X-Men: Mutant Academy

X-Men: Mutant Academy

North American PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)
Publisher(s) Activision
Distributor(s) Marvel Entertainment
Director(s) Tim Bradstock (Game Boy Color)
Designer(s) Tim Coode (Game Boy Color)
Daimion Pinnock (Game Boy Color)
Platform(s)

Release date(s)

Game Boy Color

  • JP: April 27, 2001
  • NA: July 2000
  • PlayStation
    • JP: April 12, 2001
    • NA: July 11, 2000
    • EU: August 18, 2000
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s)

X-Men: Mutant Academy is a 3D/2D fighting game developed by Paradox, the company behind Activision's Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style and the never-published Thrill Kill, and based on X-Men characters, from Marvel Comics. The game was released for the Game Boy Color and PlayStation as a tie-in to X-Men.

Published by Activision, X-Men: Mutant Academy is a basic fighting game that uses six buttons: three buttons for punches and three for kicks. Due to the success of the game, it was followed by two sequels: X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 and X-Men: Next Dimension. The game's characters can be played both with their comic book costumes and their costumes from the 2000 film X-Men. Characters not present in the film were given costumes of a similar design.

Gameplay

PlayStation

X-Men: Mutant Academy on the PlayStation is a fighting game that features 3D stages, but largely adhering to the rules of 2D fighters. The main characters are a combination of classic X-Men characters and the X-Men film. Nearly every X-Men character is available, each with their own fighting moves (much like Street Fighter) and plenty of finishing moves to spice things up.

Game Boy Color

Much like its big brother, X-Men: Mutant Academy on the Game Boy Color is a fighting game. Due to obvious limitations on hardware, the stages in this version have been rendered in 2D, and the gameplay is different from the PlayStation version. In addition to Story Mode, where one player takes on all the others in consecutive fights, there is training mode, battle mode, survival mode, and a versus mode utilizing the Game Link cable. During a fight, a rage bar will slowly fill, which allows using powerful special moves that are activated through button combos.

Characters

There are ten selectable characters from the X-Men Universe, all of them selectable from the beginning in versus mode, but the four bosses must be unlocked to play as in all the other modes.

X-Men

Bosses

Game Boy Exclusives

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GBCPS
AllGame[1][2]
EGM6.83/10[3]
Eurogamer3/10[4]
GameFan70%[5]
Game Informer7.5/10[6]
GamePro[7]
Game RevolutionC+[8]
GameSpot2.4/10[9]6.4/10[10]
IGN3/10[11]8/10[12]
Nintendo Power6.8/10[13]
OPM (US)[14]
Aggregate scores
GameRankings47.14%[15]76.21%[16]
Metacritic75/100[17]

The PlayStation version of X-Men: Mutant Academy received mixed-to-positive reviews by critics. However, the Game Boy Color version received mostly negative reviews. Many critics and fans criticized the Game Boy Color version for its lack of difficulty, and its similarity to Street Fighter Alpha. Despite the criticism, some praised the graphics in the game. Unlike the handheld version, the PlayStation version was widely praised for the gameplay, the enemy AI, and the graphics, but it was criticized for its similarity to Capcom video games, such as Street Fighter.

References

  1. White, Jason. "X-Men: Mutant Academy (GBC) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
  2. Ottoson, Joe. "X-Men: Mutant Academy (PS) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  3. "X-Men: Mutant Academy (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 2000.
  4. Bramwell, Tom (2000-09-21). "X-Men: Mutant Academy Review (GBC)". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  5. "REVIEW for X-Men: Mutant Academy (PS)". GameFan. July 25, 2000.
  6. "X-Men: Mutant Academy (PS)". Game Informer (87). July 2000.
  7. The D-Pad Destroyer (2000-07-19). "X-Men: Mutant Academy Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2005-04-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  8. Dr. Moo (July 2000). "X-Men: Mutant Academy Review (PS)". Game Revolution. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  9. Provo, Frank (2000-07-13). "X-Men: Mutant Academy Review (GBC)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  10. Gerstmann, Jeff (2000-07-11). "X-Men: Mutant Academy Review (PS)". GameSpot. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  11. Harris, Craig (2000-07-12). "X-Men: Mutant Academy (GBC)". IGN. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  12. Bishop, Sam (2000-07-14). "X-Men: Mutant Academy (PS)". IGN. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  13. "X-Men: Mutant Academy". Nintendo Power. 134. July 2000.
  14. "X-Men: Mutant Academy". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. 2000.
  15. "X-Men: Mutant Academy for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  16. "X-Men: Mutant Academy for PlayStation". GameRankings. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  17. "X-Men: Mutant Academy Critic Reviews for PlayStation". Metacritic. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
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