Lightning quick reflexes, a fancy costume, and amazing powers: It's a recipe with 'hero' written all over it. Yet there has always been something more in the pot when it comes to Spider-Man: not only does he possess all the above super-traits, but he's also Peter Parker, the average kid just trying to get along in life. And kill the bad guys. Of course, add in Spidey's publicity from movies, toys, and comic books and you've got a perfect recipe for a new game, too.
Activision's PSP game partly follows the storyline of the second Spider-Man movie, with familiar looking cut scenes of Dr. Ock, J. Jonah Jameson (the quirky newspaper editor who Peter supplies with pictures), and Spider-Man himself. Yet only one of every three missions will actually seem familiar; you'll spend lots of your time defeating other villains and saving citizens from bomb-infested warehouses.
Spider-Man will give you occasional hints during the missions as to what you have to do, but not nearly enough. For example, during one level I found myself with a keycard near a keycard swiper, but no idea how to use the card. I clicked every button combo I could think of and searched all over the unlocked area for another card, but I was not able to find an answer in the short time limit.
Combat feels a lot like many fighter-type console or handheld games, with combos generating more damage - and looking super cool. In performing these combos, though, you will find no challenge- be it three punches in a row, three kicks in a row, or two kicks and a punch, almost every single combination of moves was treated as a "combo."
Of course, Spiderman isn't all about kicking and punching. You also get to use web powers, spidey sense, and lightning reflexes. The problem is that things don't work as well in the game as they did in the comic books or the movie.
Web powers, for instance, are hard to control and sometimes even hard to access. Web slinging is a great way to travel across an area and though steering left or right is generally easy, it's hard to control up/down movements. Shooting web becomes very difficult after you 'buy' web nets, as they use the same button - you have to jump to access the regular old web shots.
Spidey senses are even more infuriating. They are expressed by a quick flashing symbol around Spider-Man's head, and you (rather than Spider-Man) have to have lighting reflexes in order to respond to them!
It's not surprising that the hit Spider-Man movies were brought to the gaming world - after all, what movie doesn't have a game these days? - but in the words of Peter Parker himself, "with great power comes great responsibility." Making a game to follow up to the blockbuster sequel Spider-Man 2 is no small task, and sadly, this one just couldn't measure up. The game is more frustrating and tough than it is fun.
I am now a full time college student with a part time job. I kayak and ride horses 3-5 times a week but I always find time for my games. My current favorite is Lineage II, though I am always open to trying something new!
