the title helping it to achieve substantial commercial success.

While some critics took issue with the game’s somewhat repetitive combat and gameplay, X-Men Legends 2 was largely the subject of positive reviews thanks to its large roster of iconic playable heroes and villains, interesting story tying in several important moments from the X-Men comics, and general improvements to visuals, presentation, UI elements, and balance. The game’s success in its original GameCube, PS2, and Xbox versions would result in ports to several other platforms, including PC, the PSP, and the Nokia NGage. After selling just over 250,000 units, X-Men Legends 2 would be added to the PlayStation 2’s Greatest Hits line of titles.

X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse Premise

Sometime after the events of the first X-Men Legends, Apocalypse declares the beginning of the “Age of Apocalypse” after witnessing the X-Men defeat Magneto. Realizing that he is now unopposed by any other mutant force, Apocalypse launches a campaign against both the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, kidnapping both Professor X and Polaris. With both teams now having a common enemy, the X-Men make an unlikely alliance with Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to put a stop to Apocalypse and rescue their fellow mutants in the process.

In terms of its gameplay, X-Men Legends 2 is similar to its predecessor. An action RPG with a large roster of playable characters from the various X-Men comics, X-Men Legends 2 sees players put together 4-person squads of heroes that they can control entirely solo by switching between them or by receiving help from a co-op partner in both local and online co-op play. As players defeat enemies they gain experience, which results in characters leveling up. At level up, characters receive bonuses for their stats as well as skill points to allocate to special mutant powers that complement their normal melee attacks. Players can also find gear drops throughout each level, equipping their heroes with special items that boost their stats or mutant abilities.

X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse Main Characters

Similar to its predecessor or its spiritual successors in the Marvel Ultimate Alliance series, X-Men Legends 2 features a cast of playable iconic heroes from the Marvel Comics Universe. Specifically, the game focuses on the team of mutant superheroes known as the X-Men, gifted heroes who fight selflessly for a society that fears and hates them. In X-Men Legends 2, the X-Men are forced to team up with their archnemesis Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to stop the ancient mutant supervillain Apocalypse. Playable characters in X-Men Legends 2 include:

Heroes

• Bishop: Bishop is a mutant from the future sent back in time to prevent a dark outcome for mutant-kind.
• Colossus: Piotr Rasputin, aka Colossus, can transform his skin into solid steel.
• Cyclops: The original leader of the X-Men, Cyclops can shoot beams of energy from his eyes.
• Gambit: The mysterious Gambit is a mutant capable of tapping into objects’ inherent kinetic energy.
• Iceman: Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, is one of the original 5 X-Men and can generate ice at will.
• Jean Grey: One of the original 5 X-Men, Jean Grey is one of the world’s most gifted telepaths.
• Nightcrawler: Kurt Wagner, otherwise known as Nightcrawler, is a skilled acrobat who can teleport.
• Rogue: Rogue is a former villain-turned-ally with the power to absorb other mutants’ powers.
• Storm: Born Ororo Munroe, Storm can control the weather.
• Sunfire: A Japanese-American mutant who can control solar energy.
• Wolverine: The near-immortal Wolverine is a skilled combatant with a mutant healing factor.

Villains

• Juggernaut: Born Cain Marko, Juggernaut is Professor X’s half-brother and an unstoppable force of destruction.
• Magneto: Magneto is one of the world’s most powerful and dangerous mutants, capable of wielding the power of magnetism to control metallic objects and a firm believer in mutant-kind’s superiority over humanity.
• Scarlet Witch: Scarlet Witch is one of Magneto’s children and a powerful sorceress.
• Toad: One of Magneto’s oldest allies and his right-hand henchman. His appearance and diminutive size are a clear giveaway for the origin of his mutant nickname.

Games in the X-Men Legends Series

Raven Software’s X-Men Legends would prove to be a fairly successful title, resulting in Activision greenlighting a sequel. To make X-Men Legends 2 bigger and better than its predecessor in every way, the team at Raven set out to include features such as online multiplayer, improved visuals and UI elements, and a massive roster of playable heroes and villains teaming up to take down the mutant supervillain Apocalypse. X-Men Legends 2’s commercial and critical reception helped pave the way for Raven Software to build upon the franchise and expand it into the Marvel Universe at large, resulting in the two Marvel Ultimate Alliance games as spiritual successors. Games in the X-Men Legends series include:

• X-Men Legends (GameCube, PS2, Xbox, 2004)
• X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (GameCube, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, 2005)
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance (PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, 2006)
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, 2009)
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (Nintendo Switch, 2019)

X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse Cheats & Secrets

There are several cheat codes available for all versions of X-Men Legends 2, regardless of platform. Note that each cheat code needs to be entered in a specific location (pause menu, character selection screen, etc.) for it to work. In addition to the available cheat codes, there are several secrets and unlockables for players to discover.

X-Men Legends 2 Cheat Codes (GameCube)

X-Men Legends 2 Cheat Codes (PC)

Note: PC cheats for X-Men Legends 2 require the use of a compatible controller to input.

X-Men Legends 2 Cheat Codes (PS2)

X-Men Legends 2 Cheat Codes (PSP)

X-Men Legends 2 Cheat Codes (Xbox)

X-Men Legends 2 Unlockables

Complete the following in-game activities to unlock the corresponding bonus:

Alternate Costumes

Completing various in-game milestones, including simply progressing through the main story, will unlock alternate costumes for X-Men Legends 2‘s playable roster.

