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Spider-Man (PlayStation 2) Reviews:
Unlike so many of his superhero brethren, Spider-Man has fared reasonably well in his video game exploits, with previous standouts being Sega's home versions on the !Genesis and !Sega CD, both of which were successful because they featured a healthy balance of web-swinging and hand-to-hand combat, not to mention the ability to snap pictures. Yet it wasn't until 2000's Spider-man where Stan Lee's web-slinger finally found its legs as a video game, with a more realistic environment that made better use of Spidey's distinct abilities. The result helped establish a viable series for Activision, which brings us to their first Spider-man game on the !PlayStation 2.

Spider-man doesn't fall prey to the usual sequel formula, which typically calls for a fresh coat of new levels atop the same weathered engine. Despite the title being the third consecutive Spider-man game by a different developer, the end-result includes many of the enjoyable aspects of the 32-bit original but with a greater emphasis on diversity. The graphics have also been dramatically enhanced, with a 3D city devoid of the thick fog shrouding the buildings as in the first two titles. While it follows the movie's main story arc, delving into the circumstances that transformed Peter Parker into Spider-Man as well as his subsequent relationship with Norman Osborn, aka Green Goblin, new scenes involving Vulture, Scorpion, and Shocker were added specifically for the game.

The outdoor sequences are a vast improvement over previous versions, with a surprisingly detailed cityscape complete with helicopters, blimps, traffic, and plenty of buildings to cling to while swinging through the air. Later stages have Spider-Man sailing through rain and at night, adding to the variety. Navigation is simplified by a combined compass and height meter, allowing players to quickly see how high or low the potential target is by glancing at the corner of the screen. The smooth movement during the outdoor scenes is impressive, as players will be able to swing around buildings and quickly snap the web to either change directions or to land on a rooftop.

Most of the outdoor stages require aerial combat, made bearable thanks to a lock-on camera that centers in on a specific enemy, so you can focus on switching directions, breaking the web to land a punch or kick, and then reattaching the webbing to increase altitude and to prepare for another hit-and-run attack. Players can also fire web fluid at the target, and in the case of the Green Goblin, land on his sled for some fisticuffs at close range. You sometimes wonder what exactly Spidey is attaching his webbing to at certain points, but the rhythmic nature of the swinging offers an exciting break from the indoor levels.

The only real negative to the outdoor sequences, which represent nine of the game's 21 levels, is that you aren't given complete freedom of movement. There is an invisible barrier or wall surrounding the city, which destroys the illusion and automatically turns you around if you get too close. You also can't go lower than a certain height, which is unfortunate. It would have been nice to swoop down to the streets and interact with the pedestrians, traffic, and perhaps save a few lives in the process. Though some of the chase sequences involve quickly repairing damage caused by Green Goblin or Vulture, such as using webbing to reattach a loose billboard or collapsing tower, you don't have direct contact with the population in the outdoor levels other than rescuing your beloved Mary Jane.

While all of this movement seems complicated, it becomes almost second nature after some practice, which is encouraged by the game's training missions. These lessons may very well be the funniest practice sessions yet seen in a game, thanks to the dialogue and voice-over work of narrator Bruce Campbell, who never forgets this is a video game and seems hip to the clichés found in traditional 3D platform games as he "instructs." A welcome surprise that actually makes players want to play the training modes if only to hear what Campbell has to say next. Lessons include combat exercises, swinging techniques, and general use of the webbing.

The rest of the levels take place indoors, which are more frustrating due to some significant camera issues resulting from the closed-in environment. It rarely stays in a fixed position behind the character, so crawling on walls, zipping down from the ceiling, performing combos, and so forth can often be hazardous to your health as the camera refuses to catch up to Spidey's nimble movement. Factor in the large groups of enemies you have to confront, some toting deadly guns, and the battles can get quite hairy if you don't carefully plan a basic strategy. Fortunately there are health and web pick-ups placed at key locations in each area, since the indoor fighting can be draining in more ways than one.

The camera becomes less an issue during the stealth missions (though it's still a problem), where Spidey infiltrates the maze-like halls of Oscorp in a manner similar to Metal Gear Solid. Players must crawl along ceilings to avoid detection from patrolling guards; if they see you, they'll sound the alarms and security robots will come clanking through the doors until you're squashed. The strategy involves carefully watching the patrol routes, dropping down to access computers, and then zipping back up to the ceiling to avoid capture. Certain parts of the ceiling allow Spidey to hide behind shadows, making him virtually invisible to would-be captors. There are also roving security cameras to deal with and electrical hazards to shut down by finding the appropriate terminals.

While Spider-man is technologically the best game in the series to date, the camera issues will frustrate more than a few players. The variety of missions is a plus, but the casualty is a lack of cohesiveness. You are jumping around from level to level doing different things without really getting a sense of accomplishment or progression. A more open-ended structure with the same swinging throughout a seamlessly interconnected city -- but with the ability to respond to various crises, missions, or boss encounters (using Spider Sense) -- would be more exciting. As an action game, Spider-man is at its best when the hero is outdoors, and these sequences alone are worth experiencing for fans of the web-crawler. Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

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