It's not often that we see a game based on a cartoon show based on a line of toys based on comic book heroes. Yet that's exactly what we have here with Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet. First seen in the Marvel-licensed Hasbro toy line, the Marvel Super Hero Squad is a 'super deformed' take on the classic line-up of Marvel action heroes and villains. These big-headed figurines soon found favor among children and toy collectors, garnering enough of a fan base to warrant a cartoon series and eventually a game, 2009's Marvel Super Hero Squad, which didn't make it to the Xbox 360. Even though the first title received mostly average to bad reviews, Marvel and THQ clearly decided that the franchise deserved another shot, which brings us to this, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet, another straight-forward action adventure aimed directly at the younger gamer.
Based loosely on the plot of the second season of the cartoon show, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet focuses on super villain Thanos and his quest to unite all the Infinity gems with the eponymous Infinity Gauntlet, giving him power over the universe. Naturally it's up to our cast of super heroes to come to the universe's aid and save the day. Giving away the game's childish demeanor, the idea that Thanos could soon be the master of the universe doesn't stop our heroes from making a constant flurry of corny one-liners and mildly humorous comments, dishing out atomic wedgies on enemies and generally just playing the fool in the midst of the battle. The cartoon show has the same light-hearted atmosphere, so those who have seen and enjoyed the show will feel right at home here.
The action is extremely simple, again geared towards those who are still just coming to grips with a gamepad. The sizable cast of super heroes is divided into teams of two for each level, each hero having his or her own speciality beyond their combat moves. These special abilities include the ability to hack computers, smash walls, speed dash, levitate, and more, with the two-man teams specifically set up to complement each other for their chosen levels. Scattered throughout the stages are special features, such as time rift zips and computer terminals, which can only be opened by specific heroes not pre-selected for said stage in the separate Free Play mode. Only the most dedicated Marvel fans will probably bother with this feature, but it does help to add to the longevity of the game. That's not a bad thing, considering that a seasoned action adventurer will be able to breeze through the campaign in just over four hours or so.
In single-player mode, the player controls both heroes for each level, switching between them to make use of their individual strengths and to solve a host of very straightforward puzzles. Sadly the team mate AI is often unhelpful. Your partner will usually refuse to do the most obvious of tasks without you switching to control him or her. For example, if you are on a floor plate which activates an item which the Hulk needs to smash, don't expect the green numbskull to do it on his own. No, you need to constantly switch back and forth to navigate the levels, going some way to damage the illusion of co-operative gameplay. The combat-heavy sections are less tiresome in this regard, because you and your AI partner will both just be thrashing away at the waves of generic enemies and there is not really any point to switching characters unless the AI hero is low on health yet refuses to wander over to the health pick-up across the way. Also annoying is that it is sometimes hard to figure out which character you are controlling when things get heated, so it's usually best to just slog through the fighting sections without touching the "swap heroes" button.
It's not all bad news though, because much of what will frustrate most gamers about the single-player mode is remedied in the co-op mode. Here you and a friend each take control of a super hero, eliminating the issues that come from having a braindead AI partner. This co-op mode is also an essential feature to make this adventure more accessible for the very young gamer. Instead of the fledgling gamer being left to his or her own devices, now a patient and forgiving parent can help guide them through the game, thereby teaching them the basic concepts of gaming in the process. Other modes available in the multiplayer component include a simplistic Challenge Mode featuring up to four players and a varied roster of user-selectable heroes and villains. There is also the previously mentioned Free Play mode which allows gamers to play through any level with any unlocked character and giving those interested in 100% completion a change to activate all the time rifts and so on found on each level.
Combat is a real button bashing affair, and lacks any real depth. Each hero has a basic attack (think punch or kick) which becomes a repetitive combo when used in quick succession to go along with some sort of ranged attack (either a projectile or a dashing move), together with the ability to jump and block enemy attacks. There is also the obligatory chargeable special move, with predictably devastating effects. As you can imagine, this control scheme is a recipe for mindless button bashing, and that's exactly what happens just about every time the screen is flooded with bad guys. This doesn't change much for the rudimentary boss battles, each requiring a different approach which takes all of five seconds to figure out, and then it's back to button bashing business as usual. The puzzles your heroes encounter are easy and quick to solve for anyone who has played an action title of this nature before, but that's excusable considering the target market. There are a few variations to the usual gameplay mode, things like piloting a runaway jet engine through an asteroid field or throwing rocks at enemies appearing in rows of windows; wack-a-mole style. These occasional sections offer some diversity, probably enough to keep the youngster's attention spans from wondering, but to older gamers they will come across like half-baked time wasters.
