History VideoGame / MarvelNemesisRiseOfTheImperfects

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to other Marvel games of the time and the more colorful ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' fighting games that preceded it. The visual style is very grimy and gritty, and some characters even have ''Franchise/MortalKombat''-style finishers that allow them to kill their opponent (such as Iron Man incinerating someone with a unibeam, Wolverine stabbing his opponent to death with his claws or Solara causing her victim to combust). However, since it has a T rating, the violence doesn't really get into BloodierAndGorier territory. There's also some mild profanity, such as in one of ComicBook/SpiderMan's win quotes:

* AdaptationalVillany: Venom is subject to this even more than usual as in the console versions, his bio describes him as "utterly insane and totally without remorse" and his story has him trying to get the Turlin Neural Override's power for himself, still aiming to get it even after Spider-Man beats him while the PSP version has him as one of the Imperfects.

* WolverinePublicity: The TropeNamer is in the game and prominently displayed in marketing as well as on the cover.

Many early announcements identified the game as "''Marvel vs. EA''", and if you're having trouble naming any iconic EA characters in its release's time period that predated the likes of, say, ''Franchise/MassEffect'' ([[VideoGame/MaddenNFL John Madden]] aside), then you understand the initial skepticism the game received before it was announced that the non-Marvel characters would be all {{original|Generation}}. It sank so hard that Marvel ultimately cut all ties to EA (putting the kibosh on a planned sequel intended for 2008) and returned to Creator/{{Activision}} [[note]] and sometimes Creator/{{Capcom}} [[/note]] for video game business.

* EvilCounterpart: Many of the Imperfects are clear parallels to the Marvel characters. Hazmat's a gooier Spider-Man or Venom, Solara's an alien-empowered Human Torch, Brigade is Wolverine with guns instead of claws, etc. The Wink is the only such character whose heroic analogue (Nightcrawler) isn't in the game.

* NeverTrustATrailer: The EA hype machine fully at work. The game was initially promoted as a fighting game akin to Capcom's Versus Series, but as time grew closer to the release date, previews made it more obvious that the game was closer in genre to a BeatEmUp, and most of the fighting game elements were relegated to multiplayer (and being closer in style to EA's own ''VideoGame/DefJamSeries''.)

** In full display. Since the game was meant to be more "mature" and "realistic," that apparently meant everything needed to be dipped in mud. Also, several X-Men aren't wearing their colorful superhero costumes, instead going for street clothes or ridiculous-looking bikinis or long johns. Overall, the costumes seem like they were influenced by the Marvel movies that had been released at the time (such as the Creator/SamRaimi ''[[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Spider-Man]]'' movies, the Creator/BryanSinger ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' movies, ''Film/FantasticFour2005'', ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', etc.), which generally had more subdued and grounded costumes than the later [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] flicks. This is especially evident in the outfit designs for characters like Wolverine ([[NotWearingTights who isn't even wearing a costume]]), ComicBook/{{Magneto}} and ComicBook/{{Elektra}}.

** This is required more or less for gameplay purposes. When four Marvel heroes' storylines have been completed, a "sacrifice" mission is required to be completed before the story as a whole can continue. These missions involve the player taking control of an Imperfect (using the Wink against Elektra or Hazmat against Venom) or a corrupted hero (Spider-Man vs. [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Human Torch]] or Wolverine vs. ComicBook/{{Storm}}) to kill off a hero. By the end of the game, only three characters can survive. One more thing: out of all the Marvel characters, Magneto never survives despite the player's actions; his sacrifice mission is needed to progress.
** Averted with Captain America in the PSP version, however, as he is playable.

'''''Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects''''' (2005) is a FightingGame based on the Creator/{{Marvel}} Universe that was launched for the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]], UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]], and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS. It was meant to be the launch of the ''Imperfects'' team, a group of horror-inspired {{Anti Villain}}s led by the tribal-turned-living weapon Paragon, all of them created and owned by EA, and was promoted with a comic miniseries loosely following the game's story. It is most similar to ''VideoGame/PowerStone, VideoGame/{{Ehrgeiz}}'', and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' Gameplay consists of a fairly free-form fighting system, complete with dodges, blocks, get-up attacks, uppercuts, and air tackles. Using the super button allows the super version of each of these abilities, being more powerful but also depleting the super bar.

* AdvertisedExtra: For the most part, the Marvel characters in the game aren't the main focus of the game; they serve mainly as antagonists to the Imperfects, who get more development over the course of the game (understandable, given that this was their premiere game, but they haven't been heard of since).

