User Reviews (1 - 11 of 18)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Ultimate Spider-Man

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 28 / 29
Date: September 25, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ultimate Spider-Man (2005.)

INTRODUCTION:
Over the years, Spider-Man has been one of the coolest comic book characters around. It's hard to believe a character Stan Lee created many decades ago, much less one that everyone thought would crash and burn, has remained consistently popular. The success of the live-action films based on Spidey only boosted his popularity moreso. However, video games based on the Webslinger, as well as most comic-based games, are well below average. The Spider-Man 2 Movie video game showed serious potential, and proved comic book games might have a future after all. And in 2005, Ultimate Spider-Man arrived on various consoles. The game was based on the Ultimate Spider-Man comic book series, which was essentially a modernized retelling of the classic story. To see how the game measures up, keep reading!

OVERVIEW:
Ultimate Spider-Man was released in September 2005. The game is one player, and features full-3D objective-oriented action-adventure. There are two playable characters.

REVIEW:
I waited for this game to come out for a long time. My expectations were pretty high. Did the game meet my expectations? For the most part, it did. The game plays similar to the Spider-Man 2 game, but this game is more linear and objective-oriented. Probably the first thing you are going to notice that is different from that most recent game when you play this one is the graphics. Rather than going with that blocky, polygonal look that plagued the recent game, this one opts for cel-shading, and benefits immensely from it. The game looks better than just about any other super hero game out there. By far, what is going to draw most players into the experience, though, is the ability to play as both Spider-Man and Venom. Spider-Man plays true to his recent 3D gaming exploits, with all his classic powers. Venom, on the other hand, sacrifices agility for power, and to stay alive, must suck the life force out of civilians. There are numerous objectives along with side quests that will keep your attention, as well as plenty of things that you can unlock on the side. Another thing I enjoy about this game is that various characters from the Marvel universe show up in the game - NOT just Spider-Man characters! You'll get visits from the Fantastic Four's Human Torch, the X-Men's Wolverine, and a variety of other characters. The environment the game gives you is also great. In addition to the Manhattan environment you had in the previous game, this one adds Queens to the locales. This makes the gameplay region so much bigger and more diverse, and gives the game a big boost. Unfortunately, as much as I like this game, it isn't perfect. Play control is my first flaw. NO, the control isn't bad by any means, but I don't see why the game makers keep having to change the scheme. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! The control scheme in the Spider-Man 2 Movie game was just about perfect. Having to adjust to a different control scheme every time a game like this comes out annoys me. My other issue is with the camera. This is something this series has issues with. Personally, I thought the camera was better in the previous game. One thing bound to turn gamers off is how linear this game is compared to the previous one. I liked being able to roam around freely and participate in events on my own. Sure, you'll get to do that in this game, I just wish it had that open feeling the last game did. Walking into invisible walls and seeing that "area unavailable" message gets on my nerves. My last complaint is that, until you beat the game, you can't switch freely between Spider-Man and Venom - the game switches for you when the story demands it. This annoyed me. I personally would have liked it better if the game had separate campaigns for either character rather than all the switching. But overall, I am satisfied with the game. In a world of dud superhero games, this is one of the few worthwhile titles.

EDITION NOTES:
This game is a recent release, so it is readily available in most stores at the time I write this review. In addition to the normal versions, on the Playstation Two there is a Special Edition version. This version features bonus content right on the game disc, including character profiles and an interview with the man of Marvel himself, Stan Lee. It also includes a special edition comic book! This version is scarce and hard to come by (the only way I know to get it, for sure, was to have reserved the game at Gamestop.) If you're a die-hard Spidey fan, shell out the extra cash and hunt this editon down. Otherwise, the standard edition is just fine.

OVERALL:
Comic book fans rejoice! This is another edition to the extremely small library of good comic book games in the modern age. If you're a fan of Spider-Man, you really can't afford to pass this game up. I recommend the game, although you might want to consider renting it before you lay your cash on the line and purchase it. Four out of five stars.

Worth Getting, Just Not Worth $50

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: October 12, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ultimate Spider-Man has to be the best Spider-Man based game I have ever played, and I have played a lot. It takes the best parts of Spider-Man 2 and puts them in here along with some more stuff.

Nothing much to be said that hasn't been said here already. The game is extremely fun, but it does have two downsides to it. One thing is that some parts are very difficult, this ain't a game for kids when it comes to this being an easy game, because it's not. You'll find yourself dying a lot on different bosses or having to start over because the guy you have to chase runs away. Some of it can become agravating.

Another thing that is wrong with the game is how short it is. I beat the entire game in 5 hours and 7 minutes, and someone I know beat it in 4 hours and 34 minutes. Needless to say, the game is short, but sweet. For that reason, it's not worth $50. If only it lasted eight hours I would have been satisfied. Oh well.

Overall, the game is great, it's fantastic! The only problem are the two I mentioned

1. Bosses are not easy, and can be frustrating
2. It's short

Not the Most Ultimate Spiderman

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: October 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I was looking forward to this game! I was dissapointed! Ultimate Spiderman from the looks of things looks really cool, and would be if it weren't for the Spider-Man 2 movie game.

CONNECTION TO THE COMIC: Launched five years ago, the Ultimate Spiderman comic put the wall crawler back to his roots. Once again, Peter Parker's a high school kid who becomes The Spiderman. Treyarch decided to make the next SM game in the style of this comic, and does a good job at that also. It has all the things that the comic has, including the revamped super-villains, one of the most changed characters is the Green Goblin, who really looks like the Hulk with horns. As a comic book game this game is great, but not exelent.

