History VideoGame / MarvelUltimateAlliance

** ComicBook/{{Jubilee}} can be seen as one of the mutants waiting in line to receive the cure for the Legacy Virus in one of the chooseable ending stills (provided that you saved the computer terminal on the Omega Base).

* Juggernaut (DLC for the [=PS3=] and Xbox 360 versions)

* BadassBystander: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDr57ajoTlU During Loki's raid on Asgard in the first game,]] a random nameless and totally inconsequential Asgardian gate guard, upon seeing that he is totally outnumbered and faced with an enormous wave of super soldiers, does what any [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy good Asgardian]] would do. Run in screaming with his weapon drawn and absolutely no hesitation. He even manages to take out six or seven of the hulking brutes with a ''single charge.''

* TheCameo: In both games, as expected. Special mention to the cutscene that plays [[spoiler: prior to the final mission, that explains what has happened while the playable characters were off-planet - The remaining heroes of Earth have mounted an offense against Dr Doom, but most have fallen and only Cyclops & a heavily mutilated Colossus are definitely still alive. Depicted in this scene are Charles Xavier, ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, ComicBook/{{Gambit}}, [[ComicBook/KittyPryde Shadowcat]], ComicBook/EmmaFrost, the aforementioned Colossus & Cyclops, and the Hulk (who is covered by shadow, except for his feet, due to licensing issues preventing the character being included in the main game)]].

* DummiedOut: ComicBook/MoonKnight and Colossus in the UsefulNotes/XBox, [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]], and [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]] versions of ''[=MUA1=]''. They can accessed by [[http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/lo03bd/pop-fiction-episode-14--hidden-characters certain methods.]] [[note]]Due to obvious reasons, you don't need to use that method ever again if you have the current-gen versions.[[/note]]

* OneWingedAngel: The final boss of ''MUA 2'': [[spoiler:Nick Fury gets unwillingly powered up with the Tinkerer's experimental nanites, and becomes a nanite-powered cyborg with the ability to take powers from other heroes and villains in the fold no matter how far away they are.]]

** In the first game, if you have Magneto on the team when you face the SadisticChoice of saving Jean Grey or Nightcrawler (and letting the other die by having their cage fall into a BottomlessPit), Magneto will simply use his magnetic powers to free both of them.

* TemporaryOnlineContent: Activision refused to renew their contract with Marvel, citing poor sales, so any downloadable content for either game was removed from the Xbox 360 and [=PS3=] marketplaces; their reasoning was that the characters "were always a limited offer". With ''[=MUA1=]'', at least, the player can hunt down a copy of the [[GameOfTheYearEdition Gold version]] which contains all the DLC on-disc or mod the PC version to add them in. Activision added the DLC back online for ''[=MUA2=]'', but it wasn't put up in [=PS3=] outisde the United States. [[ZigZaggingTrope Then the DLC was withdrawn one more time on December 31st, 2010... And when Activision re-released both games on the [=PlayStation 4=] and Xbox One, it became available again.]]

* VillainProtagonist: A character pack in the Xbox 360 version of the first game allowed you to take control of the super villains Magneto, Sabretooth, and even that game's own BigBad, Dr. Doom. With the only exception in the pack being Venom (Eddie Brock) who is a antihero. In the second game, half of the Thunderbolts fit the role and after beating the game, [[spoiler:Nanite Nick Fury becomes available for replays]].

* WickedToymaker: In the second game, [[spoiler:The Tinkerer]] invokes this trope during his boss fight, using robots that look like smaller versions of heroes and villains with giant windup keys sticking out of them. The level itself is even called "[[spoiler:The Tinkerer's Toys".]]

* AllYourPowersCombined: The final boss of the second game, [[spoiler:Cyborg Nick Fury]], has access to the abilities of those [[spoiler:infected by the Fold]]. He makes much use of a bunch of them. [[spoiler: When unlocked as a playable character, he only uses four of them: [[ShockAndAwe Electro]], Comicbook/SpiderWoman, A-Bomb, and [[KillItWithFire Firestar]].]]

Not to be confused with ''VideoGame/MarvelAvengersAlliance''.

** [[spoiler: The reveal that Black Widow was a triple agent (similarly to her Ultimates' counterpart) in TheStinger is not addressed in the sequel.]]

* ContractualBossImmunity / KungFuProofMook: Bosses are immune to stun, knockdown, and grabbing. Certain mooks are also immune to some of these, though stunning usually works. Averted with the Tinkerer in the sequel. Most every other boss is immune to Hulk's tackle attack but the Tinkerer isn't, leading to the hilarious image of a green muscle-bound monster tackling and punching out a feeble old man with no powers.