The graphical style is obviously heavily influenced by the cartoon show as well as the toy line which started it all. Once again, it's the younger generation who will enjoy the look of Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet, all bright colours and cheerful characters. Even the fearsome super villains are vibrant and nonthreatening. A wide variety of heroes and villains appear throughout the game, including Thor, Iron Man, Wolverine, both Hulk and She-Hulk, Doctor Doom, Silver Surfer, and many more. If you're a casual Marvel follower you will probably meet heroes here who you've never heard of before, but most of the cast is made up of the big names. The friendly and accessible way in which the characters are presented here could be a clever gateway for Marvel to introduce the youth to its super hero/villain roster and get them hooked. The more cynical gamer might consider the visual style to be well below average for an Xbox 360 game, and in honesty I have seen Xbox LIVE Arcade titles with more impressive character models and environmental detail. Still, the overall look of it all is functional and well suited to the subject matter and target market, gamers who don't care much for texture quality and tri-linear anti-aliasing. But the fact remains that we've come to expect far better in terms of graphics for this console generation.
The story and script are typical of the Marvel Super Hero Squad universe, relying on predictable plot twists and silly banter between heroes and villains. These quips are delivered in a very authentic style though, as is all cut-scene dialogue, using voice acting that seems like it could have been lifted straight out of a Sunday morning cartoon. The actors never take themselves seriously, matching the light-hearted vibe of the story, and while the voices may start to annoy older gamers, they fit the theme of the game well. It's a pity that the script itself is so banal and one dimensional, though, offering very little in the way of the subtle humor we've come to expect from modern children's entertainment these days. If you're not sure what I mean, go watch a Disney Pixar animated movie with a younger family member and take note of how you both laugh but at different things. In this game there really is not much to give more mature gamers even a mild chuckle. On a musical note, the tunes suit the play style and game atmosphere well, again sounding like they are right out of a cartoon show. No sign of emotive orchestral pieces here, just happy, bouncy background music to complement the action and cut-scenes.
Having been an adult (and I use the term 'adult' loosely) for a while now, it's really not easy to judge how a game like this will go down with the younger audience which makes up the target market. The closest I could come was to rope in a non-gamer with a passing interest in super hero movies for a bit of co-op action. Needless to say, it was all far too simplistic and uninventive for my liking, and while my super hero sidekick found the gameplay easy enough to get to grips with, there just wasn't enough to maintain the initial enthusiasm. The colourful characters and settings are quite charming and will surely keep young eyes glued to the screen, but Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is so directly aimed at this market that anyone else will quickly tire of it. It's difficult to look past the mundane level design, outdated graphics, oversimplified gameplay and limited lifespan of this cheerful action adventure, but that's coming from the perspective of a hardened, battle-weary gamer who has spent way too much time shooting virtual zombies and terrorists.
As a single-player cartoon romp, the button-bashing gameplay will keep young ones entertained for a short while. However, put two mini humans in front of the TV, each with a gamepad in hand, and the co-op mode should be enough to keep them quiet for the entirety of this admittedly shortlived adventure. It's nothing you haven't seen before - much of the gameplay could be seen as a copy of the LEGO game franchise - so don't expect any surprises. There are far better children's games available, but if your little ones have a penchant for lively cartoon characters and super hero shenanigans, this Marvel outing should have them squealing with delight. On the other hand, if you are old enough to understand all the words in this review without asking your parents, then you're probably too old to really enjoy this cute but uninspired adventure.
Pros:
- Colourful characters and environments, as well as the easy gameplay, will appeal to the target audience
- Cheerful voice acting could be straight out of a cartoon show
- Some fun to be had in co-op mode
Cons:
- Graphics are below par for this generation
- Gameplay, while easy for kids, is far too simple to give seasoned gamers a reason to play
- Single-player campaign suffers from some annoying AI issues
Rating: 
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