GENRE
	Action
	DEVELOPER
	Vicarious Visions
	PUBLISHER
	Activision
	LOCAL WIRELESS MULTI-PLAY
	No
	Wi-Fi/GLOBAL ONLINE MULTI-PLAY
	No
	MICROPHONE
	No
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With great power comes great responsibility. This applies to being a superhero as well as being one of six launch titles for the upcoming Nintendo DS. Out of the six, including the other half-dozen that will arrive before Christmas, Spider-Man 2 is the only game based on a popular film license. It also has a lot to live up to, since its console counterpart was so successful. So, while the game retains a strong license that appeals to all ages, it carries the responsibility of giving a great first impression for Nintendo’s upcoming handheld. Was the balance too much for developer Vicarious Visions? Did the license get to Activision’s head? You could answer yes to any of these questions. Whether it would be true has yet to be determined. True or not, you’ll still come away with a great, solid action title. Spider-Man 2 not only makes a great first impression, but it’s also the first great licensed title on the Nintendo DS.

visuals

Everything here is built with a solid visual engine that was designed to take every advantage of the DS. The character models are nicely detailed and the game runs at a nice, steady frame-rate. In fact, the game was designed after Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace, one of the GBA’s better web-slinger titles. Vicarious Visions definitely took every chance they could to make this a good looking title. The interface is given a nice touch, taking advantage of the dual screens in very creative ways. During cut-scenes, CGI stills from the console title are displayed on the top screen while dialogue is displayed on the bottom. Missions are broken down into Primary, displayed on the top, and optional Secondary missions, displayed on the bottom. It’s a very nice touch and might make some gamers geek out just a little bit.

audio

As the first title we got our hands on, Spider-Man 2 is certainly showing off some very impressive features when it comes to sound production. The music blasts out of the stereo speakers and the vocal samples are very clear. In fact, one of the most entertaining aspects of the audio has to be the now infamous Wilhelm scream, which has been featured in movies such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and, yes, Spider-Man 2. It is quite possibly the most ingenious vocal device known to man.

gameplay

Using some distinctive brawler mechanics as well as some cool Spider-Man powers, Spider-Man 2 is a very cool beat-em-up that is as challenging as it is fun. Using the D-pad and buttons, you’ll run through several different environments, rescuing citizens and beating up the bad guys. Spider-Man has a few different powers at his disposal, the handiest of which is his Spider-Sense. Not only does it never drain, but it gives you a ton of power and a better chance of defeating baddies. However, it can’t really be activated until you’re in danger. For example, if a criminal starts to charge you, you’ll see Spidey’s head flash, then activate the Spider-Sense, and then jump as soon as possible to evade the attack. It’s a cool feature that makes the game that much more fun, otherwise it would simply be a standard, dry punching fest.

The touch screen may not be used to full effect, but there are plenty of awesome play mechanics that utilizes the hardware’s capabilities. For example, Spidey wouldn’t be complete without some awesome spider-powers, would he? There are several available on the bottom touch screen, which also displays the time spent in a specific mission as well as a brief overview of the objectives. There are eight in all, but only three are available when you start out. You can yank a baddie off of a building or throw a web-ball at someone’s face. If that’s not your thing, you can slide-kick someone’s ankles for a little extra humiliation. The touch screen is also used to complete specific objectives like shutting down reactors and defeating boss characters. For example, Doctor Octopus will start flinging debris at you and you’ll have to tap whatever he throws to deflect it.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

Spider-Man 2 is easily the most entertaining handheld game featuring web-head. Activision has certainly done well in giving Vicarious Visions their licenses once again, as they’ve created a fun game that not only uses the DS’s features to its advantage, but is also a great launch title. If you’re a fan of Spider-Man, you’d do well to pick this title up at launch. If you’ll only be picking up one or two titles, this might not be one of those. But at the very least, make sure you check this game out. It’s nicely crafted and is still a great licensed title, which is rare in this day and age. All in all, Spider-Man 2 makes a great first impression and will leave you thirsting for more Dual Screen action.

7.5/10