* GodwinsLaw: The special conversation between Captain America and the holograph of Nanite-infected Nick Fury. To be fair, the two of them literally had fought Hitler's Nazis together. But when Fury states that the Fold would bring an end to all future wars, Cap responds:

* {{Invisibility}}: A complete subversion of UselessUsefulStealth available to Invisible Woman, Nick Fury, and Black Panther. It works on every enemy and boss, the enemies only react when you attack them directly (meaning you can pick off one mook without any of his buddies noticing), and any enemy you ''do'' attack will only throw a couple of counter-punches before losing sight of you again. Very arguably a GameBreaker.

** Blackheart forces the player to choose whether [[spoiler:Jean Grey or Nightcrawler dies]].

** The Kraken boss fight has more than a passing resemblance to the Kraken from Film/ClashOfTheTitans1984

* SparedByTheAdaptation: Goliath is implied to have survived the Pro-Reg boss fight against him. No one treats it as a MoralEventHorizon, [[AngstWhatAngst anyway]].

* UpdatedRerelease: {{Creator/Activision}} has released both games for UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and Creator/{{Steam}}. The second installment is being released on PC for the very first time. The first game was missing the {{D|ownloadableContent}}LC at first, but this was later added via a patch.

* WhatTheHellHero: As it's based off Civil War, the public doing this is a part of the premise.

* WickedToymaker: The Tinkerer invokes this trope during his boss fight, using robots that look like smaller versions of heroes and villains with giant windup keys sticking out of them. The level itself is even called "The Tinkerer's Toys".

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness / UriahGambit: By the moment Dr. Doom gains godlike powers, every other member of the Masters of Evil has been eliminated by the heroes. [[TheChessmaster Don't tell us this was a coincidence]].
-->'''Baron Mordo:''' This is an outrage! How dare Loki and Doom leave us behind!! I'll not stand for it!!!!
-->'''Ultron:''' This is not an unforeseen outcome. [[MagnificentBastard They now each get what they desire without having to share the spoils with us.]]

* TakeAThirdOption: Subverted: The Thing, rather than take a side in the Civil War, goes hiding... but when he stumbles upon you later, depending on which side you are playing as, he'll either force himself to register or be appalled by what SHIELD is doing and join the resistance.

* FastballSpecial

* BreakingTheFourthWall: Deadpool, duh.

* SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}

[[quoteright:252:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/marvelultimatealliance.jpg]]

A third game, titled ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance3TheBlackOrder'', was [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RohG-JzXiM announced]] exclusively for UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch at The Game Awards 2018. This new entry features a [[RecycledInSpace cosmic-based]] plot that sees the Avengers and the ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy (among others) teaming up to take down ComicBook/{{Thanos}}' titular squad. This installment is set to be developed by [[Creator/{{Tecmo}} Team]] [[Creator/{{Koei}} Ninja]] and published by Creator/{{Nintendo}} themselves.

* SecretCharacter: Daredevil, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Blade, Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider, and Nick Fury can all be unlocked as you progress through the first game.

* ShipTease: When talking to Spider-Women she mentions she finds Spider-Man cute.

* SociopathicHero: Deadpool ("Alright, who do I kill!"), both Venoms and the Green Goblin (in an EnemyMine), Wolverine, the list goes on and on and on.

* NewGamePlus: Clearing ''MUA 2'' on any difficulty level allows the player to replay the game on Legendary difficulty with all the stats from the previous runthrough. It also allows any character to be playable at all times, regardless of if you choose to be Pro-Reg or Anti-Reg.
** Similarly, the second playthrough onward of ''MUA 1'', aside from having the Hard difficulty level unlocked, lets you use everyone you've unlocked (as well as letting you choose your team from the very start). Which is good if you want to use Dr. Strange, Black Panther, Daredevil, Silver Surfer, Comicbook/GhostRider, or Nick Fury (indeed, teams such as Classic Avengers, Supernatural, Marvel Knights, Defenders and/or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are impossible to field without these guys). Also, all the unlocked costumes, so you can turn up with Assassins (Wolvie Ultimate, Elektra Stealth, Deadpool Weapon X and Blade - any outfit but Original) all in black. ''And'' all the leveling you achieved up to that point (which, difficulty-wise, will seem like starting it all from scratch if you pick Hard).

* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: In the [=PS2=]/Wii/PSP versions of the second game, the characters will directly address the player to get things moving if they are left standing inactive for an extended period of time.
-->'''Jean Grey''': I can read your mind, I know you want to play this game...