Default Alternate Costumes

The following alternate costumes are available by default:

Act 1 Alternate Costumes

Completing Act 1 will unlock the following alternate costumes:

Act 2 Alternate Costumes

Completing Act 2 will unlock the “Age of Apocalypse” costume for every character who has one.

Act 4 Alternate Costumes

Completing Act 4 will unlock the following alternate costumes:

Bonus Character Alternate Costumes

Unlocking the various bonus characters in X-Men Legends 2 also unlocks the following alternate costumes:

X-Men Legends 2 Secrets

Team Bonuses

Playing with any of the following special team compositions unlocks special bonuses specific to those teams.

Save Anywhere

Normally, players need to have access to an X-Traction Point before they can save. However, using the Blink Portal creates a useful workaround. Whenever you need to save, simply use the Blink Portal to return to the Sanctuary and save at the X-Traction Point there.

Easy Experience

Players can utilize an interesting glitch with infinitely spawning enemies to quickly grind experience. In the “Holding Pen” level, head to the location just before the entrance to the final area. Enemies will continue teleporting onto the screen infinitely. Fight enemies here repeatedly to quickly gain experience. Note that you will want to save periodically, as staying in this location too long can cause the game to freeze.

Easy Items

In Act 2, after rescuing Beast on Mikhail’s Warship, Blink will open a portal back to Avalon. Go through the portal to Avalon then immediately return to the Warship. The scene of rescuing Beast will play again, and the ship will be undamaged. You can now go back and obtain all the items on the Warship again. Repeat this as many times as desired.

Additionally, to get easy Techbits, Health Packs, Energy Packs, and items, return to the top of Apocalypse’s tower where you fight Archangel. Smash all of the containers to get random free items. This can be repeated as many times as desired.

Alternatively, have Gambit and Toad on your team. Have Gambit use Prince of Thieves and Toad use Plunder (note that this requires at least two XTreme Points). Do this near a weapons cache and you can get about five times the amount of drops that you would normally. Note that special items only drop once but Tech Bits, Health Packs, and Energy Packs will multiply.

Make Gambit OP

After reaching level 30 with most of your characters, put a team together using Sunfire, Bishop, Toad, and Gambit. By using the following team composition and Skill selection, players can pump up Gambit’s stats to an impressive degree.

Put as many skill points as possible into the following abilities for each character:

• Sunfire: Flaming Fury
• Bishop: Energy Fury
• Toad: Secretion
• Gambit: Energy Form

Additionally, you’ll also want to put an extra 6 or 7 points into each character’s Mutant Mastery, which allows them to regenerate Energy faster. During gameplay, activate all the abilities listed above and then switch to Gambit. He will be able to run very fast and be super strong. Eventually, he will have +200% movement, +400% or more attack, and several damage and defense bonuses. With Energy regenerating fast, you can repeatedly trigger this setup as needed to breeze through encounters as Gambit.

Make Iceman OP

Iceman has the potential to be the strongest character in the game, as long as you know how to boost his stats. If done correctly, Iceman can kill most of his opponents with just a single melee attack. Make sure to build out Iceman using the following steps:

• Focus Iceman’s Stat Points on Focus and Speed
• Under his Projectile Mutant Powers, focus on Cold Crush, Freeze Beam, and Ice Slide.
• Spend as many points as possible on Ice Combat and Cold Mastery
• Complete Iceman’s Danger Room Disk: Challenge – Iceman and obtain the Cryogenic Booster item
• Equip the Cryogenic Booster to unlock Double Cold Damage
• Equip other items that boost his base Damage

With this setup, Iceman can use Cold Crush repeatedly to easily kill enemies, and his normal attack, speed, and defense stats will make him almost invincible, even as a solo combatant.

X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse Cheat FAQs

How to unlock all characters in X-Men Legends 2?

There are two ways to unlock all characters in X-Men Legends 2. The normal way is to play through the game’s main story while making sure to find all 4 Homing Beacons in Acts 1-4 and clearing all Danger Room missions. The alternate way to unlock all characters is to use the corresponding cheat code, which players can enter at the Character Selection screen.

Who are the hidden characters in X-Men Legends 2?

There are a total of 3 hidden characters in X-Men Legends 2; Professor X, Deadpool, and Iron Man. Deadpool will unlock as part of beating the main story, but Professor X and Iron Man require extra steps to become playable. For Professor X, players will need to clear all Danger Room Courses. Iron Man requires players to find all hidden Homing Beacons during Acts 1-4. After finding all the Homing Beacons and all 4 pieces of Iron Man’s armor, a special encounter occurs in Act 5 where players will need to save Iron Man, unlocking him as a playable character afterward.

Does X-Men Legends 2 have New Game+?

Yes, X-Men Legends 2 does have a New Game+ mode. Despite it not being labeled as such, starting a new game after beating X-Men Legends 2 sees all characters retain their current Level and Skill Point distribution, allowing you to play through the game again with a significant power advantage.

How long to beat X-Men Legends 2?

In terms of action RPGs, X-Men Legends 2 is a fairly lengthy experience. Most players will spend roughly 20 hours to complete the game’s main story. Attempting to unlock all the bonus characters and fully complete every Danger Room mission will increase that time. To fully complete X-Men Legends 2, players can expect to spend about 25 hours.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©CheatCC/Matt Karoglou.