Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

If you don't have an affinity for ol' webhead, the lack of mission variety and control issues are likely to significantly detract from the enjoyment you will have with this title. If you can get past that, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows offers a cinematic experience and a great combat system.

The best part about Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is the total freedom you are allowed in not only choosing what to do and when to do it, but also how to do it and what you wear while you're doing it. And when you mix this freedom of gameplay with a massive sprawling city that reaches to the clouds, and an endless supply of intelligent evildoers, there is no end in sight to the superhero action waiting for you in this latest Spider-Man adventure.

The animation is slick, and there are many appreciable smaller touches, but it's also tarnished by repetition and technical issues. If you've never been a fan of the series, this installment certainly won't change your mind. However, if you're a die-hard fan who was disappointed by Spider-Man 3, Web of Shadows should be right up your alley.

Considering just how different this game is from the other Spiderman games out there, it’s easily the most recommendable to anyone who didn’t enjoy the previous two outings. While it never reaches the level Activision reached with Spiderman 2, it’s still an enjoyable romp while it lasts. It’s refreshing to see a game come out that focuses on the dark side of being a superhero, and it’s definitely a trend I hope we can see more of in the future.

Web of Shadows is an improvement over previous Spider-Man titles, but still lacks the punch we expect from such a popular movie-based intellectual property. A poorly told story coupled with mediocre and often repetitive action sequences have thwarted this titles chances of blockbuster glory this Christmas.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a breath of fresh air in many respects, but needs a good breeze in others.

The groundwork for an amazing Spider-Man game is here, but Web Of Shadows doesn’t reach its potential.

There is some fun to be had swinging your way through the city and bumping bad guy skulls together; it's just a shame the whole package wasn't stitched together with a little more flair and imagination.

Despite some of the more flagrant errors, I'm still slinging webs around New York City enjoying the thrill of being what boils down to an urban Tarzan.

Spidey fans will revel in a brand-new story. Adventure fans will wish for more refined and even play. [Holiday 2008, p.82]

The makings of a good Spider-Man game are here, but awkward controls prevent Web of Shadows from reaching full swing.

Web of Shadows is a reasonably good time, but unless the Wii is your main gaming console, you’ll want to play it on a higher-end machine with less gimmicky controls.

If you’re a huge fan, it’s worth a look. If you’re anything less than a hardcore Spidey follower, however, you’ll be better off taking a pass on this title.

Web of Shadows goes its own way and, plays better for it. But while Treyarch seem confident of their story telling, their overall lack of technical mastery and ability to create an enjoyable combat mechanic kills any enjoyment past the first few hours.

Web of Shadows keeps the Spider-man gaming legacy going but with some bumps and bruises. Depending on your tastes the bruises might be more of a compound fracture.

The combat system is also a good start, but the combinations need more variety instead of repeatedly mashing the same button. They also need to design a control scheme for the Wii instead of mapping buttons to motion swings because the controls feel tacky.

A vast improvement on Spider-Man 3, but a few fatal flaws are holding him back. [Jan 2009, p.82]

Activision and Treyarch were given a blank slate to create whatever Spider-inspired tale they wanted, and they put together a game starring a whiney hero, a foggy story, repetitive gameplay, and a focus on pretty combat combos instead of engaging combat mechanics.