Spider-Man: The Game – PS2 Retro Review

Cover art (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With the recent release of the Amazing Spider-Man movie, and the subsequent release of its video-game Tie-in, I decided to dig into my old game chest. This time around I dusted off an old Classic, Spider-Man: The Game. It’s based on the movie with Tobey Maguire.

When I originally played this game, I remember thinking how badly it sucked, and how horrible the controls were. However, over time I told myself, how I must have been mistaken. How could the game be as bad as I remember it, when everyone in the gaming community loved this game to pieces! Clearly, I was mistaken! Years have passed, and I never broke it out again, until now!

First, let me just say, that for an early PS2 game release, the graphics are astounding! It’s has lens flares, and isn’t even very choppy, which is unusual for a PS2 game as well. Overall, in terms of graphics, this game was incredible! True, the models weren’t that great, but they were passable.

The sound was great! How could it not be? Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe lend their voice talents to the game, to help give it that authentic spidey movie feel. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, they tossed in Bruce Campbell as the Narrator/tour guide, just to bump the game up to cult status. The music and sound effects were brilliant, and quite realistic. However, it was slightly dated, but again, I can’t stress this enough: It’s from the PS2 and is 10 years old!

That was the good stuff.

The controls were just as bad as I remember. I mean horrible! However, it should be noted, that most games released during that video game era had horrible controls. Still, this is worse than most of those. It could have been a much smoother experience, especially since the PS2 controller is virtually identical to the PS3 controller. I see no reason, why they couldn’t take the time to make a smooth control scheme like games have today!

In terms of difficulty, it wasn’t as hard as I remember it being, however the game is by no means a cakewalk. It is difficult, and at time frustratingly so, although I feel a lot of that has to do with the controls. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I would find myself stuck to a wall, clinging there, while being shot at.

Still, the game has some level of fun factor, especially if you are an avid spidey fan, and with the new spider-man reboot being out, it might be fun to flash back to the original.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time

There was a game released on the Playstation 2, Called Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. I am sure you have heard of it, because it was insanely popular. It was so popular that Disney felt basing a movie on it would be the bee’s knees.

Years pass, and sequels are spawned. The Playstation 3 begins cranking out playstation 2 compilations. It’s no wonder that one of these compilations is the Prince of Persia Trilogy.

People who have never played the games before are given a chance to play these classic stories, in HD, stereoscopic 3D and with Trophies.

One of those people who are experiencing the game for the first time, is me. See, I was never really into platformers back in the PS2 days, in fact the only types of games I would even consider playing were RPGs. As you can imagine, I missed out on playing many great titles.

As time passed, my tastes in games expanded, and now I pretty much enjoy every video game genre imaginable. Except most sports games and all rhythm games. Those suck. I have tried them, and I despise them.

So tonight, I began playing Prince of Persia and the Sands of Time, and I have to admit, I didn’t like it all! In fact, I would go so far as to say it sucks. Not just sucks, but suck much ass!

It’s not that I don’t enjoy platformer games. I love them! In fact the Uncharted game series, is one of my top favorite series! I also love Assassins Creed Ezio Trilogy, I enjoy God of War and Tomb Raider. In fact, I love most platformer games! So, it came as quite a shock when I discovered that I detested PoP:SoT.

I know many people love the game, and most people will say how it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. To them I say, you really need to try a new brand of sliced bread.

So, what do I dislike about the game? So many things! To begin, with the story is very poor. It doesn’t reach out and grab me, and make me want to keep playing to see what happens next. Which is a bad thing, considering the controls feel clumsy and awkward. Usually, even when a game has crappy gameplay, if the story is good, I will keep playing, because I don’t want to be left hanging.

This wasn’t the case with PoP:SoT. In fact, I quit playing less than 2 hours into the game, and have no intention of looking back, or trying the next two installments of the POP trilogy.

CSI: It’s not just a series.

You know that Series that’s all kinds of crazy popular and has all those spin-offs? No, not Law & Order! I am talking about CSI. Here’s a fun fact for you. I have never watched an episode of this series, and only a couple episodes of one of it’s spin-offs. CSI:NY, and only that because it featured an online game I play called Secondlife. The episode was pretty lame, and I hope to god they aren’t all that bad!

That being said, while I have not watched the series, I have played most of the games. I love the games as a matter of fact! Though I’m not sure what genre of game they would fit into, I am guesing either adventure or hidden object games?  Either way, the games are fun as hell, and puts you in the role of a rookie CSI. The only problem I have with the games, is that they are short. Incredibly short! Though, they are quite fun!

Now, the games I played weren’t the PC releases. I played the versions that were released on various consoles, PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360. So, I sat today thinking, I would like to try some of the other game versions that are out on the PC. Like CSI: NY – The Game, and CSI: Miami – The Game, however they are older titles, and I don’t know if they will run on a Vista O/S. Which is a shame because I *REALLY* want to try these games out! 😡

PS2 still in the running? WTF?

I have just found out that games for the Playstation 2 are being produced! This actually comes as a huge shock to me, as I assumed that they quit making Playstation 2 games years ago! I know they quit making Xbox titles soon after the 360 came out, and I just assumed the same happened with the PS2. This however is NOT the case, they are still making games for the PS2! Not just crappy games either, Top titles! For instance Marvel Ultimate Alliance? One of the hottest Role playing titles to come out within the last few months? It was also released on the PS2!

This has entirely changed my opinion on Sony and their Playstation gaming systems. They actually seem to CARE about their customer base, and realise not all their customers can afford a PS3(Or may not want to, since their PS3 slim wont allow them to play Everquest adventurers). Taking that into consideration they contnued to produce games for this last gen gaming system, and you know what? the games don’t look half bad! In fact, the newer PS2 titles could be compared to their next gen counterparts.

I’ve even unhooked my xbox 360, and started playing my PS2 again. Even considering buying a PS3 now, due to this newfound respect that I have for Sony. If their systems still allowed you to play PS2 games? I would buy a PS3 tomorrow without a second thought. As it is, the idea of a PS3 is tempting.

Wii on the other hand? I laugh in your general direction!