Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
Developer: Amaze Entertainment
Publisher: Activision
Review by sithiousSo, who of us isn't used to game mass production? Sometimes we can clearly see that films, cartoons and other media get cheaply converted into gaming format only to bring massive amounts of profit to the table. Ive played many comic book based games and altough I love the medium, I feel that 90% of the time I'm ripped of and feel like I have wasted my time.
Fortunately this time around I couldn't possibly feel more diffrent! This game delivers with such exploding fun factor that It simply cant be neglected. It Is safe to say that the developers did an excellent job in Web Of Shadows and I solute them!The Good:
-Incredible fastpaced gameplay with a wide selection of butt kicking moves
-Fluid animation, everything flows perfect in this game
-Excellent graphic detail, The backgrounds and characters look very crispThe Bad
-Too short, It only took me 4,5 hours to finish this
-Too dark, (The fact is that I still use my DS Fat. Some colors aren't visible enough)
Story
The game starts of with our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man encountering several simbiote like things (Venom stile monsters). So the story kicks of with you having to investigate the matter. It turns out that the city was overrun by these slimy simbiotes and Its your job to strike at their hive and wipe them out!
Ok so the story doesn't sound to great but It turns out that It hooks you just enough to make you want to continue playing not only because the kick-butt fights, but also because of the story outcome.
Some story screens throughout the gameGameplay
This is where this game really shines in all its glory. It seems that the developers really put their money on this aspect as Web Of Shadows, as this was easily one of the best action games I have played on the platform. The games animation goes hand in hand with this aspact as the main focus of the game.
You have a variety of different moves which you buy using experience points you get in battle and all of the moves look stunning in the very fast paced combat of this game.
In game shots
There are also two Spidey suits available (the red and black), which can be switched throut gameplay and both have diffrent advantages and disadvantages.
They have also mixed up the dieing formula in this game. Insted of getting the gameover screen when they knock you out, you get a chance to collect health orb's with the stylus on the bottom screen and if you do it fast enough you can even max your health out.
Transcision to black suit
Visuals and Sound
As mentioned earlier the visuals in this game are top-notch. The game altough being a sidecroller, has 3d graphics and looks ever so crisp. The detail in the background are wonderful and the dark evil-ish feeling always present in the game. Badguys are varied but once you've seen all of them they'll just get more powerfull and wear different colour skins.
The part that botherd me most in the graphics area would have to be the last few enemies you face. Now as I mentioned I play on the DS Fat which means my lighting isn't that great. And although I had no problem finishing and seeing most of this game, the end enemies were sometimes very difficult to see due to their black colour in the dark surrounding.
I am very sure however that If one were to play this on a DS lite they would have no such problems.The music in the game altough being good Is nothing special. I must however point out the excelante voice acting present in the game which is a must have plus for a Spider-Man product. The sound effects are also not neglectable and can be very impressive.
Closing Comments
I had an enormous amount of fun with this game and I think anyone would. The only really disappointing factor is that its over Way too soon. The gameplay is a blast, the visuals are wonderfull, Its neither hard nor easy, thus providing a wonderful amount of difficulty without being frustrating.
Overall hands down on this one. One of my favorites on the DS!
Rating:
Plot 8.5/10 Engaging story, could be better
Graphics 9.5/10 Awsome grahics, almoast 10 if not for the darkness
Gameplay 10/10 Hands down one of the best ver on the DS
Sound 8.5/10 Great voice acting, avrage music
Replay Value 8/10 The shortness makes it not too replayable
44.5/50 = 9.0