Spider-Man 2

Surprisingly solid in every technical aspect, which makes it all the more shame that it's falls so short in all the enjoyability aspects.

The most prominent problem Spider-Man 2 suffers from is its convoluted indoor levels. Oftentimes, you need to search areas for a set number of criminals to bop or hostages to free. But without a map to consult, too much time is spent frustratingly backtracking and combing through every nook and cranny you've already visited.

Full credit to Vicarious Visions for creating a whole new game instead of porting the GameBoy Advance version to the DS but, unfortunately, it’s hard to tell what it achieved by doing so. [Jan 2005, p.121]

The problem is that the level design is so unforgiving and linear that most players won’t bother to see all the graphic panache the game offers.

The game’s combat system needs an overhaul, the levels lack inspiration, and the presentation will make your eyes water. When compared with its contemporaries, this game lacks the shine and polish that gamers are expecting when they try out their DS for the first time. This is shameful way to start the new batch of DS games.

A frustrating platformer with broken combat, repetitive missions and a totally misused second screen.

There's no entertainment in combing through a burning building for five victims or hunting down the twenty-three convicts that just escaped from a bus, especially after you've spent five minutes trying to find that last victim. More infuriating is when you finally find that last victim or bad guy, only to die and have to repeat the whole process.