The latest Marvel movie to hit the big screens, Captain America: Super Soldier, promises the usual action, intrigue and more, but can the game created to tie in with it live up to the expectations surrounding the film? Classed as an open world third person action adventure game, Captain American teams some excellent combat with some less than excellent platform action. With a lacklustre story that also leaves something to be desired, we can at least be thankful that Next Level Games have capitalised on the strength of the combat by making it the main focus of the game.
Storyline
Instead of exactly following the plot of Captain America: Super Soldier the movie, the game is set in the same time period but written with its own story and script. You’ll still find yourself in the midst of World War II, battling against the Nazis that threaten the peace and security of the world, however instead of encountering the many varied scenes from the film universe you will be set to explore a castle in the Bavarian mountains. This labyrinth of a castle is home to a deranged scientist and features seemingly endless chambers, corridors, wings and even a sewer system to jump more quickly between the different areas.
This story should have plenty of potential, particularly as the evil mastermind Red Skull (who you won’t get to fight in this game unfortunately) is determined to create his own race of super soldiers to take on Captain America. Unconvincing voice acting and a very predictable set of events do detract from this story, and yet even though you will be able to guess exactly what happens from almost the first scene there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had throughout the campaign.
Gameplay
The real feather in the cap of Captain America: Super Soldier is that of the combat. Few things are more satisfying than fighting for justice with your bare hands and, of course, your trusty shield; a weapon more powerful than any gun. Your patriotic shield can be used to prevent the success of enemy attacks, as well as to launch at them in a boomerang-style fashion from a great distance; however it isn’t the only means to avoid attack. The subtle flashing of enemies just before they attack will give you the chance to dodge out of the way of a potentially fatal fire-fight, or to launch a counterattack that will have them floored before they know what hit them.
It’s outside of the excellent combat where the game falls down. Although Captain America technically has the ability to run along dangerous ledges, swing from poles and shimmy up ledges without a care in the world for gravity or any other force, these platforming elements are only allowed on pre-set paths. You might be able to leap to the roof of a building in one scene, when stepping over a small bench in another is impossible as it doesn’t follow the determined route through the game.
This puts a bit of a downer on the action outside of combat, particularly as the game is boasted as being an ‘open world’ experience. It’s true that you can return to previous areas of the castle as you progress, but in the most part you will continue forward in a purely linear fashion.
Graphics
The model of Captain America is beautifully detailed, complete with token shield gleaming with a subtle metallic finish, and showing the usual scuffs and scrapes that you would expect from combat. It’s a shame then that the developers didn’t continue this level of detail throughout the rest of the environments in the game. On the whole all of the levels that you face look decidedly dark and dreary, with a lack of detail that could have worked powerfully to create an atmospheric experience.
Conclusion
Captain America: Super Soldier is an entertaining game. The combat alone, similar in its style to the great game Batman: Arkham Asylum, is enough to keep you coming back for more, at least until you have finished the campaign which, in all honestly, isn’t likely to take you much longer than six hours. Although there certainly isn’t anything particularly new and novel in this title, the elements it is made up of do come together to create an experience that most gamers will enjoy.