Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Developer(s)	Shaba Games and Treyarch Aspyr Media (PC) Griptonite Games (DS) Amaze Entertainment (PS2, PSP)
Publisher(s)	Activision
Composer(s)	Jamie Christopherson
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows Nintendo DS PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 PlayStation Portable Wii Xbox 360
Release	NA: October 21, 2008 EU: October 24, 2008 AU: October 28, 2008
Genre(s)	Action-adventure, Metroidvania (DS)
Mode(s)	Single-player

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a video game title based on the fictional superhero of the same name, encompassing three versions: a full-3D action-adventure game set in an open world for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360; a 2.5D side-scrolling brawler/platformer for the Nintendo DS; and a 2.5D sidescrolling beat em up action game for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable (called Amazing Allies Edition). All three versions of the game follow a relatively similar plot, which sees Spider-Man teaming up with various other superheroes and villains alike to stop a symbiote invasion that has consumed Manhattan.

The game received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics, who singled out the boss fights, destructive combat, use of an original story and open-ended nature. However, the game's choice system received mixed reviews; although some praised how the player is able to create a dynamic experience with their choices, others were critical of the system's limitations. In addition, reviewers criticized the storyline's poor execution, bothersome camera controls, the inability to free-roam after completing the game, lip-syncing issues and the subpar graphics. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, along with most other games published by Activision that had used the Marvel license, was de-listed and removed from all digital storefronts on January 1, 2014.

Gameplay

Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360

Spider-Man Web of Shadows is a third person action-adventure video game, set in an open-world that resembles Manhattan, although some buildings and areas are replaced with their comics counterpart, such as Fisk Tower or the Trask Building instead of the real-life Empire State Building. The gameplay is very similar with that of previous Spider-Man titles (namely Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 and Ultimate Spider-Man), with the player taking the role of the titular hero and all his spider-like super-human abilities. Thus, the game features "web-slinging" (which allows the player to travel very fast across the map by attaching a web line to a nearby building), wall crawling, and a complex combat, featuring a large number of moves and combos. The game improves on the combat system from previous games, with the player now being able to fight not only on ground, but on the walls of buildings and in the air as well. It also introduces a new gameplay mechanic called "web strike", which can be used both as an attack and a means of transport, consisting of Spider-Man attaching a web to the nearest enemy and pulling himself to them; Spider-Man can then either hit them, or jump over them, as some enemies can counter web strikes.

At specific points in the story, various choices appear that have the player choose between the Red Path or the Black Path. These choices influence the story, the way other characters interact with Spider-Man and even the ending of the game. In addition, there is a new feature called the "reputation bar", which becomes red when the player chooses the Red Path or prevents various crimes around the city, and starts turning black when the player chooses the Black Path or causes mayhem and destruction in the city. As they progress through the story, the player also has the ability to summon various allies that will assist them during fights: if the reputation bar is red, the player can summon heroes to help them out (Luke Cage, Moon Knight and Wolverine), whereas if the bar is black, the player can summon villains for help (Black Cat, Vulture, Rhino and Electro).

The player is able to switch between Spider-Man's traditional red and blue costume and the black symbiote suit at any time during gameplay, with both suits having their own separated sets of upgrades; upgrade points are earned from defeating enemies or completing specific tasks, and are used to purchase new combat moves for each of the two suits individually. Chris Scholz from Shaba Games commented that the developers "worked on really separating the black and red suits to give the player a different feel". For example, red and blue-suited Spider-Man is fast and agile, while symbiote Spider-Man is stronger and more destructive.

The mini-map on the screen is also different from the style used in previous Spider-Man games. The traditional 2-D overhead view has been removed, replaced by a new 3D map with an "X", "Y" and "Z" axis which shows the player's position in three-dimensional space (north and south, as well as vertical position). Also, as a Wii exclusive, there are 6 alternate costumes (Spider-Carnage for the black suit, and Spider-Armor, Ben Reilly, Spider-Man 2099, Cosmic Spider-Man and the Iron Spider suit for the red suit).

Although the player is unable to free-roam after the storyline's completion, this can be achieved through a secret method, which has the player watch the credits twice. Afterwards, when they select to continue the game, the player will start a new game with all of their previous upgrades already made, essentially acting as a "New Game Plus".

PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable

The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions were released as Spider-Man: Web of Shadows - Amazing Allies Edition and are drastically different from the main console and PC version. This version of the game doesn't feature an open-world and is instead a 2.5D side scrolling brawler, including 10 different levels that take place in various locations across Manhattan, such as the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, the Fisk Tower, or Central Park, although some levels are set on the streets or rooftops. Nevertheless, the player can still crawl up walls or use Spider-Man's web lines to "web swing" (allowing for faster travelling or not touching the ground if a specific part of a level requires it) and pull themselves to a wall.

