Page 51 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #6

The sight of Spider-Man scaling a climbing a wall!). combine a camera
building is a familiar one. Like the clas- that can't tell which way is up, and the
sic Atari 2600 game, Spidey's opening ap- controller unable to determine which
pearance in his latest videogame has our way you're trying to guide the Web
favorite Wall Crawler climbing one of Slinger, and you'll end up with awkward
New York's many tall skyscrapers. Sec- and jerky movements at the most inop-
onds later, the familiarity would end and portune times. Other times, the cam-
suddenly it's unlike any Spider-Man video- era will actually get too close to
game we've ever played before. There's Spider-Man, blocking your view and may
satisfaction when a game is done right! open you up to attacks from the
so Spidey can do whatever a spider can. ground, sky, or opponents. Sometimes
Activision's Spider-Man is Spidey's the Spidey compass points in the wrong
second offering in the 32/64 bit mar- direction, causing Spidey to miss a
kets. His first 32-bit game, Web of Fire, nearby building and end up making a
for Sega's 32X was a disaster and fans splash (a Spider Squish?) on Broadway!
of the long running comic book series Perhaps the most exciting chapter
and television shows were wondering if in the game involves the action-packed
there would ever be that great Spider- Police chase across the city early in
Man videogame. Developer Edge of Real- the game. Here the action is reminis-
ity has taken Spidey into the 22nd Century by even unheard of criminal gangs like the Jade cent of a police chase scene from the
bringing us what we've been waiting for: the Syndicate, you cannot want for more charac- Brandon Lee film, "The Crow." The Police
first true Spider-Man videogame. ters. Family & friends are here as well; Mary are relentless, and their helicopter
During a press conference presented by Jane Parker, the Black Cat, and even the Human seems to be able to find Spidey at all
Dr. Octopus to unveil his new technology, Torch all make appearances. Even old J. Jonah angles!
Spider-Man appears out of nowhere, disrupts Jameson makes an appearance, blaming Spider- Spider-Man is the first Spidey video-
Octopus' speech, and steals the doctors lat- Man for the city's wrongs. game which will satisfy all the cravings
est technology! Meanwhile, in the audience, a Other nice details include the comic book Spidey fans have had over the years.
Daily Bugle photographer by the name of Pe- covers, which open each new chapter of the Everything from the web swinging, use of
ter Parker is shocked to learn there's an- game, as well as various comic book icons that, his spider sense, wall crawling, and al-
other Spider-Man in his city! Suddenly he's when picked up, will allow you to view actual most anything else you can think of are
bumped from behind,. he turns around and re- covers from Spidey's classic collections of included in this game.
alizes it's Eddie Brock (AKA Venom!) taking pic- comic books. ,Even the catchy tune from the Spider-Man is the first step in the
tures of the action on the stage. The im- 60's cartoon show is included when you turn right direction for the Spidey titles.
poster Spider-Man, realizing his picture is be- the game on! However, the greatest Touch of Although the story was terrible, gamers
ing taken, shoots a web, destroying Brock's nostalgia is when Spidey's co-creator, Stan Lee, can imagine what sequels will be like in
camera and an enraged Eddie Brock trans- narrates the game's opening scene (bringing the coming years. A great Spider-Man
forms into the evil super-villain Venom. He back memories of his familiar voice during the story should benefit from a single main
jumps on the stage to get his revenge be- 80’s television show, "Spider-Man and his Super Villain, along with some minor vil-
cause Spider-Man has ruined his life once Amazing Friends." lains. Perhaps the developers can bor-
again! The plot line is familiar to all Spidey Along with the good aspects, there are row from Sega's Shenmue, where the ac-
fans tried and true: Spider-Man's been framed also some minor annoyances. Besides the poor tion is slower paced and gives the gamer
again, and New York City is going to be in for storyline, another irritation is the controls. time to solve a case in an alternative
a nightmare! Unlike previous Spidey games, where the action way instead of following a single story-
Admittedly, fans reading the comic book- takes place using a limited number of buttons, line. Perhaps he or she can investigate
like cut-frames during the introduction will Spider-Man requires the use of almost all the as Peter Parker, decide to search every
realize this Plotline has been done so many N64's buttons! Everything from shooting building in the city one at a time until he
times before in previous spider-man games. webs, to punching & kicking, to web swinging, web finds the hideout, or just stay at home
Thankfully, the game play and 3-D environ- shooting, and web targeting Are all con- with Mary Jane and let the city rot in
ment feature enough distractions for the trolled by separate buttons. Also, pulling off hell. With the Playstation 2 and the
player to put the details of the cheesy plot some of Spidey's special moves (web dome and Nintendo's upcoming GameCube, the possi-
aside (at least until they're forced to watch the web yank) can be difficult because the but- bilities are seemingly endless.
the next comic book cut scenes!). tons don't always respond as they should. In a virtual world where Super Vil-
From the skyscrapers to the trains & The game also has a habit of freezing lains can exist and terrorize New York,
sewers, and the villain's secret hideouts, Spi- late in the stage of a game. At times you may Who can New Yorkers turn to in their
der-Man's graphics are stunning. For the be trying to recover one of the hidden time of need? Make mine Spider-Man!
first time, gamers can web swing from comic book icons, and the game will freeze Until next time True Believers!
one skyscraper to another in a rich 3- on you! Unfortunately, the game forces
D environment that looks so beautiful, you to use save points instead of allow-
gamers will hardly notice Spidey shoot- ing you to save as you progress. Spider-Man (N64)
ing his webs straight up into the sky! Other minor annoyances come from Publisher: Activision
A great number of Spidey's friends the camera that follows Spidey through- Developer: Edge of Reality
and foes are included as well. From out the game. The camera tends to get Price: $49.99
the silver aged Scorpion and Rhino, to confused as to which way you're going
the modern day Venom and Carnage, to (Especially when you're on a ceiling or
Classic Gamer Magazine Spring 2001 51