Captain America and the Avengers

The Good
Captain America and the Avengers is a good port of the coin-op arcade game of the same name. The Genesis/Mega Drive edition retains the original set of playable characters, enemies, bosses, levels and storyline

The early 1990s Genesis/Mega Drive graphics, music and sound effects are all above average. They cannot match the original arcade game, but this home console version looks and sounds pretty darn cool.

The Red Skull plans to develop a giant laser cannon in outer space, which does not sit well with the Avengers. To help him in his evil plan, the Red Skull enlisted the aid of some familar comic book villians, along with the standard army of minions

In addition to the playable heroes (Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye or Vision), Wonderman, the Wasp and Sub Mariner have small cameo roles.

It is hardly the most original video game, but its certainly a fun time for one or two gamers looking to beat em an army of minions and super villians.

The Bad
Several cut scenes and digital voice work from the arcade fame had been removed and modifed. The comic book look of the arcade's story cut scenes have been greatly simplifed.

Conversations with the bosses seems to have been cut the most, with the arcade comic book conversations butchered in this port.

It may have been an attempt to save memory, but the Super Nintendo port of the game didnt have to cut out as much of much.

I suspect that the design team for the Genesis/Mega Drive port felt the need to make these changes, but it seems unnecessary.

The biggest problem in the game is the odd control mechanics. Whike the game allows you to change the control scheme, none of the games options are as good as they should be.

Genesis/Mega Drive games were almost always setup with the "C" button used for jumping. The game basically gives you the option of having to push two buttons at once every time you want to jump or shoot a projectile weapon.

The standard controller had three availiable buttons to use, so their is no reason for this odd control scheme. While the game play is responsive , having to press two buttons at once for pretty basic moves, is simply inexcusable.

It is possible that some video game designers were initially unfamilar with the design of the Sega controller or how to best use it for games. Nintendo had pressured developers into only designing games for Nintendo systems.

Maybe this was Data East's first shot at programming for a Sega game system. If the Data East developers were so unfamilar with Genesis/Mega Drive game controller could have easily rented/bought some popular games.

The Bottom Line
Captain America and the Avengers is a fun, two player, beat 'em up for the Sega Genesis. Comic fans will enjoy the chance to kick butt as one the Avengers. Its side scrolling action is generally well executed and is probably one of the better arcade ports made for the system.

The Good
‘Captain America and the Avengers’ is a cool, if not terribly original, side-scrolling arcade game in the tradition of ‘Double Dragon’ or the original X-men coin-up game. While not a perfect adaption, the Sega Genesis has cool graphics, sound and was just plain fun to play, especially with a friend.

The Bad
One of the oddest things about the game is the control. While you have the option to change the control scheme, it always requires you to push two buttons at once in order to shoot a projectile or, in the case of Captain America, shield.

It is not horrible, once you get use to it, and one button is all that is required to shoot on certain levels, but it just seems odd and unnecessary.

Beyond the control, the intermission sequences and digital voices from the original arcade game have been cut out entirely or simplified.

While it is possible that some of the digital voice work had to go for memory reasons (although it does lend itself to some confusing statements) it is hard to believe that the intermission sequences needed to be reduced to text.

The Bottom Line
Captain America and the Avengers is not the most original game. The side-scrolling arcade action has been done before and the central storyline [featuring a giant laser cannon] sounds a bit too campy for a 1990’s game, even with the comic book connection.

Yet, the arcade game is fun to play and, frankly, so is the Genesis version.

The Sega Genesis version features some cool graphics and sound, the option to play with a friend and features some of the voice work from the coin-op machine. It remains one of the best super hero video games for the Sega Genesis .

The Good
The evil Red Skull, is plotting world domination. Unleashing a slew of supervillains, only the Avengers stand in his way. Playing as either Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, or The Vision, you take the fight to Red Skull. In the streets, the sky, and even outer space!

In the Genesis version only two can play at once. Unlike the arcade with it’s four player option. Through-out, six stages, you punch, kick, throw, and use supermoves on chumps that stand in your way to Red Skull. Each Avenger has there own moves and super powers. There are also cameos of many other Avengers including, Namor: The Submariner.

The Graphics are fair. Not as good as the arcade version. But the best of the ports. More on that later. Basically they get the job done, but that is really it.

The sound fairs better. The music in this game rocks. From heroic themes and villainous overtures. The sound effects take a back seat here, but they still fair better than the oft garbled voice clips, for instance “Avengers Assemble!” , sounds like “Avengers God Sumo!”

The Bad
The Graphics are kind of weak compared to other Genesis games of the time. Don’t get me wrong by it self this is an average looking game. But compare the graphics in this to those of Streets Of Rage 2, and you will see what I mean. Furthermore The Avengers was released the same year as SOR 2, so there is little excuse for the poor aesthetics.

The game also lacks some of the arcade features. Such as the comic book style speech bubbles during the game.

There could have been more playable Avengers. I mean only four out of hundreds?

The Bottom Line
Overall this is the best home version of the game. And there is lots of fun to be had here. Whether you are a comic or brawler fan, or both. Avengers GodSumo….I mean Avengers Assemble!