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Based on the movie interpretation of the same name, Fantastic Four - in its video game form, is most certainly all about power. Four human scientists are changed forever after being exposed to mighty cosmic rays during a space expedition and each discovers the radiation has affected them in different ways, granting them new powerful abilities - some might say disabilities. And as is usually the case with these things, they use their new God-given talents to fight evil.
In a mildly Dickensian manner our heroes have aptly descriptive names. Reed Richards - Mr. Fantastic can stretch and bend to reach otherwise unobtainable objects and goals. Johnny Storm - The Human Torch is, as his name suggests made of fire. Ben Grimm - The Thing, with his stone-like exterior can deliver a heavy punch as well as take one and whilst she's fairly unhandy with her fists, Sue Storm - The Invisible Woman can obviously conceal her whereabouts and also create force fields both protective and offensive.
Fantastic Four is an unashamed beat 'em up; each characters primary moves and skills are punches and kicks - with the exception of the fireball wielding Johnny Storm. In addition, each character has three special powers, released with a couple of button presses. And with a couple more button hits these powers can also be wrapped up within a combo move. However the specials powers are not limitless and do diminish with use, as indicated by a meter on-screen - but it does recharge with both time and with each enemy's disposal. Of course, a beat 'em up would not be complete without upgrades, which can be purchased along with way to bolster and improve each character's particular talents.
In game the player only controls one character at a time; the AI taking over the roles of the other three as required. However, more often than not play is limited to one or two heroes however with the absentees presumably being somewhere else in the storyline, geographically speaking. It's fairly simple to switch between characters though with a flick of the D pad.
In keeping with the movie's plot, situations often present themselves that require the particular skill of one or more of the team. Obviously the required character is always available when the storyline needs them.
Gamecube owners have often been amazed with groundbreaking in game visuals so far this year, but unfortunately Fantastic Four doesn't astonish in quite the same way. The graphics engine is dull, and whilst there is mild interaction with the environment (like the odd lamppost as a weapon for example), it's certainly nothing new and interesting. Genuine movie actor's voices are used, but the in-game music might only have impressed a SNES owner.
Regardless of the movie's plot, the scope of the hero's powerful abilities promise so much and yet Fantastic Four delivers so very little. Certainly, nothing feels particularly special about any particular character; clobbering as the Thing feels no more fantastic than any other beat 'em up; with or without a super-combo elbow drop. There's no sense of power in unleashing any of the special moves, and no sense of energy in the destruction caused with the characters abilities. As such this lack of dynamism renders Fantastic Four feeling rather impotent. And unfortunately all that's left is a decidedly average button basher wrapped up in a blockbuster license.
