Summary
As he is the face of the Marvel Universe,Spider-Manhas been featured in a plethora of memorable video games over the years, such as theUltimate Alliancetrilogy and theMarvel’s Spider-Manseries by Insomniac Games. With that being said, not every good Spider-Man game ends up being a major success, for one reason or another.
From obscure handheld adventures to forgotten AAA titles, Spider-Man has starred in a surprisingly diverse array of titles that often get overlooked. Even if they aren’t the strongest games in the corners of the Spider-Verse, they are still a showcase of what developers can bring to the character across various genres.
The 90s were filled to the brim with 2D sidescroller Spider-Man games, with the most famous beingSpider-Man: Maximum Carnage. Sega console owners had their own exclusive Spider-Man game in the form ofThe Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin!, which has the simple concept of Spider-Man battling through a legion of villains until stopping the Kingpin and his plot to set off bombs around New York City.
Despite being a quality title for the web-slinger,The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin!was lost in the ocean of Spider-Man and Marvel games at the time. This is especially the case withthe improved Sega CD version, which not only improved on animations and gameplay but also introduced new levels, fully voiced cutscenes, and collecting comic books.
The original PS1Spider-Mangames are often seen as the foundation for all modern games featuring the wall-crawler, but many people don’t know there was a third game in that series.Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menaceis the often-forgotten third chapter, developed by Vicarious Visions, which shifted to a 2D perspective instead of 3D.
Like many licensed games,Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menacewas overlooked because it wason the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, which was dominated by more popular titles likePokémonandTheLegend of Zelda. While it’s not as acclaimed as its predecessors, it remains an entertaining superhero adventure that even mimics the PS1 visual style with 2D sprites.
Spider-Man and his rival, Venom, are both playable in the arena fighting gameMarvel Nemesis: Rise Of The Imperfects. From X-Men to Fantastic Four members, multiple Marvel characters are the survivors of an alien invasion of Earth, as well as their champions known as Imperfects. It’s a unique Marvel game with a much darker tone, and presents open environments for characters to run, jump, and fight in.
Compared to other superhero fighting games,especiallyMarvel Vs. Capcomgames,Marvel Nemesis, did not prove to be successful in terms of sales or reviews. At the time, critics were harsh on the game, denouncing it for its unorthodox gameplay, but over the years, the small but dedicated fanbase has praised its single-player story and visual style.
During a time when open-world Spider-Man games were the norm, a more linear experience likeSpider-Man: Friend or Foecame and was immediately forgotten. Featuring designs inspired by the Sam RaimiSpider-Manmovies,Spider-Man: Friend or Foeisbest played in co-op multiplayer, since the concept is based around Spider-Man teaming up with his villains, from Doc Ock to Black Cat.
On the one hand,Spider-Man: Friend or Foeis harmless fun that children and adults can have fun with, since it is the most straightforward action-adventure game that can be beaten in a few hours. However, on the other hand, it’s critiqued for having little to no layers to the gameplay, with the only things that stand out being the art style and villains.
WhereUltimate Spider-Manbecame an open-world gem for the PS2/GameCube era, its prequel remains overlooked by most gamers, mostly due to being a handheld title.Spider-Man: Battle For New Yorkditches the open-world gameplayto be a linear 2.5D sidescrollerwith the same cel-shaded comic book visuals.
Spider-Man: Battle for New Yorkis a prequel toUltimate Spider-Man, featuring Spider-Man as the main protagonist. Like the first game, it also allows players to control a villain, specifically the Green Goblin. Having the option to play as a villain is rare in Spider-Man games, especially for a main character. This unique feature makes the handheld prequel a valuable follow-up to the original game.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foesis a rare title to find because it was only released in Japan, presenting another side-scrolling adventure, but one that is considered more difficult. Every level is on a short time limit, which requires playing through and beating the boss in one go, which is easier said than done.
With a heavy mix ofA-list and B-list Spider-Man villainsand impressive sprite animations,The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foesis worth playing to see them alone. For every Venom and Doctor Octopus, there are lesser-known characters such as Beetle and Alastair Smythe, creating a diverse roster.
Despite being a direct follow-up to the fan-favoriteSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensionsand offering improved gameplay, visuals, and storytelling,Spider-Man: Edge of Timeflew under the radar. Consequently, it has become a title that its small fanbase actively promotes, even though it is no longer available for purchase on any service.
Focusing ontwo versions of Spider-Maninstead of four might seem like a downgrade, but Peter Parker and Miguel O’Hara having a shared and more complex storyline makes the plot have more depth. It also allowed the developer team to focus on those two Spider-Men and have them play better than ever inSpider-Man: Edge of Time. Additionally, the story features a memorable plot twist that some fans might not expect.