The game features conversations with various characters, during which the player can choose between several different lines of dialogue for Spider-Man to say. These conversations can change specific parts of the story and even the ending of the game, or give the player points for each of the two suits individually, depending on the chosen line.

After the first level, Spider-Man can switch between his classic red and blue suit and the symbiote black suit at any time during gameplay, with each of them offering a different play style: the red suit features faster and more agile attacks, whereas the black suit has stronger attacks (it can be used to break through specific weakened walls). The game also features upgrades for each of the two suits individually, with the points necessary for the upgrades being earned from defeating enemies or conversations.

Just like the title of the game suggests, the gameplay of this version focuses more on the allies system, with the player being able to summon over 30 different allies (heroes and villains alike) and power-ups to help them out during fights, the most of all the versions of the game. The plot has also changed, featuring characters absent in the other versions such as Kraven the Hunter, Shocker, Jackal, Spencer Smythe, or A.I.M..

Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS version is also a 2.5D scrolling action brawler. Much like in the console games, enemies will drop XP points when defeated which can be used to purchase new moves for Spider-Man. As the players progress through the story they will also obtain upgrades that will allow them to explore more of the open world map and eventually reach the end of the game, similarly to the Castlevania and Metroid franchises. At certain points in the game, the player will need to decide which mission to undertake next; these decisions change the overall outcome of the game.

This version is the only version in which Venom is not the cause of the symbiote invasion and can become one of Spider-Man's allies. This version also features the fewest allies: Black Cat, Venom, Green Goblin and Nightcrawler. During the game, the players can switch between the red and black suit whenever they want, with each suit having unique abilities (the red suit is more equipped for swift and dynamic movement and fast flurry of attacks while the black suit is used for overwhelming powerful but slower attacks and devastating large masses of enemies).

This version also exclusively features a revival system where if the player's health depletes, he or she can spend one "life point" to attempt to revive the fallen Spider-Man by using the Touch Screen to draw health orbs to him, while poking at poison orbs to destroy them and they will throw health orbs to Spider-Man. The revival will be successful if Spider-Man receives enough health orbs before a time limit is reached.

Plot

Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360

The game begins with Spider-Man looking for Mary Jane amidst a symbiote invasion that has consumed Manhattan. After fighting his way through symbiotes and saving several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, he eventually finds her with Luke Cage, before being knocked unconscious by an unknown assailant. The game then flashes back to four days prior, when Spider-Man has yet another encounter with Venom, during which a piece of his symbiote attaches to him, recreating his black suit. With the enhanced powers of the symbiote, Spider-Man easily defeats Venom, but he escapes. While Mary Jane, who was injured by Venom, is taken away by paramedics in an ambulance, Spider-Man discovers that he now has more control over the black suit, being able to take it on and off at will. Afterwards, Spider-Man helps Luke Cage end a gang war, ultimately convincing the two gangs' leaders to have a peaceful meeting at the Harlem Park to settle their differences. While watching over the meeting, Spider-Man spots several high-tech assassins, whom he defeats, before finding evidence that they were behind the gang war. After putting an end to the gang war by either showing the leaders the evidence or letting the gangs kill each other, Spider-Man heads to Fisk Tower, having concluded that the assassins were working for Kingpin.

At the tower, Spider-Man finds Black Cat leaving and gives chase. With some unexpected help from Moon Knight, he defeats her, before going to confront her at her penthouse, where Black Cat reveals that she is secretly working against Kingpin, and still has strong feelings for Spider-Man. Depending on the choice of returning or rejecting Black Cat's feelings, Spider-Man then joins forces with either her or Moon Knight to dismantle the Kingpin's illegal operations, including tracking down and defeating Vulture, who has been mass-producing Goblin gliders for Kingpin's goons to use. While fighting some of Kingpin's goons on the MetLife Building, Spider-Man is attacked by several seemingly deranged civilians, and is recorded by a news helicopter when he throws them off the building, leading to him being labeled a murderer; unbeknowst to anyone, the civilians were infected by symbiotes. Later, Spider-Man encounters Wolverine in Hell's Kitchen, who mistakens him for a symbiote. After a fight, the pair settle their differences and join forces to track down more hidden symbiotes. Spider-Man soon tracks down Venom, who has been kidnapping people and transforming them into symbiotes. Though Spider-Man defeats him, Venom escapes once again and continues infecting civilians. When the situation gets out of control, a S.H.I.E.L.D. team led by Black Widow sets up quarantine camps across the city for the infected citizens. Electro rampages through them in search of his sister, but is defeated by Spider-Man and then shot by Black Widow. However, his infected sister accidentally heals him with a symbiote and he escapes.

