Spiderman 3 - XBOX/PS3 release
Everything a Spider Can?
Functionally identical on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, this is definitely the best version of the game. Taking a heavy cue from the Spider-Man 2 game, the third game in the series doesn?t deviate at all from the open, Grand Theft Spidey format. For gamers who enjoyed the last game, the third iteration manages to provide a hefty amount of action in a free-roaming, active environment.
you didn?t like the other games in the series, however, then Spider-Man 3 will come across as blatant retread with virtually no innovation or creativity whatsoever. It?s a series of very loosely connected storylines, including a rather shaky representation of the overwrought plot from the movie, and the gameplay focus is on constantly web-slinging through New York City to reach checkpoints where you?ll inevitably beat the tar out of a bunch of goons. Occasionally, you?ll encounter mini-games like disarming bombs by pressing the buttons a lot, or solving easy puzzles, and there are God of War-style cinematic sequences inflicted on you with timed button presses leading to feats of daring do.
Bad Guys Amuck!
Perhaps it?s a bit cynical to view Spider-Man 3 as merely a minor upgrade on the last game, recoated with a shinier paint job for the new systems. If you like the character and the gameplay the series offers, there is a ton of stuff to do. There are ten separate storylines to follow, and even if the writing, dialogue, and continuity are all suspect, the game amounts to around 50 different missions all over the city. In addition, there are random crime events that you can stop and a sort of morale system where your heroics and popularity are tracked.
And of course, there are boss battles. Like all Spidey games, they try to throw in plenty of other bad guys?both classic and new. So, in addition to New Goblin, Sandman, and Venom, you?ll face off against not just the Scorpion, the Lizard, Rhino, and others. There are even several warring gangs that are turning Manhattan into a battleground. Also, there?s the black suit? which is black? and obnoxious. The PS3 version allows you to play as New Goblin, which is fun and shows off the Sixaxis glider control, but aside from a series of city races, he has almost nothing to do.
Spidey Reflexes?
Spider-Man 3 PS3/Xbox 360 ReviewThe presentation is a mixed bag as well. For the most part, the graphics look good, but not astounding. The Spider-Man model looks fantastic, of course, and so do most of the super-villains, but normal character models (even of the main characters) have a strange, bug-eyed, creepy look to them. Animation is generally good, but there are noticeable frame rate issues (especially on the PS3 version) that make the action seem choppy at times. The cityscapes look shiny and artificial, but the scope of Manhattan is still impressive, and the streets are usually remarkably crowded with both pedestrian and vehicular action.
Web-slinging is easy, the controls are kept fairly basic, yet give Spider-Man plenty of cool combat moves, and the gameplay overall feels very true to the character. The ability to use your spider-sense as a sort of heat vision to see through areas is cool, and the slow-motion dodge ability is a nice addition to the gameplay as well. On the other hand, the camera can be mind-numbingly frustrating. During combat in particular, the game simply has trouble keeping track of the action. When you?re fighting a small army of gang members at once, not being able to see properly is a big issue. Beyond that, while web-slinging wherever you want is initially a lot of fun, after a while it just gets boring. Constantly swinging from one side of the city to the other to find things to do just isn?t fun, and there?s no better way to quickly move around.
Though most of the movie?s actors lend their voices, both the performances and the dialogue seem tired and mediocre. Most of the voice acting feels phoned in, and the overall writing of the various storylines is lackluster. The soundtrack is an interesting mix of movie themes and strangely dramatic instrumentals that sometimes sound out of place.
Fan Fiction
In the end, the Spider-Man 3 game is a lot like the movie. Fans of the character and the action sequences will likely find plenty to enjoy, but anyone expecting something more will be disappointed. Overall, it?s a solid return to the land of spandex and there is plenty to do in the city, but nothing here feels fresh.
