For all the sexily sleek styling of the two recent (and undoubtedly ace) movies, the X-Men have actually been knocking around for quite a while. 1963 saw their inked entrance, and it's a testament to the imagination of creator Stan Lee and the endearingly human side of the characters that they've managed to percolate their way into our consciousness so successfully.

We've had a couple of mutated meetings with the X-Men on Xbox, with X-Men 2: Wolverine's Revenge being the best of the two. But Raven Software has flown in this time around, and the end result is refreshingly different from your average beat-'em-up. For a start, it's mixed with brilliantly accessible RPG elements.

Following the exploits of troubled teen Alison Crestmere (who later becomes hottie Magma), players get the chance to play through numerous story missions with a group of up to four spandexed superheroes. As Alison explores the Xavier Institute and encounters more mutants, they too become available for the next mission.

RPG elements are evident in more ways than picking a merry band of mutants, though. Combat is determined by hit points, but because of the real-time nature, this feels more like a frantic beat-'em-up. Each character has a wealth of melee combos at his/her disposal, and you can make use of their fantastic special attacks. Holding the Right trigger brings up a menu of available powers (depending on experience and energy in your Special bar), and enables you to choose a unique attack.

Each enemy defeated results in your characters amassing the staple of every RPG - XP (experience points). After set totals are amassed, players can allocate Level Up points to certain attributes of each character. Brilliantly, this can be done at any point during the game (even during a manic fight), keeping the gameplay fresh and involving.

Although this may sound more complex than Cerebro's blueprints, the intuitive controls ensure that, even during a pitched battle, players can instantly flick between characters with the D-Pad and inflict all manner of bashings. Combos are hugely satisfyingly double acts performed when two or more characters unleash complementing attacks on an enemy, and result in multiplied XP. Worrying about your charges isn't a problem though, because your team-mates' AI is really spot-on. Every time you execute a special attack, one of the other three characters will perform a complementing attack at the same time.

There's a hefty strategic undercurrent running throughout the game too. X-traction points are dotted around levels that, as well as acting as handy save points, allow players to interchange characters in and out of their team as the situation may necessitate. Encountered a chasm with no viable way across? Simply enrol the help of Ice Man, and the silver surfer will conjure up a polar platform for the team to cross. Some enemies can resist certain attacks too, so when Wolverine's claws have little impact on bad guys resistant to Physical Force, swap him out for the likes of Cyclops and Jean Gray who'll destroy the enemies with alternative powers.

We haven't really got too much to find fault with in X-Men: Legends. The cel-shaded graphics are an obvious choice for a comic book adaptation and, although lacking detail, work surprisingly well. The combat, despite being based on HP, is as fast and frantic as any beat 'em up out there, and the four-way multiplayer is an absolute blast. We could gripe about the occasional scarcity of save points, forcing players to replay large chunks of levels time and time again, but this is a forgivable niggle when you consider the involving gameplay and massive amount of character customisation and replayability. Suit up for one of the best superhero romps on Xbox, believers.

1. Great use of a classic licence. Using the X-Men comic's scriptwriters has resulted in an involving, authentic X-Men experience.
2. Fantastic real-time combat system is more akin to a beat-'em-up than an RPG, and keeps the action flowing thick and fast.
3. Tons of different characters, coupled with innumerable upgrade options, make this a deep and immensely replayable title.
4. Instantly accessible controls make quickly switching between characters, distributing items and upgrading attributes a cinch.

1. Later levels become tough with X-traction points become thin on the ground, although this does encourage more intelligent gameplay.

A great mix of frantic beat-'em-up and chin-stroking character customisation. A fantastically addictive comic book caper.