Spider-Man

Overall: C+
Violence: C
Sexual Content: A-
Language: A
Drugs/Alcohol: A

Platform reviewed: Playstation
Publisher: Activision
ESRB rating: E

While watching a demonstration on nuclear power during his high school years, Peter Parker was bitten by an irradiated spider and infused with the proportionate strength and agility of an arachnid. Later, when a thief killed his uncle, Parker decided to use his new powers to fight crime. Eventually becoming a newspaper photographer by day, Parker dons a red and blue Spandex number by night, and roams the streets of New York looking for bad guys. Thus Spider-Man, the hero from countless comic books, is born.

In the opening scenario of the game, Peter Parker the news photographer is listening to the newly reformed Dr. Otto Octavius lecture at a science expo about his latest piece of technology and its benefits for humanity. Suddenly, someone dressed like Spider-Man appears on stage and steals Octavius's apparatus. To make matters worse, one of Parker's co-workers snaps a picture of Spidey walking off with the goods. Now Spider-Man faces the implications of fighting crime in a city that thinks he's gone bad.

Such is my challenge as I assume the role of Spider-Man in the game. But before I can get into the real action, some skills are in order. Fortunately this game gives me an opportunity to practice some basic moves in the training area. After learning how to punch out some gun-wielding thugs, pick up objects, and swing using my web-shooting wrists, I'm confident I can keep New York's low-lifes in line.

I begin my quest from the rooftops, where I meet the voluptuous "Cat," whose lustful voice informs me that a nearby bank has been robbed and the crooks are holding hostages. After giving me some hints and tips I'll need to stay alive, I shoot my web into the air (just like the TV show) and swing through the streets. Well almost like the TV show... I was a little late on that web shooter, found myself free-falling to the pavement below and had to start over.

On my way to the bank, I meet up with various thugs who shoot at me. Taking numerous bullets, my health bar drops (I can regain my health by finding some little white icons with a red cross on them). But if I'm fast enough (and even in the most difficult mode, this seemed almost too easy) I can punch and kick these guys until they fall flat and disappear.

I find more of these buffoons inside the bank, holding employees at gunpoint. Quickly I employ Spidey's wrist-mounted web-shooters trying to engulf the crooks in a super-strong version of Silly String or else they will shoot the pleading hostages into silence and it will be game over for me... and them. Oh well, just push restart and try again...

I didn't have to play Spider-Man very long before I began to wonder if the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) who rated this game E (for everyone), had played a different version than the one I had in my Playstation. Although there is no explicit blood or gore, much of the game play involves violent conflict. Perhaps they went easy on it because of its good pacing and a witty script. (While I was leafing through he instruction manual, Spidey got bored. As a humorous way to tell me to hurry up, he hung himself from the ceiling to take a little nap). Perhaps they took into account "Cat's" vocal clues that even non-readers can follow, or the unique "easy mode" controller setting that accommodates little hands and opens this game to even the smallest players. It's just too bad they forgot to notice the ensuing game really isn't appropriate for young children.

Rod Gustafson

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