| Spider-Man | |
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| Developer(s) | Neversoft Edge of Reality (N64 port) Treyarch (Dreamcast port) LTI Gray Matter (PC port) |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Engine | Tony Hawk engine |
| Released | August 24, 2000 (PlayStation) August 31, 2000 (Game Boy Color)November 21, 2000 (Nintendo 64) April 19, 2001 (Dreamcast) September 19, 2001 (PC) |
| Genre | Beat-em-up |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Ratings | ESRB: Everyone |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, PC, Macintosh, Game Boy Color |
| Media | CD, GD-ROM, Cartridge |
Spider-Man is an action game based upon the Marvel Comics character, Spider-Man. It was developed by Neversoft, using the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater engine. Released originally for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 in 2000, the game was subsequently ported to PC, and Sega Dreamcast. An alternate was also created for the Game Boy Color.
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Plot
While attending a scientific demonstration hosted by the reformed Dr. Octopus, Peter Parker (Spider-Man) witnesses the appearance of someone impersonating Spider-Man. The impostor steals the experiment and leaves. Eddie Brock mistakes this for the real Spider-Man and tries to take pictures, but his camera is shattered by the fake Spider-Man. Brock then grows angry, just as the Venom symbiote rebonds with him. Everyone present at the experiment believes that Spider-Man took the experiment. This prompts the police to begin a manhunt for Spider-Man. After foiling a bank robbery and stopping the Scorpion from killing J. Jonah Jameson, Spider-Man is forced to flee from the police in a chase across New York City. The Black Cat alerts him to two new problems: the Rhino is attacking a power plant and Venom has kidnapped Mary Jane Watson-Parker, Spider-Man's wife. Spider-Man defeats the Rhino, but the Black Cat is kidnapped by unknown parties. Spider-Man is unable to locate Venom until the villain, newly obsessed with Spider-Man following the imposter's appearance, appears and leads Spider-Man on an elaborate chase through the sewers and in one portion, the subways which are filled with deadly traps. You might end up meeting The Lizard, who explains that Venom locked him down there and took control of the other lizard men, finally giving you directions to Venom's hideout. After finally catching Venom and rescuing Mary Jane, Spider-Man convinces Brock that someone has framed him, Venom befriends Spider-Man, for now. They reluctantly agree to work together to find the party responsible, starting with a visit to the Daily Bugle to search for information. At the Bugle, Spider-Man is abandoned by Venom, who senses the presence of Carnage, his symbiote offspring. Spider-Man discovers an infestation of symbiotes throughout the building, and finally locates the impostor: Mysterio. After being defeated by Spider-Man, Mysterio reveals that his bosses plan to use an army of symbiotes to conquer the city. Mysterio's information leads Spider-Man to a warehouse that hides an enormous underground base in which the symbiotes are being manufactured. After rescuing the Black Cat, Spider-Man discovers the masterminds behind the plan: Carnage and Doctor Octopus, who was never really reformed. With Venom's help, he defeats both villains, but the Carnage symbiote fuses with Dr. Octopus' damaged arms to produce an enormous, out-of-control monster. The new "Monster Ock" accidentally destroys the base, and Spider-Man barely escapes to the surface, where he is rescued by Captain America. With Doc Ock and the rest of the villains in jail, Spider-Man's good name is restored.
Cast
| Character | Voice Actor (English) |
|---|---|
| Spider-Man / Peter Parker / Bank Thug #1 | Rino Romano |
| Dr. Octopus / Dr. Otto Octavius | Efrem Zimbalist Jr |
| Monster-Ock / Police Pilot#1 / HenchMan#1 | Marcus Shirock |
| Police Officer / SWAT COP#2 / HenchMan#2 / ThugPilot / Police Officer on walkey talky | Robert Tinkler |
| Mary Jane Watson-Parker / Black Cat | Jennifer Hale |
| Carnage /Rhino /J. Jonah Jameson /Daredevil / The Lizard / SWAT COP | Dee Bradley Baker |
| Eddie Brock / Venom / Mysterio /Scorpion / Punisher / Johnny Storm /Captain America | Daran Norris |
| Bank Thug #2 / Eagle-One Pilot / Security Guard | Chad Findley |
| Hostage / Police Pilot#2 / Sniper / Microchip | Christopher Corey Smith |
| Hostage | Patrick Warburton |
| Narration | Stan Lee |
What If? Mode
Upon entering a code in the game, a player can activate What If? mode. What If? was a series of comics that looked at alternate takes of events in Marvel Comics history, and in much the same way the game becomes an alternate version of itself. Although the story plays the same, there are subtle little differences scattered throughout the scenery and audio track. And, like the comic series, when you begin a new game The Watcher appears and explains to the player that things are no longer as they once were. Some changes include:
- Dialogue between characters.
- Cameos by other Marvel characters.
- A new sub-level.
- Cheat codes scattered throughout.
- Different pictures and props on certain levels.
Alternate Costumes
There are a variety of different costumes that span the course of Spidey's career featured in the game, each one achieved by accomplishing various goals or by entering in a cheat code. While some are just alternate character skins, others give Spidey new in-game abilities. These are as follows with their first comic appearances:
- Scarlet Spider (Web of Spider-Man #118)-Beat Rhino.
- Ben Reilly (Sensational Spider-Man #0)-Beat Venom the first time.
- Spider-Man 2099 (Amazing Spider-Man #365)-Collect every comic; allows double attacking power.
- Symbiote Spider-Man (Amazing Spider-Man #252)-Beat the game; unlimited webbing.
- Captain Universe (Amazing Spider-Man #158)-Beat the game on hard; double power, unlimited webbing and invincibility.
- Spider-Man Unlimited (Webspinners, Tales of Spider-Man #13)-Beat the game a second time; invisibility.
- Quick-Change (Spider-Man #58)-Score 10,000 points in zip-line training; limits to 2 web cartridges.
- Peter Parker (Amazing Fantasy #15)-Find Kraven's trophy room in the Item Hunt training; limits to 2 web cartridges.
- Amazing Bag-Man (Amazing Spider-Man #258)-Enter the cheat code; limits to 2 web cartridges.
Trivia
- Voice actors Rino Romano (Spider-Man), Jennifer Hale (Black Cat, Mary Jane), and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (Dr. Octopus) reprise their roles from prior Spider-Man animated series. Rino Romano, the voice of Spider-Man, also did the voice in Spider-Man Unlimited, while Efrem Zimbalist Jr. voiced Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Jennifer Hale was in both shows, having done the voice of Black Cat in Spider-Man: the Animated Series and Mary Jane on Spider-Man Unlimited.
- Both Rino Romaro and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. have Batman connections also. Rino currently voices Batman/Bruce Wayne in The Batman while Zimbalist Jr. voiced Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: The Animated Series. Rino also played Revan in Kotor while Hale played Bastala.
- On one of the rooftops, there is a billboard advertising for Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Upon seeing this, Spider-Man remarks "Hey, I skated with that guy!". This is a reference to Spider-Man being a playable character in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2.
- When you are chased by the police it is possible to find the Green Goblin's hidden base inside a crane, to which Spider-Man says sarcastically, "Gee, I wonder who those Pumpkin Bombs belong to?".