THE GRAPHICS: One of USM's high pints is the graphics and the style of the cut-scenes. The game focuses on a cell-shaded style of graphics which really makes the game look like a comic. The cut-scenes are one of the best parts of the game, which i always looked forward to. Its hard to explain the cut-scenes in words but the trailer for the game is a good example.

CHARACTER 1, SPIDERMAN: Playing as Spiderman is fun but not as fun as in Spiderman 2 the game. You can only use your web to swing around the city and to tie up your enemies. The combat system is not based on combinations, but on a hit-quick-and-back-off method of fighting, which is actually more fun than it seems. Swinging around the city is fun, but not as fun as it was in SM2. The sense of speed is lost, even with all the upgrades achieved through racing against the Jonny Storm.

CARACTER 2, VENOM: Playing as Venom sound cool? Not really. If you know Venom, you know that he's supposed to be able to swing around on his own type web. Does he? No. You might also know that his costume is supposed to have a spider on it. One of the cool points of venom is the ability to take any human you like and feed on them to gain helth. Fighting as Veom seems fun at first, but gets repetitive. As I mentioned before, you can not swing like Venom should. Instead you jump. Really high. Fun, but once again sets repetitive. You can not free-roam until the game is complete.

STORY: A great sttory if you ask me, but just when you think it started, the game is over. This game is way, way to short. But what you get is good. The main story follows Venom and his suit. It includes little side apearences from super-villains that have nothing to do with the story, like Rhino. The Boss fights are the good old patern style fights (Villan is invincible, gets stuck in a wall, vincible.).

ENDING THOUGHTS: The Ultimate Spiderman is overall a great game, even with its many flaws it is woth picking up or at least renting.

Disapointing

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: October 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ultimate Spider-Man started out alright. It was more fun to play Venom than Spider-Man. The problem is that the game because redundent. There are two types of mission aside from the storyline for Spider-man. You have to finish so many mission to advance to the next story plot -either fight a villain or play Venom-. But the missions are all the same you fight some minor criminals that you can take out with three hits without any real damage; even if they're armed. The other mission is a race, which can be fun. But fighting the main becomes a problem. Not only are there annoy races to catch up to a villain after he runs -and you can't attack him during the chase-. But the way for defeating them becomes the same. You jump around waiting for the point that you can attack for a few hits, jump back, continue jumping around avoiding attacks, hit them again, jump around some more, etc. etc. It got to the point that fightening the Beetle as Venom was simply frustrating and I lost interest.
I would suggest renting this game if anything, but don't spend the money to buy it unless you actually like it.

Surprisingly fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: February 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I tend to enjoy gritty games with adult themes. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I find Ultimate Spiderman addictive. Its just a simple, fun game, with excellent visual and gameplay design. Its not the toughest game in the world, but if you're a fan of comicbooks in general, and Spiderman in particular, you can't help but have fun playing it. The web slinging mechanics are phenomenl (if you've ever dreamed of being spiderman), and the voice acting is entertaining, if a bit cheesy. Overall, its a great game to pick up and play for an hour at a time.

THE CONTROLS ARE HIDEOUS!! JUST RENT IT!!!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: October 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I am huge Spiderfan and am willing to forgive almost anything a game does wrong as long as it is fun. Unfortunately the controls in this game are god awful. I was able to beat the game and knock out a good chunk of the unlockables in two sittings and all the while I fumbled about like a complete idiot thanks to the lousy controls. Plus every single boss battle and story mission is precipitated by or consists of a pointless and frustrating chase. The game looks great and truly does feel like a comic book which is cool but Spider Man 2 is still a much better game. Not worth owning even for die hards.

Awesome in the beginning, kinda repititive in the end...........

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I thought the controls were good, and it was great to flip around in the beginning! But after awhile, Nyc just got too big for me to know where mary janes house was and everything. The races got kinda easy. there is alot of chase scenes.

Much More Fun Than The Original Spidey Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: January 04, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I got this game for Christmas and I think it is much better than the original "Spider Man" games that are based on the movies.I like how they let you be not only Spider Man,but Venom also.And another thing is,the booklet that comes with it is much more easy to understand.I definately reccomend this game for anyone who likes Spider Man,Action,or Good Super Hero Games!

Stunning treatment of the Spiderman franchise.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: November 08, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I was amazed at the fresh new direction Treyarch took this game into. It's really like diving into a hyper-active comic book. The missions are all fun, some are challenging but well worth the effort to beat them. Perhaps a few too many race missions, but the diversity of gameplay is top notch.

My 8 year old son loves this game to pieces.

Highly recommended to all Spidey fans!

Where'd the game go?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I was super psyched when this game was announced, and have waited anxiously to get my hands on it. I'm a huge Venom fan, and the prospect of playing both drove me wild. I wasn't disappointed either! The controls were very similar (if not identical) to spider-man 2, which made jumping in very simple. I love the shading and the format. The linear style didn't bother me at all, and I was totally into it.

I did have two complaints. First was the sheer number of chase sequences that took place. Some weren't too bad, but there were a couple that drove me nuts. That's really a personal thing, as I"m not big on time limit scenarios in games (chase is along the same vein as if you don't stay in a certain range you lose). I know any real gamer will flame that critique, and keep in mind it didn't lower my rating.

What lowered my rating was the time. I got the game Friday night, didn't play at all on Sat and still beat it on Sunday. Way too short! Plus, it seemed like there were story points missed (I won't go into them now so as not to spoil the game). After you beat it there's still the standard finding all the hidden stuff, but I find it hard to committ to this task without the knowledge that when I get bored I can advance the plot.

Overall, great game, but short pop.

Review Page: 1 2 Next 

Actions