Spider-Man web-swings through an infected New York. As the game progress, more symbiote constructs appear.

Unable to contact any scientific genius, Spider-Man decides to break the Tinkerer out of Ryker's Island, desperate for someone to stop the symbiotes. With the help of an incarcerated Rhino, Spider-Man releases the Tinkerer, but upon returning with him to Manhattan, finds it swarming with symbiotes, prompting S.H.I.E.L.D. to isolate Manhattan from the rest of the city. As the Tinkerer begins working on a device that will destroy all the symbiotes without harming the hosts, Spider-Man aids S.H.I.E.L.D. in dealing with the symbiote invasion, including confronting Kingpin, who agrees to fund the construction of the Tinkerer's device and aid S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fight against the symbiotes, believing it would improve his public image. Spider-Man also tracks down and defeats Symbiote Electro in Central Park, freeing him from the symbiote's control and convincing him to help stop the invasion. After helping defend the S.H.I.E.L.D. base from a symbiote attack when their security system briefly shuts down, as well as Moon Knight's rooftop, Spider-Man assists Wolverine with an evacuation, during which the latter is infected by a symbiote, but Spider-Man defeats him and removes the symbiote. Learning that Mary Jane and Luke Cage are trying to evacuate the civilians in Harlem, Spider-Man helps escort a convoy to Fisk Tower. However, when there's no sign of Mary Jane, Spider-Man starts looking for her - leading to the opening scene of the game.

After finding her, Spider-Man is attacked by Symbiote Black Cat, but defeats her with Mary Jane's help and removes her symbiote, though severly wounding Black Cat in the process; he must then choose between leaving Black Cat in Mary Jane's care, or healing her with his symbiote, which will upset Mary Jane. Meanwhile, the Tinkerer completes his device and S.H.I.E.L.D. install it on the Trask Building, but Symbiote Vulture leads an attack to destroy it. After thwarting the attack and defeating Symbiote Vulture, removing his symbiote, Spider-Man prepares to activate the device, but is stopped from doing so by Vulture, who advises him to destroy it so that he could keep his black suit and rule over Manhattan. Depending on the choices made through the game, Spider-Man either follows Vulture's advice, or activates the device, destroying all the symbiotes, including his black suit. Either way, he then learns that Venom is attacking the Helicarrier and goes there to stop him once and for all. After planting bombs and making sure everyone evacuates, Spider-Man is confronted by "Venomzilla," a giant, five-headed Venom. After destroying four of its heads and failing to kill it using one of the Helicarrier's turrets, Spider-Man attempts to reason with Eddie Brock, which surprsingly works, as Venom emerges from Venomzilla, asking for his help. After either killing Venom or allowing him to make a heroic sacrifice to kill Venomzilla for good, Spider-Man escapes from the Helicarrier moments before it is destroyed by the bombs and crashes into the ocean, finishing off Venomzilla.

The ending of the game depends on the choices made throughout the story. If the player chose the Red Path for most of the game, meaning that Spider-Man activated the device, Manhattan is saved and slowly returning to normal; depending on the choice to leave Black Cat in Mary Jane's care or heal her with a symbiote, Spider-Man reconciles with Mary Jane and takes her for a swing ride across the city, or leaves a message in her voicemail, hoping that someday she would forgive him for his actions. If the player chose the Black Path for most of game, meaning that Spider-Man destroyed the device, he becomes the new leader of the symbiote army and rules over Manhattan, while Black Widow, Kingpin, and the Tinkerer join forces with Symbiote Wolverine to kill him; depending on the choice to heal Black Cat with a symbiote or leave her in Mary Jane's care, Spider-Man either rules alongside Black Cat, or alone, vowing to win back Mary Jane.

PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable

One night, Spider-Man encounters and defeats Venom, who explodes, leaving no trace of Eddie Brock and knocking out Spider-Man. When he wakes up, Spider-Man finds himself in the black suit and receives a surprise call from Nick Fury, who explains to him that Venom has infected the entire city and that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents quarantining Manhattan, before tasking Spider-Man with helping build a sonic generator that will destroy all the symbiotes and save the citizens of New York. He also reveals that Spider-man's previous encounter with the symbiote allows him to retain his sanity, being able to take the black suit on and off at will, but the symbiote can still influence his behavior even if he is not wearing it.