* BloodlessCarnage: Despite certain characters essentially having Fatalities, there's no blood or gore. Even Comicbook/{{Wolverine}}'s finishing move, which has him tackle his opponent to the ground and then stab them to death, is bloodless.
* CombatSadomasochist: Comicbook/{{Venom}} appears to be this, as he laughs occasionally whilst being attacked when downed in-game.
* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to other Marvel games of the time and the more colorful ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' fighting games that preceded it. The visual style is very grimy and gritty, and some characters even have ''Franchise/MortalKombat''-style finishers that allow them to kill their opponent (such as Iron Man incinerating someone with a unibeam, Wolverine stabbing his opponent to death with his claws or Solara causing her victim to combust). However, since it has a T rating, the violence doesn't really get into BloodierAndGorier territory. There's also some mild profanity, such as in one of Comicbook/SpiderMan's win quotes:

* DemotedToExtra: Comicbook/CaptainAmerica (in the console version), Comicbook/ThePunisher, and Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk, though the last one may have been due to licensing issues with Creator/{{Vivendi}}, as ''VideoGame/TheIncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction'' dropped the following year.

* HeroKiller: Sacrifice missions have the Imperfects defeating the Marvel Superheroes and subjugating them for Rockel's experiments.

* NeverTrustATrailer: The EA Hype Machine fully at work. The game was initially promoted as a fighting game akin to Capcom's Versus Series, but as time grew closer to the release date, previews made it more obvious that the game was closer in genre to a BeatEmUp, and most of the fighting game elements were relegated to multiplayer (and being closer in style to EA's own ''VideoGame/DefJamSeries''.)

* RealIsBrown: In full display. Since the game was meant to be more "mature" and "realistic," that apparently meant everything needed to be dipped in mud. Also, several X-Men aren't wearing their colorful superhero costumes, instead going for street clothes or ridiculous-looking bikinis or long johns. Overall, the costumes seem like they were influenced by the Marvel movies that had been released at the time (such as the Creator/SamRaimi ''[[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Spider-Man]]'' movies, the Creator/BryanSinger ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' movies, ''Film/FantasticFour2005'', ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', ect.), which generally had more subdued and grounded costumes than the later [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] flicks. This is especially evident in the outfit designs for characters like Wolverine ([[NotWearingTights who isn't even WEARING a costume]]), Comicbook/{{Magneto}} and Comicbook/{{Elektra}}.

** This is required more or less for gameplay purposes. When 4 Marvel heroes' storylines have been completed, a "sacrifice" mission is required to be completed before the story as a whole can continue. These missions involve the player taking control of an Imperfect (using the Wink against Elektra or Hazmat against Venom) or a corrupted hero (Spider-Man vs. [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Human Torch]] or Wolverine vs. Comicbook/{{Storm}}) to kill off a hero. By the end of the game, only 3 characters can survive. One more thing: out of all the Marvel characters, Magneto never survives despite the player's actions; his sacrifice mission is needed to progress.

'''''Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects''''' (2005) is a FightingGame that was launched for the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]], UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]], and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS and was promoted by a comic miniseries. It is most similar to ''VideoGame/PowerStone, VideoGame/{{Ehrgeiz}}'', and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' Gameplay consists of a fairly free-form fighting system, complete with dodges, blocks, get-up attacks, uppercuts, and air tackles. Using the super button allows the super version of each of these abilities, being more powerful but also depleting the super bar.

* MotionComic: Adaptations of the first issues of ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'' and ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'' were included as unlockables with new narrations. While the ''FF'' narrator was a generic guy, the ''X-Men'' one was revealed to be [[spoiler:Franchise/{{Wolverine}} in the end.]]

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to other Marvel games of the time and the more colorful ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' fighting games that preceded it. The visual style is very grimy and gritty, and some characters even have ''VideoGame/MortalKombat''-style finishers that allow them to kill their opponent (such as Iron Man incinerating someone with a unibeam, Wolverine stabbing his opponent to death with his claws or Solara causing her victim to combust). However, since it has a T rating, the violence doesn't really get into BloodierAndGorier territory. There's also some mild profanity, such as in one of Comicbook/SpiderMan's win quotes:

** This is required more or less for gameplay purposes. When 4 Marvel heroes' storylines have been completed, a "sacrifice" mission is required to be completed before the story as a whole can continue. These missions involve the player taking control of an Imperfect (using the Wink against Electra or Hazmat against Venom) or a corrupted hero (Spider-Man vs. [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Human Torch]] or Wolverine vs. Comicbook/{{Storm}}) to kill off a hero. By the end of the game, only 3 characters can survive. One more thing: out of all the Marvel characters, Magneto never survives despite the player's actions; his sacrifice mission is needed to progress.