** Wolverine has a rage mechanic which fills up a bar when he attacks or is attacked, and when it's full his attacks will evolve into more powerful versions with different effects.

* MortonsFork: During the "sacrifice Nightcrawler or Jean" segment, [[spoiler: do you sacrifice Jean and unleash Dark Phoenix?, or so you sacrifice Nightcrawler and Mystique, desiring vengeance for her son, kills Professor X]]?
* MultipleEndings: MUA 1 had short vignettes at the end that changed depending on which optional objectives you completed. MUA 2 has a more traditional instance in that the side you choose at the beginning of the Civil War decides whether the Superhuman Registration Act gets passed or not.

* ArtificialStupidity:

* CrisisCrossover

* EliteMooks

* FallingChandelierOfDoom: In the first game, Nightcrawler's spectacular escape involve [[TeleportSpam teleporting]] and cutting several chandeliers on [[MechaMooks Doombots]].

** FourPhilosophyEnsemble: Also applies. Using the same group: Deadpool (apathetic), Wolverine (cynic), Spider-Man (optimist), and Daredevil (realist).

''Marvel Ultimate Alliance'' is an Action RPG series published by {{Creator/Activision}} and developed by Raven Software and Vicarious Visions, starring many of Marvel's most popular {{superhero}}es and {{supervillain}}s. A spiritual successor of sorts to the ''VideoGame/XMenLegends'' series (arguably a sequel to the second, but the first is in a continuity of its own), which was also developed by Raven. The first one was released in 2006 and took you through a tour of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse trying to stop Doctor Doom and his [[LegionOfDoom Masters of Evil]].

* [[ComicBook/FantasticFour The Thing]]

* Venom (Mac Gargan)

* ComicBook/{{Sentry}} (exclusive to the Nintendo DS version)

** [[spoiler: The reveal that Black Widow was a triple agent (similarly to her Ultimates' counterpart) in TheStinger is not addressed in the sequel]].

* TheCameo: In both games, as expected. Special mention to the cutscene that plays [[spoiler: prior to the final mission, that explains what has happened while the playable characters were off-planet - The remaining heroes of Earth have mounted an offense against Dr Doom, but most have fallen and only Cyclops & a heavily mutilated Colossus are definitely still alive. Depicted in this scene are Charles Xavier, ComicBook/{{Magneto}}, ComicBook/{{Gambit}}, [[ComicBook/KittyPryde Shadowcat]], ComicBook/EmmaFrost, the aforementioned Colossus & Cyclops, and the Hulk (Who is covered by shadow, except for his feet, due to licensing issues preventing the character being included in the main game)]].

* CassandraTruth: Happens to Nick Fury in ''MUA 2'': due to both Captain America and Iron Man being too deep in their SRA conflict and a lack of evidence on Fury's part, he's unable to get their assistance regarding an apparent malfunction that caused the nanite-controlled villains to go berserk during the Chemical Plant battle. It's only after Fury is [[spoiler:forced to make a HeroicSacrifice (though he survived) that the two sides are ''finally'' willing to cooperate with each other, and by that point the nanites (now referred to as The Fold) have expanded into a worldwide problem.]]

* CuttingOffTheBranches: That fact that Jean Grey is a playable character in the sequel, means ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} was the canonical sacrifice in the first game. This ultimately means the X-Men will eventually disband, and ComicBook/{{Mystique}} will eventually murder Professor X. Also considering Senator Kelly, didn't jump on the registration bandwagon, means he was saved. Furthermore, since the West Coast of America wasn't destroyed by an asteroid, it's presumed that Lilandra was also saved. Or, alternatively, Jean Grey was the sacrifice but, as it said in the credits, she was revived as the Phoenix to take vengeance upon the people who chose her death - though maybe they were able to help her suppress the Phoenix's personality and bring Jean Grey back as herself. Supported in that the X-Men do not appear to be officially disbanded.

* FastballSpecial: The Other Wiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastball_Special breaks down]] the possibilities in both games quite nicely.

-->'''Deadpool''': You're laughing with your eyes, I can see it!

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Zig-zagged n the second game - Once you pick a side in the Civil War, you're [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers locked out of several characters]] depending on your choice, [[spoiler:only regaining them at the start of the third act]]. But then in NewGamePlus, the entire roster is available to you at all times - yes, even the characters who the story dictates ''shouldn't'' be available to you, such as Captain America as a Pro-Reg.

* HulkSpeak: As to be expected from the TropeNamer. ''MUA 2'' even gives Hulk his own exclusive dialogue options consisting exclusively of HulkSpeak!

