Spiderman: Web of Shadows at a Glance

I know what you’re all thinking: another Spiderman game that’ll be released for every system, oh boy. The previous three Spiderman games raise doubts and disappointment, but let’s try to treat this one as a separate entity. I know I’m taking a big risk, but I’m hoping this game won’t flop because it really seems to have a lot going for it.

To begin with, I’m glad that this game isn’t based on one of the Spiderman movies: if the movie isn’t so great, why should the video game be any different? The story and concept in this one sound pretty cool. Venom has found a way to manifest an army of symbiote henchmen to infect the city of New York (sounds sort of like Marvel Zombies – I wish!). The invasion would have spread further had not S.H.I.E.L.D. quarantined the area. So, Spidey has to work with both allies and foes to put an end to Venom’s madness.

Decent story, but regardless, one thing that plagues every Spiderman game is repetitiveness in environment and gameplay. Web-slinging and beating up everything in your path is fun for an hour or two but gets old fast, especially when you encounter the same faces and are limited to the same movements over and over again.

While there is no guarantee that this game will be the exception, there is hope with the help of a new developer, Shaba. They are known for developing extreme sports games, so although they are not fully versed in superhero games (besides for playing a part in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance), they sure know movements.

Movements are critical for extreme sports games, so with their know-how, they’ll bring fluidity to the table. Shaba says that fighting will be more intense and involved by linking combos from foe to foe in mid-air, switching back and forth from Spiderman to Venom! That sounds pretty sweet to me. There’s a lot of focus on aerial fighting and with enough “moves” (there are to be a slew of unlockable moves) maybe that will ease away from the repetitiveness.

But know that there are consequences in this game. Using Venom too often will brand you as the “bad guy” and will give you an alternate ending—as well as massive strength. Choices, choices. You can even choose who you ally yourself with. A confirmed cast of Rhino, Black Cat, Kingpin, Luke Cage, Mary Jane Watson, Wolverine, and Vulture sounds alright for now. However, the developers take many freedoms with the characters to enhance gameplay, bringing you symbiote Wolverine (who would never succumb to the symbiote in the comics!).

They’re aiming to bring more life into the game by creating an environment and atmosphere that feels like an actual city. Denizens of NY will cheer you on when you’re the neighborhood’s friendly Spidey, and they will jeer at you when you’re destroying (as well as enjoying) the powers of the symbiote.

So far so good, but we’ll see come October 21st if this game will revitalize the Spiderman game franchise.