Many early announcements identified the game as "''Marvel vs. EA''", and if you're having trouble naming any iconic EA characters in its release's time period that predated the likes of say, ''Franchise/MassEffect'' ([[VideoGame/MaddenNFL John Madden]] aside), then you understand the initial skepticism the game received before it was announced that the non-Marvel characters would be all {{original|Generation}}. It sank so hard that Marvel ultimately cut all ties to EA (putting the kibosh on a planned sequel intended for 2008) and returned to Creator/{{Activision}} [[note]] and sometimes Creator/{{Capcom}} [[/note]] for video game business.

'''''Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects''''' (2005) is a game that was launched for the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]], UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]], and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS and was promoted by a comic miniseries. It is most similar to ''VideoGame/PowerStone, VideoGame/{{Ehrgeiz}}'', and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' Gameplay consists of a fairly free-form fighting system, complete with dodges, blocks, get-up attacks, uppercuts, and air tackles. Using the super button allows the super version of each of these abilities, being more powerful but also depleting the super bar.

''Nemesis'' was supposed to be followed up by a sequel in 2008, but [[Creator/ElectronicArts EA]] and Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}} terminated their partnership following the game's disappointing critical reception. Many early announcements identified the game as "''Marvel vs. EA''", and if you're having trouble naming any iconic EA characters in a pre-''Franchise/MassEffect'' time period ([[VideoGame/MaddenNFL John Madden]] aside), then you understand the initial skepticism the game received before it was announced that the non-Marvel characters would be all {{original|Generation}}. It sank so hard, Marvel ultimately cut all ties to EA and returned to Creator/{{Activision}} [[note]] and sometimes Creator/{{Capcom}} [[/note]] for video game business.

''Nemesis'' was supposed to be followed up by a sequel in 2008, but [[Creator/ElectronicArts EA]] and Creator/{{Marvel|Comics}} terminated their partnership following the game's disappointing critical reception. Many early announcements identified the game as "''Marvel vs. EA''", and if you're having trouble naming any iconic EA characters ([[VideoGame/MaddenNFL John Madden]] aside), then you understand the initial skepticism the game received before it was announced that the non-Marvel characters would be all {{original|Generation}}. It sank so hard, Marvel ultimately cut all ties to EA and returned to Creator/{{Activision}} [[note]] and sometimes Creator/{{Capcom}} [[/note]] for video game business.

* RealIsBrown: In full display. Since the game was meant to be more "mature" and "realistic," that apparently meant everything needed to be dipped in mud. Also, several X-Men aren't wearing their colorful superhero costumes, instead going for street clothes or ridiculous-looking bikinis or long johns. Overall, the costumes seem like they were influenced by the Marvel movies that had been released at the time (such as the Creator/SamRaimi ''[[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Spider-Man]]'' movies, the Creator/BryanSinger ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' movies, ''Film/FantasticFour2005'', ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', ect.), which generally had more subdued and grounded costumes than the later [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] flicks. This is especially evident in the outfit designs for characters like Wolverine ([[NotWearingTights who isn't even WEARING a costume]]), Comicbook/{{Magneto}}, Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} and Comicbook/{{Elektra}}.

* PowerCreepPowerSeep: Used to try to show how dangerous the Imperfects are.
* UncertainDoom: With the exception of Magneto and the Hulk, it is unknown whether or not the Marvel Heroes were actually killed or captured like the Thing was.
* WolverinePublicity: The TropeNamer is in the game and prominently displayed in marketing as well as on the cover.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to other Marvel games of the time and the more colorful ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' fighting games that preceded it. The visual style is very grimy and gritty, and some characters even have ''VideoGame/MortalKombat''-style finishers that allow them to kill their opponent (such as Iron Man incinerating someone with a unibeam, Wolverine stabbing his opponent to death with his claws or Solara causing her victim to combust). However, since it has a T rating, the violence doesn't really get into BloodierAndGorier territory. There's also some mild profanity, such as Comicbook/SpiderMan's win quote:

* GatlingGood: Subverted, in in the intro it seems like that the Punisher tried to fend off the invasion with one but ended up MIA.
* HeroKiller: Sacrifice missions have the Imperfects defeating the Marvel Superheroes and subjugated them for Rockel's experiments.

** This is required more or less for gameplay purposes. When 4 Marvel heroes' storylines have been completed, a "sacrifice" mission is required to be completed before the story as a whole can continue. These missions involve the player taking control of an Imperfect (using the Wink against Electra or Hazmat against Venom) or a corrupted hero (Spider-Man vs. [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Human Torch]] or Wolverine vs. Comicbook/{{Storm}}) to kill off a hero. By the end of the game, only 3 characters can survive. One more thing: out of all the Marvel characters, Magneto never survives despite the player's actions; his sacrifice mission is needed to process.

