Techtite's PC Game Reviews!

Spider-Man

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A Techtite Review

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-based superhero game would be a treat many have long awaited for! Most 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 the game at all. By contrast, this Spider-man game is a fully 3D accelerated, web-slinging swing through the rooftops, meeting many of Spider-man's friends, and fighting many more of his enemies. What more could you want in a Spider-man game?

On the other hand, this game is quite similar to others on the market today, in game play. 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 the others, 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 (much like other games, "ammo refills" for your web slinger can be found periodically, along the rooftops). You also have super strength, so you can fight mano-a-mano 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. Cool!

There's are challenges, however. For one thing, this game is almost (say, 75% or so) played via the high skyscrapers, swinging from tower to tower until you reach your destination. You fall, you die, and must restart the level, sometimes from the very beginning (a game flaw? You bet; see my "grumblings" later). Added challenges include a "race" after a villain via the rooftops (when, hopefully, you've grown used to web-slinging), a giant bomb that needs to be carried out of harm's way, a fight atop a subway car that you do not want to fall off of...and enemies galore, with guns and often grenades! There is also a mission where you must dodge local law enforcement, after being framed for a crime you didn't commit (though why the local law enforcement is ready to shoot you with missiles, after allegedly stealing from Doctor Octopus, is a loose story thread best left unquestioned). True, there's a "kid mode" difficulty setting, though still, there's that you-die-you-start-the-whole-level-again factor. Regardless, I was able to do it 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 game 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. My advice, at the very least; download the demo from Activision (or get it from your favorite game magazine-with-CD) and see for yourself. I did this, and bought the game the next day.

There are a few grumblings, however. For one thing, this is an almost overly obvious "port" from the video game systems, which means mouse control is sadly absent. It would have been far nicer to use the mouse to move Spidey's angle of vision, and to sling his often-used webs, though that is not possible. You need to either use keyboard control --which is a little clumsy in use-- or use the trusty USB gamepad. In addition, there's the typical "console-itis" of any translation from the video game world, in that game progress can only be saved at key points in the game. Thankfully, these points are not necessarily at the end of a "level" per se; however, the ability to save your progress at any time (particularly during that annoying "race") would've been a major plus. Let's just say, this game would be a flawless "deep impact" without such minor flaws.

There is also a glitch, 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, it is an annoying glitch, that shouldn't have been there; another reason to take away the "Deep Impact" grade, that this game would've otherwise been given.

However, elsewhere, 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 level, where you must save Mary Jane Parker. Added to all this are secret items, that include 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. However, much like the recent Max Payne, it's a real shame the game wasn't the flawless masterpiece it so easily could have been.

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