Many people say that the last good Spider-Man game was 2004's Spider-Man, but being an avid Spidey fan myself I decided to look back at the few titles that came after years later, & there are some pretty good ones that are often overlooked. We're going to start with...
5. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Released: September 7, 2010 (Heh, ain't that peculiar?)
Platforms: PS3, X360, Wii, NDS
When Shaba Games, the development team behind Web Of Shadows, had their follow-up scrapped due to the team going defunct, Beenox stepped in to do something new with the IP. You didn't just play as one Spider-Man, you played as
FOUR from different universes. That concept immediately sold me, & I couldn't wait to experience their differing playstyles.
You had
The Amazing Spider-Man (the 616 version we all know & love),
Noir (Who introduced the stealth-takedown mechanics),
2099 (equipped with speed & sloing down time), & the
Ultimate Spider-Man donning the black suit! I don't know about you, but that is pretty badass.
4. Spider-Man
Released: August 20, 2000
Platforms: PS1, N64, GBC, PC, Dreamcast
Possibly the first Spidey game I've ever played. It's a timeless classic, so of course it had to be on here! It may not seem like much by today's standards, but back then, this gem was a game-changer for the webhead.
Fully-3D graphics & environments, the ability to go anywhere in a level, with the added bonus of various cameos from the Marvel Universe, made this Spider-Man adventure the one to remember for a lifetime.
3. Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
Released: October 21, 2008
Platforms: PS3, X360, Wii, PS2, PSP, PC, NDS
When Spider-Man 3 underwhelmed (both movie & video-game), Activision wanted to take another crack at the symbiote story. This time, it was an original story that allowed for Spider-Man to change into the Black Suit at any time.
This game introduced aerial-combat & wall-combat thanks to the web-strike mechanic, & arguably the second-best web-swinging after the no. 1 spot on this list. There was also a hero/anti-hero path to choose throughout the game & it greatly affected the storyline. Add numerous appearances from other Marvel characters like
Luke Cage, Black Widow, & Wolverine, & this Spider-Man game is pretty much one of the greats.
2. Ultimate Spider-Man
Released: September 21, 2005
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GC, NDS, PC, GBA
Coming off of a successful predecessor a year prior, Ultimate Spider-Man puts you in the Ultimate Universe of Marvel. Utilizing remarkable cel-shaded graphics & clever comic-strip cutaways, Mark Bagley's art is popped right out of the pages.
Aside from controlling the titular webslinger, this intricate story allows for you to also play as
Venom. Save the day as Spider-Man, & wreak havoc in the night as Venom! I can't see how that doesn't make for a good comic-y Spider-Man experience.
1. Spider-Man 2 (The Movie)
Released: June 28, 2004
Platfroms: PS2, Xbox, GC, PC, GBA, NDS, PSP
It was inevitable.
While good on their own, none of the successors quite matched the quality of Spider-Man 2.
Featuring an open-world Manhattan to explore for the first time, & revolutionary physics-based web-swinging mechanics,
Spider-Man 2 set the bar for other Spider-Man games going forward, & the superhero genre in general. Sorry Batman!
In just a few hours, there's going to be a new contender for the top spot of greatest Spider-Man game of all time!
What's your personal top 5 Spider-Man games? Sound off down below!!