* CombatSadomasochist: Venom appears to be this, as he laughs occasionally whilst being attacked when downed in-game.

* BloodlessCarnage: Despite certain characters essentially having Fatalities, there's no blood or gore. Even Wolverine's finishing move, which has him tackle his opponent to the ground and then stab them to death, is bloodless.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to other Marvel games of the time and the more colorful ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' fighting games that preceded it. The visual style is very grimy and gritty, and some characters even have ''VideoGame/MortalKombat''-style finishers that allow them to kill their opponent (such as Iron Man incinerating someone with a unibeam, Wolverine stabbing his opponent to death with his claws or Solara causing her victim to combust). However, since it has a T rating, the violence doesn't really get into BloodierAndGorier territory. There's also some mild profanity, such as Spider-Man's win quote:

* DemotedToExtra: Captain America (in the console version), Punisher, and Hulk, though the last one may have been due to licensing issues with Creator/{{Vivendi}}, as ''VideoGame/TheIncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction'' dropped the following year.

* RealIsBrown: In full display. Since the game was meant to be more "mature" and "realistic," that apparently meant everything needed to be dipped in mud. Also, several X-Men aren't wearing their colorful superhero costumes, instead going for street clothes or ridiculous-looking bikinis or long johns. Overall, the costumes seem like they were influenced by the Marvel movies that had been released at the time (such as the Creator/SamRaimi ''[[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Spider-Man]]'' movies, the Creator/BryanSinger ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' movies, ''Film/FantasticFour2005'', ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', ect.), which generally had more subdued and grounded costumes than the later [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] flicks. This is especially evident in the outfit designs for characters like Wolverine ([[NotWearingTights who isn't even WEARING a costume]]), Magneto, Daredevil and Elektra.

** This is required more or less for gameplay purposes. When 4 Marvel heroes' storylines have been completed, a "sacrifice" mission is required to be completed before the story as a whole can continue. These missions involve the player taking control of an Imperfect (using the Wink against Electra or Hazmat against Venom) or a corrupted hero (Spider-Man vs. Human Torch or Wolverine vs. Storm) to kill off a hero. By the end of the game, only 3 characters can survive. One more thing: out of all the Marvel characters, Magneto never survives despite the player's actions; his sacrifice mission is needed to process.

* BloodlessCarnage: Even though certain characters essentially have Fatalities, there's no blood or gore. Even Wolverine's finishing move, which has him tackle his opponent to the ground and then stab them to death, is bloodless.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to other Marvel games of the time and the more colorful ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' fighting games that preceded it. The visual style is very grimy and gritty, and some characters even have ''VideoGame/MortalKombat''-style finishers that allow them to kill their opponent (such as Iron Man incinerating someone with a unibeam, or Wolverine stabbing his opponent to death with his claws). However, since it has a T rating, the violence doesn't really get into BloodierAndGorier territory. There's also some mild profanity, such as Spider-Man's win quote:

* RealIsBrown: In full display. Since the game was meant to be more "mature" and "realistic," that apparently meant everything needed to be dipped in mud. Also, several X-Men aren't wearing their colorful superhero costumes, instead going for street clothes or ridiculous-looking bikinis or long johns. Overall, the costumes seem like they were influenced by the Marvel movies that had been released at the time (such as the Creator/SamRaimi ''[[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Spider-Man]]'' movies, the Creator/BryanSinger ''[[Film/XMenFilmSeries X-Men]]'' movies, ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'' and so on), which generally had more subdued and grounded costumes than the later [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] flicks. This is especially evident in the outfit designs for characters like Wolverine ([[NotWearingTights who isn't even WEARING a costume]]), Magneto, Daredevil and Elektra.

* RealIsBrown: In full display. Since the game was meant to be more "mature" and "realistic," that apparently meant everything needed to be dipped in mud. Also, several X-Men aren't wearing their colorful superhero costumes, instead going for street clothes or ridiculous-looking bikinis or long johns. Overall, the costumes seem like they were influenced by the more subdued and realistic designs of the Marvel movies that had been released at the time (such as the Creator/SamRaimi ''[[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Spider-Man]]'' movies, the Creator/BryanSinger ''[[Film/XMenSeries X-Men]]'' movies, ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'' and so on). This is especially evident in the outfit designs for characters like Wolverine ([[NotWearingTights who isn't even WEARING a costume]]), Magneto, Daredevil and Elektra.