Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows - (Multi-format)
Developer: Treyarch
Format: Multi-format
Genre: Arcade


All change for everyone's favourite web-slinger



Spider-Man has got some making up to do. After the disappointments that were Spider-Man: Friend or Foe and Spider-Man 3, you'll have to forgive us if we're a little sceptical when a Spider-Man title rolls off the Activision conveyor belt, straight on to the unsuspecting shelves of your local games store.

Fortunately, from the off, this Spider is a breed apart. Teeming with life, Manhattan is more alive than ever before in the Spider-Man series. Citizens will either cheer Spider-Man on or run away in fear, depending on your actions and decisions. Players control whether Spider-Man acts the hero or the vigilante in his quest to save the city, both in turn affecting the course and struggle against the bad guys.

Set in an apocalyptic New York City, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows gives players an unprecedented level of gameplay choices, including, for the first time, control over the game's direction and outcome. The new combat system allows for three dimensional battles that start in the streets, continue up sides of buildings and finish on rooftops.

If you're stuck in a jam, players can instantly switch between the agile red suit and formidable black suit, choose to ally with Marvel's honoured heroes or ferocious villains, pick which of Spider-Man's abilities to upgrade, and decide which missions to undertake in order to protect Manhattan from certain destruction.

One of the main differences between this and other Spidey games is that in addition to all the web infused gymnastics, fighting is now fun. You can pretty much pick up and use anything as a weapon, destroy store fronts, demolish vehicles, and virtually obliterate city streets with powerful attacks - feeling powerful is always fun!

Visually, the game is a big step ahead from previous rather bland offerings. The PS3 and Xbox 360 is finally put through its paces and brings New York to life with realistic textures and animations. Of equal importance is the inclusion of an all-new context-sensitive camera system allowing players to take on enemies and change directions faster and more responsive than before.

There are short-falls: The side quests are far too repetitive and the combat does steer towards repeatedly mashing the same set of buttons. But overall, this is a much stronger Spidey offering that should keep his legions of fans happy - while still hitting the right note with gamers who fancy playing a free roaming superhero title. Welcome back Spidey, all is forgiven.