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First Impressions: Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Super Heroes

We've been playing it a bit and we really just want to keep on playing.

Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Super Heroes is out and it’s super easy to get sucked in. Similar to the first Disney Infinity, you have the ability to play as different characters depending on which figure you place on the game pad. There are some limits on the game levels as only certain characters are usable on them (we’ll get into that more in just a bit). The next installment does more than just include Marvel characters now. It’s clear that the gameplay and design has been amped up as well. (You can see pics of all the figures HERE).

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The first thing you may get into is the Toy Box area. This is a hub of sorts where you are allowed to use any characters you want. There is a building element that allows you to create different environments and areas to roam around. Using a split screen option, you can even play with another person. This allows for some pretty crazy team-ups and you can even use the Disney Infinity 1.0 figures. Let me tell you, seeing Spider-Man and Elsa (from Frozen) together was a little strange but incredibly cool.

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It should be mentioned that you need to buy each character separately, or in two-packs. You place the figure on the gamepad and they are transported into the game. It adds a slight bit of collectibility but it also means you have to buy more figures. They are not essential but you'll want to play with the different ones in different areas, especially if you're a fan.

I’ve been playing with my eleven-year-old daughter. She’s played the first game as well as others like Skylanders and some Minecraft. Usually content to simply watch me play, her desire to get into the gameplay has increased exponentially. As a comic book fan, it's fantastic having these characters at your disposal--after you buy them of course.

As you play through with different characters, you have the ability to level them up. This is one area that's different from the first game. There's a branching skill tree. As you earn points, you can select different power sets and abilities. You have to make the decision to power up one particular character or spread the points amongst different ones.

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Once my daughter and I got out of the toy box area, we focused on the Spider-Man levels. I have to admit, Sam Alexander, Nova, is my favorite. It might be a slight cheat but being able to fly is incredibly awesome and extremely useful in many areas. There will be some points in the game that are your typical platformer/jumping levels. That's where Sam is great. You can just fly or hover where you need to go.

Spider-Man was the character my daughter went with. Roaming the city is a blast. You can obviously crawl on the buildings. Webswinging is pretty intuitive. We've seen a lot of Spider-Man games and sometimes the physics can get a little tricky. You just swing and point in the direction you're trying to go. You don't have to worry about where the webbing is actually going.

Venom is similar to Spidey. It's a little weird using him though. Iron Fist is a crazy beast of a fighter. His fighting skills are something to see. Nick Fury is also part of the Spider-Man levels (because of the animated series). He uses hand to hand combat and has a gun. You can power him up later to shoot two at the same time.

When you die in a game, you either have to wait for your partner to come and revive you or you can swap in a different hero. This is where it pays to have other figures ready to jump into the action. The Spidey level starts with Norman Osborn/Green Goblin cloning the Venom symbiote. This means you'll be fighting lots of them. The first actual level is pretty straight forward but it awesomely involves Mysterio. You'll be going through an Inception-type level that's a little trippy.

The difficulty isn't super-hard. There may be some challenging moments but nothing that will make you want to throw your controller. I mentioned playing with my daughter. That really enhanced the experience for us. You can go together on levels or split up to take on the threats. While in the city, there are character tokens among other things you can find. So far I've come across some Iron Man and Hulk ones. If you collect them all, or enough, you'll unlock those characters in the Spider-Man levels.

For characters that can't fly around the city, eventually you can unlock a S.H.I.E.L.D. hover car you can summon. Controlling the car can be a little difficult. There is on part you have to drive and pursue a suspect. It's easier to just fly after them. You may knock down some light posts or traffic lights but it's okay.

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Power discs are another part of the game. Again, not essential. You can buy a blind two-pack for five dollars. They allow you to have special power moves, alternate costumes, vehicles, character team-ups, or for use in the toy box. It's another way to add a little more variety to your gameplay.

This is, obviously, not a complete review. I highly recommend it. It might not be for everyone but I'm ready to go back for more. We were immersed for four hours straight before we were told we had to stop to eat dinner last weekend. We will have more coverage and share our thoughts on the other levels. The Avengers level is out (and included) and the Guardians of the Galaxy wave is due in November. Let us know if you plan on getting this, if you haven't already, and if you want us to go more in depth on the actual figures and their gameplay.