Well this product is one I have been waiting for with a lot of trepidation. Superheros and roleplaying? Whats not to like. Unfortunatly quite a bit in the Marvel Heroic Roleplaying game. MWP have a habit (or as we say in the uk, they have "Form") for acqquiring high profile IP, releasing in a glut of publicity a initial couple of books and then letting the product drop like a stone. They are also known for shoe horning any IP to fit the inhouse system.
The issue with this is first its not really a roleplaying game in its fullest sense, as their are no charachter generation rules, reducing it to nothing more than a glorified super hero battle game. Ok there are guidlines for creating your own "Data files" but its really just info on converting existing charachters from existing comics. Not only that but there is absolutely no background info on the marvel universe, assuming that you have encyclopedic knowledge of the milieu, I mean you have the main universe, the ultimate and then the cinematic universe, where do you start
And then there is the game system. I have no issues with the cortex system, I think it suited Serenity, Galactica and Supernatural very well. The version seen in Leverage is also well suited to the cinematic style of play required by its subject matter. However here it just does not seem to work and comes a across as needlesly complex when really it should be easy. Personally I feel a bit cheated. I have no doubt that a series of add ons will follow filling in the cracks or rather, gaping chasms, in the systems and (lack) of background. I feel a bit cheated. You would be better of downloading the free 4 Colour system, and any number of fan sites that still support it
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