X-Men: Mutant Academy

About

X Men Mutant Academy lets players control iconic Marvel heroes in a blend of platforming and beat em up action. Released in 2000 for N64 and PlayStation the game uses six buttons for punch and kick moves blending side scrolling brawls with light platform jumps. Characters switch between comic style outfits and designs from the 2000 X Men movie giving each fighter two visual options. The simple control scheme makes it easy to string together combos while the roster includes familiar mutants like Wolverine and Storm. Single player and multiplayer modes let you take on friends or the AI with matches featuring destructible stages and special attacks tied to each character's powers. The game's straightforward mechanics and X Men ties helped it stand out in early 2000s fighting titles. Though it received mixed reviews at launch with some criticizing the repetitive levels the series outlived its initial release spawning two sequels. Fans appreciate the movie character designs and the chance to play as lesser seen mutants like Banshee or Psylocke. With a cult following and average user scores in the 60s on review sites it remains a niche pick for X Men enthusiasts who want a no frills mutant brawl.