Techtite's Macintosh Game Reviews!

"I guess what I liked about this game is how much attention to detail it has. Just about every level has a major staple of the Spider-man comic world..."

---from the review

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Sidebar :

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No "screen grab" option...? For whatever reason this game's engine and/or interface made it difficult to capture any screens of the game. As such; none are offered in this review. Sorry.

Let me be honest; I'm a big Spider-man fan. Will that make me biased in this review? Probably; after all, anything that remotely resembles a decent comic-book superhero game would be greatly appreciated. Most attempts at such games are mere 2D clones of the classic "Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots" toy, with one character on one side, another character on the other, and little thought put into it. By contrast, this Spider-man game is a fully 3D accelerated, web-slinging swing through the rooftops, where you get to meet many of Spider-man's friends, and fight even more of his enemies. What more could you want in a Spider-man game?

Gameplay is pretty rudimentary. There is a location to reach, obstacles that keep you from it, and along the way, special "hidden" items, if the gamer can take the time to search for them. What sets this game apart from other games like it, however, is that you're not the typical, jump-duck-punch type of Super Mario character; you're Spidey, and can therefore walk on any wall, ceiling, or right along the side of a building! You also can sling webs, which you use to swing from building to building, as well as to slow down enemies (make sure you keep enough fluid, though; "ammo refills" for your web slinger can be found periodically along the rooftops). You also have super strength, so you can fight enemies with fisticuffs if you prefer, or just take a moveable item (like an office chair) and toss it at the bad guys! There's also that way-cool "spidey sense," to warn you of an enemy around the corner.

If this sounds like an easy game; it isn't. For one thing, this game is almost completely (say, 75% or so) played via the high skyscrapers, swinging from tower to tower until you reach your destination. If you fall, you die, and must restart the level from the very beginning (more on this, later). One level even has you chase a villain while swinging across rooftops (when, hopefully, you've grown used to web-slinging!), while others have you carry a giant bomb out of harm's way, or fight atop a subway car, while trying not to fall off! True, there's a "kid mode" difficulty setting to make it easier for the younger gamers, though still, there's that "you die, you must begin the whole level again from the very beginning" factor. Regardless, I was able to complete the game for this review with relative ease, and since I'm not as good at Super Mario games as I once was, I'd say the difficulty level is simple enough.

I guess what I liked about this game is how much attention to detail it has. Just about every level has a major staple of the Spider-man comic world, to remind you that this is not simply some Super-Mario clone with Spider-Man in it. Enemies include all your favorites, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Most missions are even introduced by none other than Spider-Man comic book creator Stan Lee! You also get to see Mary Jane Parker, though I wish I could've seen more of her than Black Cat, who makes more pop-ins than any other cameo appearance. All told, this looks very much like a game made by a Spider-man fan, for other fans. It's also very reasonably priced ($9.99, in most stores!).

There are a few grumblings, however. For one thing, mouse control is sadly absent. It would have been far nicer to use the mouse to move Spidey's angle of vision, and to aim his often-used webs at the bad guys, though that is not possible. You need to either use keyboard control --which is a little clumsy-- or use your trusty USB gamepad. In addition, there's the typical "console-itis" of any game originally made for a video game system, in that game progress can only be saved at key points in the game; i.e., there's no "quick save" options here, like we computer buffs have grown so accustomed to. It's not that these gripes drag the game down to "thumbs down" territory. Far from it. Let's just say: this game would be practically flawless, without such minor flaws.

There is also a glitch to be aware of... though it's easy enough to avoid. On occasion, Spider-man automatically ends a level while in mid-air. This confuses the game, upon the start of the next level, since you remove your hand from the web-slinging keys, and the game presumes he "fell." This glitch is, fortunately, easily avoided, by using the jump, walk forward, and/or web-sling keys, immediately at the start of the level, so Spidey doesn't fall. However, a glitch is a glitch, which shouldn't have been there; another reason to take away the coveted Techtite.com Deep Impact grade, that this game would've otherwise been given.

Regardless of these grumblings, the game is a real hoot. Enemies include all your favorites, including Doctor Octopus. Cameos include villains like The Lizard, and Spider-man friends like Black Cat. There is also the obligatory need at one point, to save Mary Jane Parker. Added to all this are secret items to find: classic Spider-Man covers (complete with summaries of each story from those issues), classic "alternate" Spider-Man costumes through the years, and more. It's the little touches like these, that make this game a must-try for the fans. If there's a single gripe worth saying in the final paragraph: it's a shame the game wasn't the flawless masterpiece it so easily could have been.

---Techtite