X-Men: Mutant Academy 2
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = X-Men: Mutant Academy 2
| image = X-Men - Mutant Academy 2 Coverart.png
| caption = North American PlayStation cover art
| developer = Paradox Development
| publisher = Activision
| designer =
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|September 18, 2001|EU|September 21, 2001}}
| genre = Fighting
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = PlayStation
}}
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 is a 2.5D fighting game for the PlayStation video game console. It was developed by Paradox Development and published by Activision on September 18, 2001.{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=2001-09-11 |title=Activision Opens Site for Marvel Fans |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/11/activision-opens-site-for-marvel-fans |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=IGN |language=en}} It is the sequel to X-Men: Mutant Academy and predecessor to X-Men: Next Dimension.
Gameplay
File:Xmen mutant academy 2 gameplay.png, but has new features such as the combatants Nightcrawler and Forge.]]
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 is a 2.5D action fighting game. Characters and environments are modeled in 3D, but gameplay is restricted to a 2D plane. Like its predecessor, the game allows the player to select from several heroes and villains from the X-Men franchise and includes many of the signature moves from the comics. The game also includes a behind-the-scenes look at X-Men (2000) concept sketches, costumes, and other similar material. Four game modes are offered to the player.
- Academy Training - This is where alternate costumes can be unlocked. The majority of characters have the ability to unlock two costumes, but six characters cannot.
- Arcade - In this mode, it is possible to unlock the characters ending movies. Another additional feature is the ability to unlock extra characters. Psylocke is unlocked after completing the game with Wolverine, and Juggernaut is unlocked after completing the game with all characters, including Psylocke. There are two special characters that can be unlocked after obtaining the extra characters. Spider-Man is unlocked if the player encounters and defeats him in Arcade Mode, and Professor X is unlocked after beating the game with Juggernaut.
- Versus - Allows two players to fight each other using available characters. On defeating Arcade Mode, the Pool Party arena is unlocked, which changes the character's skins to pool/beach themes.
- Survival - Survival Mode allows the player to choose a single character and attempt to defeat multiple enemies without losing their own health. When the player's health bar is drained, the game is over. Each game of Survival Mode consists of one round; it counts wins and perfects (defeats without losing any of one's own health) and when defeated, places the player on a leaderboard.
=Characters=
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 features 18 total playable characters, consisting of all 10 characters from the PlayStation version of Mutant Academy and eight newcomers. Mutant Academy 2 is also the only game in the series to feature a playable character from outside the X-Men franchise, that being Spider-Man. Newcomers are marked in bold:
{{collist|
- Beast
- Cyclops
- Forge
- Gambit
- Havok
- Juggernaut
- Magneto
- Mystique
- Nightcrawler
- Phoenix
- Professor X
- Psylocke
- Rogue
- Sabretooth
- Spider-Man
- Storm
- Toad
- Wolverine
}}
Reception
{{Expand section|date=April 2012}}
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 71.92%{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/478101-x-men-mutant-academy-2/index.html|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 for PlayStation|publisher=GameRankings|access-date=2014-04-02|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105421/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/478101-x-men-mutant-academy-2/index.html|url-status=live}}
| MC = 72/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/x-men-mutant-academy-2/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 Critic Reviews for PlayStation|website=Metacritic|access-date=2014-04-02}}
| CVG = 6/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_0240/page/112/mode/2up?q=%22mario+party%22|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=240|page=112|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}
| EGM = 5/10{{cite magazine|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2|author=EGM Staff|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=149|date=November 2001|page=220}}
| GI = 8.25/10{{cite magazine|url=http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200110/R03.0805.1509.45473.htm|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2|last=McNamara|first=Andy|magazine=Game Informer|issue=102|date=October 2001|access-date=2014-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719114933/http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200110/R03.0805.1509.45473.htm|archive-date=2009-07-19|url-status=dead}}
| GamePro = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/16840.shtml|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com|author=Uncle Dust|magazine=GamePro|date=2001-09-17|access-date=2014-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050313033435/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/16840.shtml|archive-date=2005-03-13|url-status=dead}}
| GameRev = C+{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/x-men-mutant-academy-2|title=X-Men Mutant Academy 2 Review|last=Nash|first=Joe|publisher=Game Revolution|date=2001-09-30|access-date=2014-04-02|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001430/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/x-men-mutant-academy-2|url-status=live}}
| GSpot = 8.4/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/x-men-mutant-academy-2-review/1900-2817265/|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 Review|last=Provo|first=Frank|website=GameSpot|date=2001-10-10|access-date=2014-04-02|archive-date=2019-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501074628/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/x-men-mutant-academy-2-review/1900-2817265/|url-status=live}}
| GSpy = 73%{{cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/september01/xmen2/|title=X-Men 2
| IGN = 8.3/10{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/01/x-men-mutant-academy-2|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2|last=Perry|first=Doug|website=IGN|date=2001-10-01|access-date=2014-04-02|archive-date=2018-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501090650/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/01/x-men-mutant-academy-2|url-status=live}}
| OPM = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|title=X-Men: Mutant Academy 2|magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine|date=November 2001|page=167}}
}}
Unlike X-Men: Mutant Academy, the game received mostly positive reviews by critics. Many praised the game for its improved graphics, new characters, gameplay, its hidden characters, its 3D environment, and the expanded number of combos.{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}} However, some criticized the game for its lack of gameplay modes and the combos were usually hard to pull off.{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}}
In 2011, Complex ranked it as the 43rd best fighting game of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/03/50-best-fighting-games/mutant-academy-2 |title=43. X-Men Mutant Academy 2 (PlayStation/Game Boy Color, 2000) — the 50 Best Fighting Games of All Time | Complex |website=Complex Networks |access-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625085739/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/03/50-best-fighting-games/mutant-academy-2 |archive-date=June 25, 2012}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20020805172500/http://www.paradox-development.com/games/x-men2/ Paradox Development page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20011203213535/http://www.activision.com/games/xmen/products/mutantacademy2/index.html Activision, Inc. page]
- [https://archive.today/20070811210925/http://marvel.com/videogames/X-Men_Games X-Men video games on Marvel.com]
- {{moby game|id=/playstation/x-men-mutant-academy-2}}
{{X-Men media}}
{{Spider-Man in popular media}}
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