-->Xavier's the one who's close to Lilandra. They used to be good friends... ''Really good'' friends... (nudging at Spider-Man) If ya catch my meaning.

-->'''Spider-Man:''' Admit it, Mac, you miss the 7 foot long tail.\\

-->'''Spider-Man''': Great to be working with you again, we should be on TV or something.
-->'''Firestar''': Yeah, we really are some [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends amazing friends]].

* TheStinger: At the end of ''MUA 1'', [[spoiler: Black Widow is revealed to be a [[TheMole double agent]], who's set up Weasel to take the fall]]. Also, Galactus vows revenge on the heroes. [[spoiler:That last one is quickly glossed over via a conversation with Thor in ''MUA 2'', which implies that Galactus' revenge [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome happened offscreen between the two games]]]].

* VillainProtagonist: A character pack in the Xbox 360 version of the first game allowed you to take control of the super villians Magneto, Sabretooth, and even that game's own BigBad, Dr. Doom. With the only exception in the pack being Venom (Eddie Brock) who is a antihero. In the second game, half of the Thunderbolts fit the role and after beating the game, [[spoiler:Nanite Nick Fury becomes available for replays]].

* WorthIt: One of the scenes in the MUA 1 ending credits is about [[Comicbook/XMen Iceman]] getting knocked out by Spider-Woman's pheromones, and this is his reaction.

* GoodColorsEvilColors: In the first game, the main baddies are Doom, Baron Mordo, Loki, Enchantress, and Ultron. All but Ultron are garbed in green.

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: An improvement over ''VideoGame/XMenLegends'', health bars are visible on all the icons of party members, not just your currently selected character.

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: An improvement over ''VideoGame/XMenLegends'', health bars are visible on all icons of party members, not just your current character.

* ActionGirl: Is she a female playable character? Then she's an ActionGirl. This applies to a lot of [=NPCs=] as well. For the record, ComicBook/{{Storm}}, ComicBook/CarolDanvers, ComicBook/{{Elektra}}, ComicBook/InvisibleWoman, ComicBook/SpiderWoman, [[ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} Songbird]], ComicBook/JeanGrey, and ComicBook/{{Psylocke}} are playable characters in one or both of the games; plus ComicBook/BlackWidow and ComicBook/SheHulk in the portable versions. The third game also adds several new ones, but we have a separate page for that.

* ActionGirl: Is she a female playable character? Then she's an ActionGirl. This applies to a lot of [=NPCs=] as well. For the record, ComicBook/{{Storm}}, [[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Ms. Marvel]], ComicBook/{{Elektra}}, ComicBook/InvisibleWoman, ComicBook/SpiderWoman, [[ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} Songbird]], ComicBook/JeanGrey, and ComicBook/{{Psylocke}} are playable characters in one or both of the games; plus ComicBook/BlackWidow and ComicBook/SheHulk in the portable versions. The third game also adds several new ones, but we have a separate page for that.

* ActionGirl: Is she a female playable character? Then she's an ActionGirl. This applies to a lot of [=NPCs=] as well. For the record, ComicBook/{{Storm}}, [[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Ms. Marvel]], ComicBook/{{Elektra}}, ComicBook/InvisibleWoman, ComicBook/SpiderWoman, [[ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} Songbird]], ComicBook/JeanGrey, and ComicBook/{{Psylocke}} are playable characters in one or both of the games; plus ComicBook/BlackWidow and ComicBook/SheHulk in the portable versions.

* DefeatMeansFriendship:

* DeadpanSnarker - Spidey, as usual.
** Deadpool, Iceman, Cage, and Human Torch get in on the action too.
*** In ''MUA 2'', you get a team bonus for putting Iceman, Spider-Man, Deadpool, The Thing, or Human Torch in a team together called "Shut Up Already".
* DefeatMeansFriendship: After being defeated and rid of the nanites, Venom (Mac Gargan) and the Green Goblin join your team.

* DownloadableContent: Both games had limited-time-offer DLC.
** Averted with the remastered versions, where any character who was time-limited or DLC is unlocked in normal gameplay, as a gift to all the fans.

** Perhaps the most extreme example - thanks to DLC in the second game, you can place Spider-Man on the same team as Green Goblin, Venom, & Carnage.

** ''Ultimate Alliance 2'': Hulk, Thor and Jean Grey can only be unlocked by collecting 5 of their respective collectables: Asgardian Runes for Thor, Gamma Regulators for Hulk and M'Kraan Shards for Jean Grey.