X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001)

The original was fun but sparse. This sequel seems like not so much a follow-up, but the full game the first was a demo of. Eighteen characters in total allow for some awesome comicbook brawls, including Professor X versus Magneto, Gambit versus Rogue, Nightcrawler versus Mystique and, of course, anyone versus Spider-Man - yes, he's in the game! The variety of locations really adds atmosphere to the fights, including the murky, eerie Morlock tunnels, the alien ambience of the moon, bathed in blue light, and the half-destroyed city street that has been hit by the Juggernaut. The road is smashed up, building are demolished and crushed cars are on fire - and you're next, as you have to fight the big guy sooner or later.

The soundtrack is truly brilliant, giving the game an epic, thrilling and even foreboding feel. The graphics are as good as possible, full of cinematic explosions, eye-searing special effects and Matrix-esque slo-mo mid-air violence. And the gameplay is awesome - forget Tekken, this is full-on Street Fighter 2 Turbo mayhem, with projectiles, air-combos and intense special moves. The only thing which stops this comicbook battle simulator a masterpiece is the lack of stuff to destroy and use as weapons - all superhero fights involve mass-property damage. However, that will surely come with Mutant Academy 3, and until then, this is the greatest Marvel game ever. Yes, better than Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro.