Spider-Man 2

"This game is good now, during the DS launch window, but I doubt it will be viewed as 'good' later in the system's life."

Intro: When I first played this game, I was awed. The main reason for this is because it was the first DS title I ever played (not counting the Metroid demo packaged with my system). The cinematics were sweet, and the soundtrack was rockin'. I soon found out that this game is kind of disappointing.

GRAPHICS: Although many people were highly disappointed that this game is not a free-roaming, fully explorable 3D city like the console versions, the graphics, cinematics especially, take somewhat of an advantage of the system's capabilities. A complaint I have with the visual aspect of this game is that enemies are very repetitive. I feel that this game needed more enemy sprites to help mix up combat. Score: 6.5/10

SOUND: The music in this game is pretty rockin', and the effects when you blow up/kill/smash something are nice. Again, my only real complaint here is repetition. You will hear the same desperate "HELP ME, SPIDER-MAN!" countless times before you finish this game. The music is also limited, not in quality, but quantity. Score: 7/10

STORY: Honestly, the story of this game is nothing to celebrate...at all. Yet, I'm really not complaining, because I'm aware that A) a side-scrolling beat-'em-up and B) a game based on a movie based on a comic book (in case you don't know, this game is both) are both hard to give good storylines. This specific story is, of course, rather general and bland, but as I said, I'm not complaining. At least it stays relatively true to the movie and to superheroes in general. Score: 7/10

GAMEPLAY: This is the weakest aspect of the game. Unfortunately, many would argue that this is also the most important part of a game. It's not that the combat is really that terrible for a beat-em-up, it's the horrid process that you go through in every non-boss level. You see, to beat a level, you almost always have to kill enemies and/or save hostages, then get to the exit. This formula gets tiring, especially when you're SPENDING LESS OF YOUR TIME ACTUALLY FIGHTING AND MOST OF IT JUST CLUELESSLY SEARCHING FOR THE DAMN ENEMIES. I can say this, though: how you use the touch screen to change special moves on the fly is a really neat idea, as are the creative ways you have to use the touch screen to defeat certain bosses. I just wish that these features were used more often and were a bigger part of the gameplay. The touch screen just feels like a nice touch, but it should feel more like a crucial tool in playing the game. Score: 4.5/10

REPLAY VALUE: The strongest aspect of the game. I wish every game had replay incentives along the lines of what Spider-Man 2 DS does. Not only does almost every level have a secret pick-up, but they also have a special unlockable. To get the unlockable, you have to get an 'A' for the final grade for the mission, which basically means doing everything perfectly. This includes beating the target time, saving every hostage, and killing every enemy. When you get a secret pick-up or an unlockable, you are rewarded in one of three ways. Either you get your maximum health capacity increased, your maximum special meter capacity increased, or you unlock a new special move. This system saves the game from being a piece of crap. Score: 8.5/10

Conclusion: Decent graphics and sound and really good replay incentives somewhat make up for lacking and tedious gameplay.

FINAL SCORE: 6/10

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 02/03/05