Preview: Iron Man The Game

Players: 1
Price: $59.99
Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC, PSP, Wii, PS2, DS
Developer: Secret Level
Publisher: Sega
ESRB: Teen
Website: IronManTheGame
Release Date: May 2nd, 2008 (April 27th for Wii, PSP, PC and DS)

Iron Man (alongside Captain America) has been one of the most recognized and least used comic book heroes in recent history. So when real gamers (and comic book fans alike) see the following description for any game: Based on licensed movie property. There’s a grave feeling of dread for said game. However, Sega is trying something a little different with Iron Man: The Game by focusing more on gameplay, unlockables and GTA-styled freedom, in hopes of surpassing the movie-licensed stigma most games carry with them.

Iron Man: The Video Game will feature various missions and tasks that can be explored and completed in a practical, open-world environment. Players will be able to run, hover or fly around while battling foes, and will have a hearty selection of customizable weapons. As a matter of fact, the entire game has a heavy reliance on customization. Players will be able to modify both Iron Man’s arsenal and his armor. Different weapons and suit configurations can be unlocked based on the success rate of completed missions. There are plenty of different weapons, thrusters, and power cores to choose from, giving gamers a wide variety of different settings and a high potentiality for replay.

The actual gameplay will also sport a means of variety when it comes to tackling various types of enemies. While in the air, players can activate the afterburners to outrun speeding planes or hover around and catch missiles from right out of the air and toss them back at an approaching target. The man of Iron can also drop to the ground and tussle with tanks by flipping them over or blowing them sky high with his repulsors. Players will have to watch out, though, as Iron Man will be the sort of game that mixes a little bit of simulation with arcade gameplay. Remember the heatsink management on the PC versions of MechWarrior? Well Iron Man will employ a very similar feature for managing Iron Man’s energy consumption and power supply (this is a good thing by the way.) If players would prefer to use more energy on Iron Man’s weapons, thrusters or melee attacks, then this feat can be completed by simply pressing the appropriate digital pad button that corresponds to the shifting energy to the selected function.

All in all, Iron Man: The Game is looking very snazzy for a licensed property...especially considering that Sega was able to attain the rights to use the CG Iron Man from the movie in the actual game. Now as long as the gameplay is consistent and action-packed through-and-through, then I can’t see why this can’t be a good game.

You can look for Iron Man: The Game to hit store shelves for all the major consoles on May 2nd.