Spider-Man
Reviewed by Brian Walker
Despite the fact that you can't find a screenshot of this
game anywhere, Spider-Man by Activision is at least as
good as it's Playstation cousin. After playing through the
Playstation version in under 10 hours (normal mode), I
turned to my Game Boy Color to find an unexpected surprise.
Graphics: 9.5 out of 10
The first Spider-Man game on the Game Boy Color and the
first on any Game Boy in which Spider-Man is drawn better
than a stick figure. His classic costume is fully intact (I have
yet to see if it is possible to open up the other costumes like
in the PSX version) and drawn well, especially in the cut scenes.
The games artwork is excellent, the best of any Spider-Man title
on the system to date. Although strictly a two-dimensional game,
the graphics can still hold up to some of today's best. The intro to
the game is nicely drawn, although not animated. Possibly the best
part of this game is that when facing "right", for example, and you
press "left" Spider-Man will actually turn around, unlike most GBC
games whose sprites just appear facing the other way. Spider-Man
also has a few cool waiting motions. Let your Game Boy sit for five
minutes and in that time Spider-Man will look around, pull out his
camera and take a picture, change the web-fluid cartridges in his
web-shooters, and finally look at you and shrug his shoulders.
Outstanding for the Game Boy Color to say the least.
Music and Sound: 9 out of 10
The music in this game is better than most Game Boy titles. The music
is at least comparable to Zelda:Link's Awakening, although some of the
sound effects are lacking. The game has some digitized voices, which
sound much better than the digitized voices in the recently released
Crystalis. The only real problems with sound are the noise made by the
web-shooters which sound like jets, and that the sound is not very
loud. On the sub-screen, if you listen for a few seconds, the original
Spider-Man theme song will play. The background music is good for a
title with so much jampacked in, and adequately sets the mood for the
area, whether you're in the sewers or swingning above New York.
Game Challenge: 10 out of 10
I will only say this once, but if you thought the PSX version was too
easy, buy the Game Boy version. The sewers are a particularly difficult
area, especially at the beginning of the game when you have not yet
leveled up. The controls themselves will take a while to master
but once you do the game gets only slightly easier. This game has
many perils; ie: while swinging above New York, if you go too high
birds will swoop at you. Drop down too low and street thugs will
swarm you, using every thing at their disposal, from steel pipes to
knives to charging at you with their head. Also adding to the
challenge of this game is the statement on the back of the box that
says, "You don't just play it...you live it". This is entirely true from
the moment that you are sent from the Daily Bugle building to get
pictures of an explosion as Peter Parker (although he quickly changes
into Spider-Man). You have all of New York at your disposal. Most games
of this type would give you a set task to complete in a level. After
eight-odd levels...End of Story. Spider-Man on the other hand challenges
you by giving you everything right from the start. If you are going to get
that picture of the damaged building, you'd better hope that you can find
said building. Oh and expect your quests to be constantly interrupted by
other super-villains which, not only challenges you, but combats linearity.
Game Play-Fun: 10 out of 10
Let's start with the controls of this game. They are very tight
first of all, and once you memorize all four pages of them you will be
only your way to a heck of a time. That's right, four pages. The box claims
you are Spider-Man and the controls prove it. You have separate controls
for STANDING (run, jump, shoot impact webbing, crouch, crawl), MID-AIR
(control your fall, web-swing, drop kick), ON A WALL (punch, jump away,
climb), ON A CEILING (kick, fall, crawl) and as you become more experienced,
you gain more moves. All these controls are handled in such an intuitive
way, that after five minutes an experienced gamer should have no trouble.
Although, it may take younger gamers more time, say 10 minutes, once the
controls are memorized, you won't forget them - they become second
nature. Thankfully Activision did not dumb this game down for the GBC
as the controls are not at all limited by the Game Boy having only 2 buttons.
Frustration
The game is rated E for Everyone (ages 6+). Don't believe it. My 7 year
old sister could not get past the first mission or even master the controls.
This game is for experienced gamers not little kids who want to be Spider-Man.
Replayability: 10 out of 10
C'mon! You have all of New York to explore! How could this game get boring?
I'm only taking a break to write this review and then it's back to my Game
Boy. I can see myself playing this 10 years from now and still having a great time.
Overall: 10 out of 10
Overall, a great game. One of the best titles for the Game Boy Color in a
long time. It definitely puts Crystalis (a favorite of mine) to shame, and
may even be better than the almighty Zelda. See for yourself.