The Marvel Cinematic Universe: It is all-encompassing, has pretty much every actor in Hollywood within it, and is everyone’s go-to answer when anyone asks, “How do you make a shared universe?” However, I believe that there was an MCU before the MCU, and it came in the fascinating form of Raven Software’s X-Men Legends and Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

The action role-playing game X-Men Legends was released in 2004 and starred everyone’s favorite mutated pariahs. It wasn’t set in any established Marvel comic universe, so the slate was clean. The basic premise is that there is a massive clash among the X-Men, the Brotherhood of Mutants, and the government, which is utilizing the newly created Sentinels. When the curtain falls on this enjoyable adventure, we are left with one final scene. As the X-Men celebrate their victory, they are being watched by an ominous figure — Apocalypse.

The success of X-Men Legends appropriately led to a sequel titled X-Men II: Rise of Apocalypse. This story is based loosely on the famous comic storyline “Age of Apocalypse,” and it follows the X-Men and Brotherhood as they join forces against Apocalypse and his indomitable forces of evil.

There are many twists and turns along the way. Friends become foes, and Apocalypse comes close to bringing the world under his control, until the united might of the X-Men and Brotherhood defeats him. When all is said and done, the two factions return to the status quo of being on opposing sides.

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/...cu-for-gamers/