This month has seen the release of two comics-based games - Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum. Unusually for a video game based on a comicbook property, neither of these games ties into a movie - the games themselves draw inspiration directly from the comics. Unsurprisingly, freed from the constraints of licensed games, both are receiving positive reviews across the board. It makes you wonder whether there's a pattern there.

As you might expect, I'm a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to comics-licensed games, so, with that in mind, forgive me if I go a little bit gamer for this week's column as I examine the best non-movie-licensed comics games available for modern consoles.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Strictly speaking, this is a movie-licensed game - but anyone who has played it will be aware that they take plenty of liberties with the storyline, often taking inspiration from the comics. Indeed, the worst aspects of the Wolverine game - the nonsensical story and the mostly generic boss fights - are taken from the movie, while the better elements - the unlockable costumes and Sentinel boss fight - come from the comics. Coupled with a level of violence the movie itself was unable to portray, the game is only half a license - and it's quickly clear that it's the bad half.

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 (2009 re-release)

For fans of the series that began with the unassuming X-Men Vs. Street Fighter game a decade ago, MVC2's release on the Xbox 360 and PS3's online services was a dream come true. With a massive array of characters - including some from the comics that were so obscure that you wonder how they ever made it through (Marrow, Cable, the bone-claw version of Wolverine). Although the technical brilliance of the game as a 2D fighter prevented it from being surpassed, you can't beat the fun of having such a wide array of characters to choose from - and no single movie license can compete with Marvel's wide catalogue.

Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe (2008)

It had to happen eventually. Following years of Marvel Vs. Capcom/Street Fighter games, it made some kind of sense to partner up their two rival properties with one another. Unfortunately, the results failed to be quite as engrossing as the property it imitated. As with all fighting games, the story was hard to follow and some ridiculous licensing restrictions meant that Mortal Kombat's trademark gore was entirely omitted. The game itself turned out to be good, but not quite as great as it could've been.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Another Marvel game that was partially based on the movie and partially on the comic, you only have to visit my original review of the game to see that it wasn't all it could've been. Again, though, the comic elements - unlockable versions of the Hulk, Marvel Universe Landmarks to destroy - were what made it fun. The lame story, horrible cut-scenes and bug-ravaged rush-release,  they're all the fault of the movie. Nevertheless, Hulk remains the best evidence yet that movie licenses only harm comics games. A few more months work and this would've been a worthy successor to Hulk: Ultimate Destruction from several years previous.

The Darkness (2007)

Based on the Top Cow comic of the same name, The Darkness was an 18-certificate comics-based game about Jackie Estacudo, a man with demonic powers. The game itself was a first-person shooter, but had a host of inventive powers to go along with that - it was hard to get bored of seeing demons consume your enemy's hearts. The story was good, and an amusing easter egg gave gamers the ability ‘to kill a mockingbird' with Jackie's girlfriend. A surprisingly gripping game, despite the fact I don't even like The Darkness!

James writes Alternate Cover every Monday at Den Of Geek. His previous column can be found here.