Marvel Trading Card Game cutting in on DS and PSP

Konami has unveiled details of its forthcoming Marvel Trading Card Game, possibly the most descriptive title of all time.

Based on the popular trading card game from Upper Deck Entertainment, the game enables players to collect over 800 cards featuring Marvel characters and compete in cross-platform online play in a variety of different modes.

As such, players can assemble their own deck, and take on different challenges to gain further cards based on legendary Marvel characters such as Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, the X-Men, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider and more.

In single-player Story mode, you can choose to play as hero or villain, as well as select a series of enemies to do battle against. In between each clash, the game's scenario unfolds via detailed comic book scenes as you move on to the next adversary.

But the point is really multiplayer. By using Upper Deck Entertainment's hugely popular Vs System – a complex game engine much-loved by trading card fans and said to offer a huge challenge to newcomers to the genre – the game showcases massive superhero battles within the established trading card game format.

In other words, each player begins the game with their own team of Marvel characters, and tries to defeat the cards of their opponent. The Vs System is specifically designed to be played at all levels of competition and can be enjoyed in a variety of formats.

Particularly online. Utilising a sophisticated network, the Marvel Trading Card Game will enable players to interact with an online community to compete across a variety of game modes and tournaments, as well as trade cards with other players and even purchase new cards from the game's online store.

Indeed, a special community website has already been established at www.marveltcgonline.com, and offers links to tournaments and tips. In addition, dedicated and localised European sites will also go live at launch, while the European games will also include a redemption code enabling players to add new cards to their game on visiting the sites.

Players on all platforms (PC included – there is a version planned) will be able to participate in regular sanctioned tournaments for valuable prizes, while every copy of the game will also come with a special Trading Card.

If you haven't got access to the internet, tough. Actually, we're jesting. The game also offers several different modes that use each player's personal decks for an authentic tournament experience for four or more players via ad hoc – local multiplayer is supported in the Nintendo DS and PSP versions of the game through each system's wireless link capabilities.

Konami has confirmed a May 31st release on PSP (odd, given that it's a Thursday – usually in Europe games are released on Fridays), with the DS version following in July.