Spider-Man is an action side-scrolling game for GBA that was released in 2002. It follows the movie’s storyline but also has a bunch of things not seen in the movie. Even though there is another GBC Spider-Man game with the same name, this is the movie game. It’s still named only Spider-Man. This game is rated E for everyone.

The game will be reviewed on a 0 to 10 scale. Should I say 0 is horrible and 10 is excellent?

Story: 9

High school student Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, giving him spider powers like super strength, web shooting, etc. First, he sees his new powers as a novelty and uses them to earn money in wrestling and that kind of stuff, but when the wrestling box office is robbed he lets the crook go because he thinks it’s not his problem. Later  that same crook murders his uncle/foster father, whom Peter loved. That is how he learned that with great power comes great responsibility. Spider-Man would never forgive himself for not stopping the man that killed his uncle. That is how he became a super hero.

Graphics: 8

The graphics are good. There’s an awesome FMV when you turn the game on. There are some bonus levels that are 3D like from the GCN game, not with the GCN graphics of course, but it’s quite impressive. One complaint is that sometimes some things that you are looking for camouflage with the background, as well as some enemies. Or is that on purpose?

Sound: 7

The sound effects like the enemies’ cries of pain are right on. The music is okay. Not too good, not too bad.

Characters: 6

Well, you only control Spider-Man, but that’s ok with me. There is some variety in enemies but not nearly
enough.

Length: 3

If this isn’t short, then I don’t know what is! Luigi’s Mansion is long compared to this. You could probably beat it in less than two hours.

Secrets: 8

Well, at least it has many secrets. It has 14 photos from the movie that you can unlock by doing some things in every level. It also has around 50 spider icons in every level that you can collect for a special reward. You can also get a high score for a reward and beat the game for another. With the game being this short, I did feel like getting the secrets.

Difficulty: 3

This isn’t at all hard. If you die, you just lose a life and appear at a check point. The check points aren’t visible but they’re there. The bad thing is that if you die and you appear at a check point, you lose all the things that you had acquired before the check point (Spider icons included) and you have to retrace your steps. Other times you can’t go back.

Controls: 8

The controls are tight, I don’t have many complaints with them. One bad thing is that in the bonus levels you practically have to hammer on the A button for response, because sometimes it will not respond and you will plummet to your doom.

Bonus: 7

The bonus levels are really impressive. They consist of swinging through the city looking for ten green gas
balloons. It’s in 3D, so it’s really cool. The bad things are that sometimes the game won’t respond and you’ll fall and lose. If you lose one time, you can’t play it again until you pass enough levels for it to come again. It only comes up three times throughout the game. Thus, you can’t practice it at will. Well, at least not until you earn the level cheat to skip levels.

Replayability: 8

Well, all the secrets and the short length will make you want to play again and again. The cool bonus game
will probably help a bit too.

Fun Factor!: 8

If you like platformers and beating your opponents up instead of jumping on them, you’ll enjoy this game. The thing is, you’ll have some trouble dying by falling down into a bottomless pit type thing because
Spider-Man can swing through the air with the greatest of ease.

Overall: 6 1/2

This is a very fun game, although many will think it is not long enough. In fact, I’ll be surprised if even one person says it’s a long game. The secrets will make you want to play again and again but that still won’t lengthen the game nearly enough.

Recommendation: If you can deal with a game that will probably not last for more than a week, by all means, buy this game. But if not, then just rent it. You'll still be able to beat the game and get many secrets.

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