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Publisher: Activision
Category: Action
Platform: N64, PS1, Game Boy
ESRB Rating: Everyone Release Date: November 2000
Overall Rating:
3 Stars out of 4
Review by Tom Allen
3½ Stars out of 4
(Review of N64 version)
The Nintendo 64 version of Spider-Man is fantastic. The graphics are bright, colorful, and
smoothly rendered. As a result, this game is even more enjoyable than the PlayStation version.
Stan Lee lends his voice and his classic character to Activision's well-done rendition of Spider-
Man. It's about time a comic book got a decent video game adaptation.
The control design is great. You can swing just about anywhere, casting your webs at buildings
and enemies (wrapping baddies in endless webs). More importantly, the controls are effectively
tied into the level designs. Crawl on ceilings to find ducts that are sometimes the only way to
proceed. (By the way, the developers did a good job leaving clues for players. A fallen vent
cover makes you think to look up to find the open duct.)
The story is paced nicely, and the prodding voice-overs are appreciated. Spider-Man is not
earth-shattering, but it's true to the license, and you always feel in character. The improved
graphics of the N64 also help to make you feel more connected to the character, one of the most
prolific in American culture.
Review by Tom Allen
3½ Stars out of 4
(Review of PS1 version)
Stan Lee lends his voice and his classic character to Activision's well-done rendition of Spider-
Man. It's about time a comic book got a decent video game adaptation.
The control design is great. You can swing just about anywhere, casting your webs at buildings
and enemies (wrapping baddies in endless webs). More importantly, the controls are effectively
tied into the level designs. Crawl on ceilings to find ducts that are sometimes the only way to
proceed. (By the way, the developers did a good job leaving clues for players. A fallen vent
cover makes you think to look up to find the open duct.)
The story is paced nicely, and the prodding voice-overs are appreciated. Spider-Man is not
earth-shattering, but it's true to the license, and you always feel in character.
Review by Tom Allen
2 Stars out of 4
(Review of Game Boy version)
The portable Spider-Man is a mixed bag. The swing-anywhere feature from the other versions is
included (allowing for constant swinging), but the controls are a bit sticky in this side-scrolling
adaptation.
Webbing your enemies is not as easy, because "rolling your thumb from B to A" rarely produces
the result promised in the instruction manual. The bosses are very difficult to defeat, and
sometimes you can't figure out what to do or where to go.
The story element is well-executed, with brisk pacing of dialogue and exposition and well-drawn
cinematic frames that sometimes feature panning. Spider-Man has all the right elements, but it
could have been a lot better with a few refinements.
To purchase Spider-Man from Amazon.com use the button below, or use the
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