The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions of the game feature 2.5D graphics.

Spider-Man starts collecting items and technology for the sonic generator, starting with Shocker's vibro gauntlets. Finding Shocker robbing the vault to a hotel, Spider-Man gains access to the vault and defeats him, taking his gauntlets. Along the way, Spider-Man receives phone calls from Kingpin, who is also trying to stop the invasion and informs him that Spencer Smythe quit working for him and instead teamed up with A.I.M. for his secret project, which contains vibranium. As he needs vibranium for the generator, Spider-Man next heads to A.I.M.'s secret lab, choosing to infiltrate it through the subway, only to find it filled with traps set by Kraven the Hunter to hunt Rhino, who was hired by A.I.M. to guard the lab. After defeating Kraven, Spider-Man infiltrates the lab, fighting his way through both A.I.M. agents and robots, and even encountering J. Jonah Jameson, whom A.I.M and Smythe captured and cloned, planning to use the clone to discredit both Jameson and Spider-Man. After releasing either the real Jameson or the clone, Spider-Man finds the vibranium and escapes from the lab, defeating Rhino in the process.

Spider-Man returns to the city, only to find that the symbiotes have taken over. He joins forces with Luke Cage to defeat as many infected people as possible, during which Spider-Man finds clues of the Tinkerer's plot to spread the symbiotes to other cities around the world using a missile. Spider-Man makes his way to the Tinkerer's warehouse at the docks and defeats Cage, who was either infected by a symbiote or is trying to remove his black suit after Spider-Man redirected a train full of symbiotes towards him to make his travel through the city easier. Inside the warehouse, Spider-Man encounters a brainwashed Venom, whom the Tinkerer captured and made experiments on, before finally facing the Tinkerer. He destroys his robot suit, but the Tinkerer escapes by ejecting himself from the suit and initiates the countdown for the launch of his missile. Spider-Man foils his plan and convinces the AI controlling the missile to stop the countdown, having the option of firing the missile at the Tinkerer as revenge.

Spider-Man arrives on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier to help complete the sonic generator and stop the symbiote invasion, only to find it swarming with symbiotes, as the infected citizens that S.H.I.E.L.D. were studying have escaped and started infecting the agents. Making his way through the Helicarrier by collecting pass codes from uninfected agents, including Jessica Drew, Spider-Man helps everyone evacuate and reactivates the ship's defense system, before encountering Jackal, whom S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited out of desperation for a genius to analyze the symbiotes. Jackal reveals that S.H.I.E.L.D. planned to use the symbiotes as a weapon and, while they were suspicious that Jackal is a double agent for Kingpin, he was actually working for Spencer Smythe, who wants to find a way to control the symbiotes. However, Jackal betrays Smythe and plans to steal Spider-Man's black suit for his own purposes. Spider-Man defeats Jackal, before they both escape when the Helicarrier crashes into the city. Making his way through the invasion once more, Spider-Man arrives at the place of the crash and, after defeating an infected Jessica, obtains the S.H.I.E.L.D. plans for the sonic generator. He then receives a call from Nick Fury, who sends him to obtain the generator from the top of Fisk Tower. Spider-Man makes his way to the top of the tower, where he combines the parts collected earlier to a computer, completing the generator, only for Jackal to then steal it, while Spider-Man is busy fighting A.I.M. agents sent by Spencer Smythe. After discovering the generator is gone, Spider-Man receives a call from Smythe, whom he accuses of having Jackal steal the generator, but he denies the accusations, stating that, whatever Jackal is planning, it is already too late to stop the invasion. Smythe then unleashes a mind-controlled Black Cat to kill Spider-Man, but he defeats her and either frees her from Smythe's control, destroying the device, or lets the device fry her brain so that he could take it afterwards.

Spider-Man soon tracks the generator to Central Park and confronts Jackal, who claims to be the mastermind behind everything and reveals that he has modified the sonic generator to control the symbiotes. After defeating Jackal, Spider-Man recovers the generator and can use it to either fry or to control the symbiotes (if he chose to take the mind-controlling device earlier). As the device is powered up, Spider-Man finds the fountain in Central Park filled with symbiote goop, out of which seven serpent heads containing Venom's consciousness emerge to fight him. Using the generator to supply energy that weaken the heads, Spider-Man defeats Venom, which either stops the invasion, saving Manhattan, or allows him to take over the symbiote army and rule over Manhattan himself.

