Ultimate Spider-man

Motion graphics panels.

Treyarch saw the need, developed the technology and pioneered the video game concept.

If you looked those linked words up in a dictionary (if you could find them there, which is unlikely), you may find the following description: imaginative, innovative, visionary, astonishing, amazing and simply brilliant.

When coupled with the script of Brian Michael Bendis, Marvel Comics and publisher Activision, it takes Ultimate Spider-man to the heights of a new gaming experience, adds an element that brings the comic books to vivid and wonderful life. And it makes for one heck of a game.

The story is that Spidey uncovers some information that both his father and Eddie Brock’s father were working on a bio-chemical suit that would encase the body and give it the ability to call upon natural body chemicals and compounds to destroy cancer cells. It was supposed to be the cure for cancer (all of this is detailed in Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 6). The partners ran into funding problems, went to work for a corporation who found out about the “suit,” and immediately claimed it for their own, seeing military applications. The Parker-Brock partnership was ruined. They tried to recreate the compound, but never got far enough along. Both were killed in a plane crash – which may have been murder, but that point is left hanging.

Peter, as a 15-year old, looks up Eddie – whom he knew in childhood – to share some videos he found of their parents. Eddie shows him a vial of the compound, which basically looks like black ooze. As Spider-Man, he attempts to take a sample to work on and try to continue his father’s work, which is also what Eddie is doing as a student at ESU. Some of the gunk spills on Peter’s bare hand, and it spreads and envelopes him in a living suit, which begins to feed off him. Only through his supernatural (aka mutant) abilities is he able to get the suit off him. He confronts Eddie with the truth of the ooze, and takes the vial to destroy it. Eddie is not happy. And he has a second sample, which he puts his hand in. The suit envelopes him and thus is born the malevolent force known as Venom. 

Both Spidey and Venom are playable in the game. There are about 18 missions or so, and players will either play as one or the other, but here is the kicker – while Spidey’s missions are much more chivalrous, Venom’s are pure evil, something reflected not only in the texturing and shading used in the game, but the music is more ominous as well. Remember, the “suit” feeds off Eddie Brock’s lifeforce, so in order to survive it (and Eddie cannot control it, it controls him), the suit feeds off enemies and even civilians. And yes, tentacles whip out, grab the victim and draw him or her into the body of Venom. When it expels them, they are quivering masses almost-dead humans.

But that’s not the half of it. The control scheme for both Spidey and Venom are somewhat similar, but with Venom, the attack are more malicious – especially the spine snap, in which he bends the victim backwards and there is a horrific snapping sound as the spine is broken in two. The first time you hear it, expect shivers.

The web-slinging mechanics from Spider-Man 2 are in place, but for this version, something new has been added – the ability to climb up the Web while you are swinging to get higher on the strand and swing a little quicker and over lower buildings.

If you want cameo appearances, you will get a lot with this title. Wolverine and Venom go toe-to-toe (not a good idea when fighting Wolverine) early in the game, and players can expect other Ultimate heroes and villains to put in appearances during the course of the game.

And then there are those glorious motion graphics panels. They may have a backdrop of something and put living panels, akin to comic book panels but with motion inside the borders, into the screen. It really pulls players into the feeling of being part of a living comic book. Facial expressions, action, living images that advance the story and bring innovation to the genre are precisely what these panels add to the game.

The script is clever, the dialogue witty, and the flow is handled nicely.

Activision was showing off the game during a recent event in San Francisco, and Ultimate Spider-Man was a clear star. Was this surprising? Yes, frankly. The control scheme was easy to get used to, allowing players to focus on playing the game, not fumbling to learn how to swing. A map helps point players in the right direction, and on some of the shorter missions, in which you just have to get to a different place it this huge world, you will see that “finger of God” to guide you (the waypoint that looks like a shaft of light).

There are side missions available though, even on these flights across the city, and those show up on the map as red dots.

Ultimate Spider-Man is shaping up to be an “amazing” gaming experience. A fresh graphical approach, clever script, divergent game styles when playing the two playable characters all add up to an adventure that should not be missed by anyone who enjoys gaming.

Treyarch’s Ultimate Spider-Man is slated for release in late September on the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms.