Uncanny X-Men, The (USA)

The Uncanny X-Men is an action-adventure title for the NES, putting players in control of Marvel's legendary mutants. The game primarily features a top-down perspective for most levels, with certain sections, especially boss encounters, switching to a side-scrolling view.

Players can control six iconic X-Men: Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Iceman. Each character boasts unique abilities. For instance, Cyclops fires optic blasts, Wolverine has sharp claws and regeneration, Storm manipulates weather, Colossus transforms into organic steel with superhuman strength, Nightcrawler teleports, and Iceman generates ice. Players can switch between these characters on the fly throughout most levels, with the exception of boss rooms.

The primary objective of the game is to defeat Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants across six challenging stages. Each stage culminates in a boss battle against well-known Brotherhood members such as Mystique, Juggernaut, Pyro, Blob, the White Queen, and ultimately, Magneto himself.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, each mutant possesses a basic attack and a special mutant power with limited uses. Players need to collect power-ups like health refills, mutant power recharges, or temporary invincibility. The game is known for its high difficulty, often attributed to somewhat clunky controls and hit detection, requiring players to exercise patience and strategic thinking to overcome its challenges.