Fantastic 4
System: Gamecube   Publisher: Activision   Developer: 7 Studios   Genre: Action   Release Date: 06/27/05

Quick Synopsis	Overall Score
Enjoyment:  For those of you video game fans that like some substance in your games, keep on looking because your not going to find it here.  On the other hand, if you are missing the old games like the ones for the original Nintendo console, look no further Graphics:  The graphics are rather drab

Fantastic 4 is a high-speed action game loosely based off the recently released movie starring Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis as the superheroes.  These actors also perform the voice overs for the game, along with Julian McMahon who plays Victor Von Doom, the primary villain for both the game and the movie.  The Fantastic 4 originally started as a comic book about five people that were changed biologically by a blast of cosmic radiation.  One of those characters turned evil due to his selfish nature, but the other four decided to use their powers for the betterment of the world.  This is why they are called the Fantastic Four.

The game begins with an animated clip depicting how the five characters got their powers.  The video clip could have been done much better, it is very grainy and the sound is choppy.  The characters hardly look anything like the actors that they represent.  The clips that are shown throughout the game are pretty similar in that respect also.  After this video clip you begin to play the game as Mr. Fantastic, the stretchy man, who pretty much leads the group.  At this time none of the characters are sure what has happened to them and what is going on with their bodies.  Mr. Fantastic awakes to find himself locked in a room while total chaos ensues outside his door.  He needs to find someway to get out of these confines to see if his friends are alright so he picks the lock to his door.  When he is released he finds a robot to help him fight his way to free his friends and to free himself.  If you are playing in cooperative mode the second player will use the robot character.

The second character that you will use is the Human Torch, whose body is on fire throughout the entire game.  When playing in cooperative mode it is easy to tell one character from the other due to the vast differences in looks.  The Human Torch must also learn about his new powers while fighting the evil robots that are trying to kill him.  His main goal, as is Mr. Fantastic's, is to find and help his sister Sue; also known as the Invisible Woman.

The Invisible Woman is the cause of much jealousy between Von Doom and Mr. Fantastic who have both had strong feelings for her for a long while now.  Her and Mr. Fantastic were in a long-term relationship a few years back, but he put his work ahead of her so she had to leave him.  Of course she still has feelings for him even though she was working towards a relationship with Von Doom; at least that is what Von Doom thought.  The Invisible Woman is a strong character in this game; however her hand to hand combat is a little weak.

Miranda Stites, HeroesOfGaming.com, 08/04/05