The sequel to one of the best super hero movies in a long time swings into theaters soon and, as one would expect, the game associated with the movie is right behind. Like many other games based on movies, Spider-Man 2 is a 3rd person action/adventure game that takes a player through the events of the movie. However, in Spider-Man 2's case, that's only half the story. Taking a cue from the open-ended free-roaming gameplay of Grand Theft Auto 3, Treyarch has created a virtual Manhattan filled with random crimes, citizens in peril, and even pizzas to be delivered in addition to the the story missions. The end result is that the story missions only amount to about 50% of the game.

Treyarch's virtual Manhattan is not just filled with things to do, it's filled with plenty of sights to see. The island has been faithfully recreated so that every district feels like its real life counterpart, complete with all the major landmarks. Want to see the Garden? It's right there on the corner of 7th Ave. and 32nd Street. Want to get the view from the top of the Empire State Building? No problem...and you don't even need an elevator. Looking for an exciting night with a classy lady? Well, it might not be what you had in mind, but you can hitch a ride on a helicopter to Ellis Island and sling web around the Statue of Liberty for some nocturnal entertainment. One sight that you won't see, however, is a loading screen as you swing through the city canyons. The game is designed so that you can roam from district to district up and down the island with no disrupting load screens. This no-load-screen policy also applies to when Spider-man decides to take a closer look inside the neighborhood. Entering and exiting building is as smooth as swinging from rooftop to rooftop.

Of course, all the sights and missions in Manhattan wouldn't mean much if Spidey fought and moved like Aunt May (unless of course you're thinking Aunt May from Marvel Team-Up #137, in which case you're probably already sold on this game). Fortunately, Spider-Man 2 is true to the web-slinger's comic and cinematic roots, so Spidey swings through the city's concrete canyons and climbs its walls with so much speed and agility that you might think Peter Parker was bitten by a blue sneaker-wearing hedgehog instead of a radioactive spider.

Combat is similarly reminiscent of Spidey's film and comic past. While you can simply run up and punch a thug a few times or even bind him with webbing, nothing beats sending a web line out to a criminal and using it to swing him into his accomplices. Or better yet, you can nab a perp with webbing, yank him into the air, and leap up after him to continue fighting mid-air. These are only a few on the things you can do at the beginning of the game. As Spidey proceeds through the game, he can use the Hero Points acquired from completing missions to purchase even more moves and combos. All in all, Spider-Man's move set promises to be very diverse and should allow you to clean up the streets in many different ways. One thing you won't be able to do, however, is beat up on innocent civilians. But then, if you could, you wouldn't really be living up to Spidey's "friendly neighborhood" reputation.

With a giant-sized virtual Manhattan to quickly swing through, fast and varied combat, plenty of missions to do, and almost no load times, Spider-Man 2 the videogame is shaping up to be every bit as big as the movie.

Last updated: 07/20/2003

Since Spider-Man 2 (tentative title) is based on the upcoming movie sequel, plot details are still scarce at the moment. The city of Manhattan needs protection from Doc Ock and his evil minions, and only a certain web-slinging, skyscraper-climbing super-hero is up for the job. That is basically the only information we have.

What we do know, though, is that the developers at Treyarch are spending a lot of time enhancing the gameplay mechanics as well as making the city of Manhattan more believable.

First of all, the levels are not nearly as straight-forward as the original. You now have more freedom to fly around, taking on mini-quests and side-objectives if you please. As a result, Manhattan should seem a lot bigger and more alive this time around. Spider-Man can even walk the streets freely and interact with objects, cars, buildings and other locations, all of which are constructed to a realistic scale. He can also talk to the citizens and assist them. When helping them out, he is rewarded with hero points, which can be used on new costumes and more advanced combat moves.

Speaking of combat moves, the fighting system should prove to be more satisfying too. Spider-Man has a wealth of moves at his disposal. Apart from the standard block, punch, and kick moves, he can now disarm opponents and carry out vicious counter attacks. Other special moves include mid-air piledrivers, a gigantic leap straight up in the air, and clinging onto the roofs of moving vehicles. Most intriguing is the ability to shoot multiple web lines at various enemies and then pull them towards you or smash them into walls. The Spider Sense is also implemented. When activated, you enter a slow-motion mode where an indicator will warn you when an attack is imminent, thus giving you more time to counter-attack. An integral part of the fighting system, these counter attacks are context-sensitive and, hopefully, sufficiently nasty-looking.

The act of swinging through the streets has also been drastically changed, as Spider-Man can no longer attach his web to invisible objects. Now his web must physically connect to a building. You control the direction of the next webline, which means you’ll have to keep a close eye on the building structures ahead. If you need to have a look around, it’s also possible to hang motionless between two buildings. All in all, this system seems more advanced and more challenging. Furthermore, the game will award you with style points based on how gracefully you swing through the air, which should further strengthen the lastability of the game.

Another welcome feature is the improved camera system. The Achilles’ Heel of the original was the lacklustre indoor stages in which the camera got stuck behind walls and, generally, struggled to keep up with the action. Now the camera should follow Spidey around more smoothly, while providing a greater overview of the surroundings.

Hopefully, with all these significant improvements, Spider-Man 2 will deliver a more satisfying gameplay experience than its predecessor. Treyarch is definitely on the right track.