The first set of free downloadable content has officially arrived for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. With this latest update, two of the X-Men's most prominent members, Colossus and Cyclops, are joining the game as playable characters. There's no fee to recruit these mutants, but players will have to jump through some hoops to unlock them.
The first step in bringing ol' metal man and one-eye into the fold is to download the free update. This process should be easy enough. Using the + button on the game icon will pull up the information screen. Make your way to the Software Update menu and download the update, after which the system will require Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 to restart.
Now, onto the actual character unlocking. Most characters aren't just handed over to the player, so unlocking characters is a big part of the game. To recruit Colossus and Cyclops, players will first want to head to the Infinity game mode, which will now have a new Infinity Rift, Phi, added. Both of the challenges required to unlock Colossus and Cyclops are found on this Phi grid. Players will be plenty prepared for the challenges if story mode is completed, but simply reaching the X-Men chapter of story mode should be enough.
Colossus
If unlocking Piotr is at the top on the list, then the Boost challenge called "Towering Terror" is the first destination. The recommended level for this challenge is 23, and it requires replaying the boss fight with Ultron in Avengers Tower. Player characters and enemies will get boosts to damage, so be aware of that. Also be aware that the mounted guns here help tremendously in busting up Ultron and his drones.
Cyclops
This longtime leader of the X-Men can be unlocked through a Survival challenge called "Extermination Protocol", with a recommended level of 24. This challenge brings players back to the Xavier Institute, where they will be battling mutant-exterminating Sentinels. The gimmick here is constantly declining HP that can be restored by dealing damage. This means there should be no breaks between throwing punches. Take advantage of the explosive objects dropped by Sentinels by throwing it back at them. Don't underestimate the power of synergy attacks and use them liberally.
That's it! When the challenges are over and Cyclops and Colossus will be ready to add to the team in Hero Select. They will start out in the low 20s, so the next step would be to catch them up; XP cube may help in that endeavor, as will this power leveling guide. Once Cyclops and Colossus are in thier 60s, they can take on solo challenges for alternate costumes.
It is also worth noting that the update adds the All-New X-Men team bonus keyword to the game. X-Men members that were in Giant-Size X-Men #1 will get a nice strength bonus when paired together. This bonus is extended to Cyclops, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, and Storm; all of whom adorn the cover.
The latest update adds more than just the two X-Men, it also brings free costume DLC, including the iconic Symbiote Spider-Man suit. The costume represents an important moment in Spider-Man history, as it introduced the alien Symbiotes into the Marvel universe. This particular Symbiote went on to spawn some of Spidey's greatest villains, Venom and Carnage. In addition to the Symbiote Suit, the update adds a Planet Hulk costume and Ms. Marvel's classic black costume.
The first paid DLC is expected next month, and will introduce Blade, Moon Knight, the Punisher, and Morbius the Living Vampire. The Marvel Knights: The Curse of the Vampire DLC will arrive on September 30 as part of the game's Expansion Pass, currently available for $19.99 through the Nintendo eShop. There are two more expansions planned and a number of characters missing from the game who may be added in the future. There are many to choose from, but everyone has ideas of who they'd like to see joining the game.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is out now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.