Spider-Man 2

"Go Get Em' Tiger"

Feeding off the hype of the summer blockbuster of the same name, Spiderman 2, the multi-console summer video game blockbuster hits store shelves with a flash of hype, a gigantic city, and some nifty game play, but fails to really defeat the monster known as "average".

Graphics--
The main focus of this game is how it captures New York, and I'd be a fool if I didn't say they did a superb job. The town is rich, lively, and full of spirit. From a person who has been to New York many times, the locale does a great job reflecting the big apple. However, every apple has a few bad spots.

The remainder of the graphics, the character models and such, are dull. They lack the flavor that inspired so much of the big city. Peter Parker runs like he sat on a horse too long. The characters that wander the streets, and who give you missions to help you along your way, number about twenty different models. This gets old...fast. I'm aware that so much time was invested creating a perfect New York landscape, and in that sense, the game succeeds. It fails though in the small details, but on circumstances like this I tend to look away because I see the big picture the developer had in mind.

Sound--
The voice acting is good. With the cast of people, including Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, the game creates dialogue that is both believable as well as entertaining. The most refreshing thing in this game was the biting sarcasm that was employed by many of the voice actors. I've never seen a game with this much sarcasm, and surprisingly, it was actually comical. The only flaw, and its more of a graphical flaw than anything, is the small fact that barely any characters moved their lips when they talked. It's a shame really. The voice acting was good, but most of the time it was ruined by characters, seemingly, talking via telekinesis. This, in a way, really detracts from some of the more important, serious story scenes in this game.

Story--
The story is great. There is always a general focus on what Spiderman is doing as you progress through the events of the game. It unfolds in a way where there is always something fresh and exciting on the horizon, and never really boring repetition. Though its not true to the movie, extra characters were added that would make any Marvel comic fan squeal with joy. These characters are some of the coolest that Spiderman has ever faced to date, and if you are a fan of the comic books and/or the TV show you will not be disappointed in this aspect. The movie was good, and the game does a good job following the events of the movie. Bravo.

Gameplay--
This, to me, is the most important part of the review. Unfortunately, the game play is not the strongest aspect of this game. The fighting system is clunky and boring. Spiderman's attacks get repetitive, honestly, how many times can I see the same handstand kick before I get bored with it.

Controlling Spiderman can become a bit of a challenge as well. Many times throughout the game you'll be required to get from one place to another on a set time limit. This is great in theory, but web-slinging isn't the smoothest thing in the world. The learning curve isn't necessarily steep, its just you crash into more buildings than Captain Caveman(and son). The flow of this is not smooth, and though it's still really enjoyable experience, becomes frustrating when on a quick timed mission.

Overall-- 7/10
To me, who happens to be a HUGE fan of the Marvel universe, this is just an average game. That is not a bad thing. I had a great time playing it, but there is no replay value for me here. Also, the game isn't very long, which is another small drawback.

All in all, Activision has created a expansive world, worthy of the Spiderman name. There is something here for every action fan, but it doesn't bring anything we haven't seen before. It's no Ninja Gaiden, but it has its own quirks here and there. If you are a fan of the Spiderman series, this is indeed a great addition to your gaming collection. To anyone else looking for a good game in the boring months of summer-- this may only be a rental unless you are a fan of the genre. This is an average action game with a common superhero slapped to his name, but thats not always a bad thing.

Go enjoy the friendly neighborhood Spiderman, and be prepared for the hype that will most surely follow the third installment in its series.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/06/04