Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse delivers a classic side-scrolling beat-’em-up experience that instantly feels familiar to fans of the genre. Players take control of iconic mutants like Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and Rogue, each offering distinct playstyles and special abilities. The core combat loop revolves around chaining light and heavy attacks, grappling foes, and unleashing powerful mutant powers, making every encounter a dynamic dance of punches, kicks, and energy blasts.

One of the most rewarding aspects of gameplay is the progression system. As you defeat Apocalypse’s minions, you earn special points to allocate toward strength, vitality, and mutant power enhancements. Watching Storm’s lightning bolts grow in destructive capacity or feeling Wolverine’s claws carve through enemies with increased lethality brings a satisfying sense of growth. The ever-present power meter fuels devastating mutant attacks capable of clearing crowds, encouraging strategic management of your resources in tight situations.

Cooperative play is where X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse almost truly shines. The two-player simultaneous mode allows you to team up locally with a friend, coordinating combos and rescue moves when characters are knocked down. For those seeking competitive chaos, the Versus modes—Capture the Flag and Deathmatch—support up to four players. These modes inject variety and replayability, though they can become hectic on smaller screens.

However, the gameplay isn’t without its rough edges. Enemy AI can sometimes feel predictable, focusing on simple attack patterns that experienced players can exploit. Additionally, certain boss encounters rely heavily on scripted events, which, while cinematic, can interrupt the power-fueled flow of mutant combat. Despite these minor hiccups, the core beat-’em-up mechanics remain tight and engaging throughout the adventure.

Graphics

Visually, X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse embraces a vibrant, hand-drawn art style that reflects the comic book origins of its characters. Each level boasts detailed backgrounds—from war-torn cityscapes to desert outposts besieged by Apocalypse’s forces. The color palette leans heavily on rich reds and electric blues, highlighting mutant powers in full glory against a bleak, dystopian backdrop.

Character sprites are rendered with impressive animation frames, making every punch and energy blast feel weighty. Wolverine’s slashes leave crimson streaks across enemies, Cyclops’s optic blasts erupt with glowing intensity, and Storm’s thunderbolts crackle with vivid yellow-white flashes. These small touches elevate the moment-to-moment combat, ensuring that special moves pop on-screen with comic-book flair.

Environmental variety adds another layer to the visuals. Exploring metal-laden corridors, crumbling temples, and battle-scarred arenas keeps the journey feeling fresh. Occasional parallax scrolling and animated set pieces—such as collapsing structures—inject a sense of scale and urgency when advancing toward the Warp Gate.

Despite its strengths, the game can suffer occasional frame rate dips when multiple mutant powers collide in a single scene. On less powerful hardware, busy levels with crowd-heavy skirmishes may stutter. Overall, though, the graphical presentation succeeds in delivering a bold, stylized vision of an Apocalypse-ruled world that fans will appreciate.

Story

The narrative thrust of X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse begins with a classic “pulled into an alternate dimension” setup. The X-Men emerge to find themselves under the iron heel of Apocalypse, a menacing overlord who has twisted both land and hero into desolation. Tasked with battling through his factions and reclaiming the Warp Gate, the mutants embark on a journey packed with familiar faces and surprising alliances.

Story beats are delivered through brief cutscenes and interstitial dialogues that capture each character’s personality. Cyclops issues tactical orders with steely resolve, Storm questions fate with a regal air, Rogue grapples with the challenge of controlling her powers, and Wolverine cracks one-liners as he carves a bloody path forward. These snippets of character work help transform the campaign from a simple brawl into an emotional quest to return home.

While the plot doesn’t stray far from genre conventions, it does benefit from occasional twists. Unexpected betrayals, rescue missions to free imprisoned mutants, and confrontations with fan-favorite villains like Magneto add depth to the journey. Each new encounter feels like a step closer to the climactic showdown with Apocalypse himself, maintaining momentum through to the endgame.

That said, some storytelling choices lean heavily on nostalgia rather than innovation. Players seeking a deeply complex or morally ambiguous tale may find the narrative straightforward. Nonetheless, for those who enjoy classic X-Men themes of camaraderie, redemption, and overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, the story delivers enough heart and heroism to stay engaging until the final battle.

Overall Experience

X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse offers a nostalgic return to old-school beat-’em-up action infused with mutant powers and X-Men flair. Its combination of tight combat mechanics, character progression, and cooperative modes makes for a substantial package, especially for fans of comic book adaptations. Unlocking new mutants throughout the journey provides a steady drip of excitement and encourages multiple playthroughs to experiment with different team compositions.

Despite some technical hiccups and a story that stays largely within the bounds of comic-book tropes, the game’s pacing and replayability hold strong. The ability to toggle between focused single-player brawling and all-out multiplayer mayhem caters to a variety of playstyles. Whether you’re teaming up to take down Apocalypse’s minions or facing off against friends in Versus mode, there’s a solid chunk of content to explore.

The presentation, from hand-drawn character art to evocative level design, further cements the game’s appeal. Even if the occasional slowdown mars an especially explosive scene, the overall visual identity successfully captures the spirit of the X-Men universe. Sound design complements the chaos, with each mutant power accompanied by satisfying audio cues and a driving soundtrack that underscores every punch and blast.

Ultimately, X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse stands out as a love letter to beat-’em-up aficionados and X-Men devotees alike. Its straightforward gameplay loop, enriched by character progression and multiplayer options, offers hours of engaging action. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it polishes the classic formula to a high shine—making it a worthy addition to any fan’s collection and a strong pick for those seeking cooperative brawls brimming with superhero spectacle.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10