Whether you’re a fan of the Spider-man movie series or the numerous games which have been released over the years, this game will get your spider senses tingling. The Amazing Spider-man (PS3) is an incredibly fun, visually appealing and highly engaging 3rd person open-world game. Interestingly enough, this game is actually a sequel to the soon-to-be-released film bearing the same name. I know, I know…movie – video game tie-ins are usually something to avoid, but Activision and Beenox Studios have really done a great job with this title. The fact we are presented with an entirely new story in this game is actually quite refreshing, even if it is a bit tacky. The Amazing Spider-man basically has it all; a large environment to explore, interior environments, spectacular fights with bosses, and web-slinging galore.
Visuals
The Amazing Spider-man presents exactly the sort of graphics you would expect from a major publisher; they’re polished, enjoyable and engrossing. This is by no means a visually inferior game; on the contrary, it looks fantastic. However, TASM is not without its faults; for example, when you enter a building or underground areas there are noticeable problems with the orientation of the camera. But don’t get the wrong idea, these kinds of issues rarely creep up and certainly don’t get in the way of the experience itself.
Gameplay
If there’s one area where this game shines, it’s in the gameplay department. As with most of the other Spider-man games, you basically have to ways of getting around; zipping and swinging. Zipping allows you to fire a beam of webbing at something and quickly pull yourself over; swinging of course is the de facto method of transportation which we all associate with spider-man. This game also incorporates a “bullet-time” feature which allows you to slow the action down slightly in order to take advantage of other environmental highlights.
If you’ve played “Arkham City” before, then you’ll feel right at home with the controls and setup of the combat in this title. Does this mean that the combat is as fluid and enjoyable as what you’ll find in that previously mentioned game? Not quite; the combat in The Amazing Spider-man isn’t nearly as well though-out as what is present in Arkham City (it’s still pretty fun though). Stealth combat is also heavily featured (which I found to be highly enjoyable, even if it is a bit overpowered). Additionally, RPG-ish upgrades for your gadgets are available throughout the course of playing the game, each of which brings new abilities (only some are truly useful though).
Verdict
The Amazing Spider-man is a really enjoyable game which seems to have been constructed in the spirit of another superhero-focused open-world 3rd person game (Batman: Arkham City). There’s a lot to do, to see and plenty of enemies to dispatch in creative ways. While this title might not strike mainstream video gaming audiences as anything particularly new or exciting, fans of the Spider-man franchise should definitely feel as though they are being properly served. All in all, this is arguably the best Spider-man-related game on the market; definitely worth looking into if you’re into the character, story or movie(s).