Nintendo DS

The game begins with the symbiote invasion already in progress. Thinking Venom responsible, Spider-Man searches for him. Along the way he encounters Black Cat, who informs him of two choices that he can be of assistance on - Nightcrawler is helping out with the evacuation and Green Goblin is setting up bombs to defeat the symbiotes. Who Spider-Man helps is decided upon by the player, and each of them can be helped twice.

After defeating several "super symbiotes", Spider-Man eventually arrives at a symbiote hive where he encounters and defeats Venom. Venom informs Spider-Man that he is not responsible for the invasion, but was trying to stop it. He also reveals that if the hive's symbiote leader is defeated, all of the infected will return to normal. With Venom now too weak to accompany him, Spider-Man decides to infiltrate deeper into the hive by himself and eliminate the leader. Spider-Man manages to defeat the symbiote leader and then escapes the collapsing hive.

The ending of the game depends on who Spider-Man helped earlier. If the player helped either Nightcrawler twice or both Green Goblin and Nightcrawler once, Manhattan is saved and the citizens return to normal, praising Spider-Man as he swings away thinking of taking a shower after having gone to the sewers twice in a day. However, if the player helped Green Goblin twice, Spider-Man escapes the hive wearing his black suit and realizes that, with the symbiote leader gone, he is now in charge of the symbiotes. The infected citizens worship Spider-Man as their new leader while he swings through a New York City covered in symbiotes, reflecting upon how great power is simply a lot of power and that it is far better than sharing the responsibility.

Development

On April 17, 2008, Activision confirmed that Spider-Man: Web of Shadows was in development, and that the game would be released on the Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Xbox 360 systems, and they confirmed that the story would center around an invasion on New York that Spider-Man and the other heroes and villains would have to deal with. Venom was confirmed as the main antagonist in June.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	DS: 79% PC: 54% PS2: 69% PS3: 70% PSP: 77% WII: 65% X360: 68%
Metacritic	DS: 77/100 PC: 52/100 PS2: 69/100 PS3: 67/100 WII: 63/100 X360: 68/100

Review scores

Publication	Score
Eurogamer	5/10
Game Informer	6.5/10
GamePro
GameRevolution	B
GameSpot	PS3/X360: 8/10 DS: 7/10 WII: 6/10
GameSpy
GameTrailers	6.3/10
GameZone	X360: 8.5/10 PS3: 8.3/10 DS: 8/10 PS2/PSP: 7/10 PC: 6.5/10 WII: 5.9/10
Giant Bomb
IGN	DS: 8/10 PS2/PSP: 7/10 PS3/X360 (AU): 6.7/10 X360 (US): 5.7/10 PS3 (US): 5.5/10 PC: 5.3/10 WII: 5.2/10
Nintendo Power	6.5/10
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	8/10
PC Gamer (US)	48%
Common Sense Media
Variety	(average)

Web of Shadows received generally mixed to positive reviews. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 79% and 77 out of 100 for the DS version; 54% and 52 out of 100 for the Microsoft Windows version; 69% and 69 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version; 70% and 67 out of 100 for the PlayStation 3 version; 77% for the PlayStation Portable version; 68% and 68 out of 100 for the Xbox 360 version; and 65% and 63 out of 100 for the Wii version.

Critics praised the idea of an original story, but cited poor execution. IGN criticized the story, and also pointed out that the lock-on camera has a tendency to detach itself, making mid-air battles difficult. 1UP.com praised the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game as having "plenty of cool "Spider-Man" moments throughout thanks to the basic locomotion and combat", which "settles into a rhythm of repetition", summing up with "Shadows might be the best Spider-Man game yet, but that's just a testament to the series' now-mediocre standards". GameSpot mentioned occasional technical issues with the graphics, sound, and camera, while praising the story, combat system, variety and "memorable" boss fights. GameSpy commented that "Web of Shadows manages to provide a good deal of fun even if it doesn't bring much new to the table", praising the animation and combat, and mentioning camera problems and visual glitches along with a repetition of objectives. Game Informer criticized the voice acting, camera, and animation, claiming, "as explosive as the new combat is, it’s all this game has to offer". X-Play gave the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions three stars out of five and said, "there’s enough great gameplay here to make Web of Shadows recommendable for Spider-Man fans. The sheer level of glitches in the game, however, manages to take the fun factor down several notches".

The DS version of the game, in contrast to the console versions, was relatively well-received, with reviewers praising level design similar to the Castlevania and Metroid franchises while criticizing the short length.

External links

• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows at IMDb
• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows at MobyGames
• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (Nintendo DS) at MobyGames
• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows - Amazing Allies Edition at MobyGames