Activision and Next Level Games take a hearty, new thwack at those old timey Spider-Man games that have been swinging around since Nintendo was still in its bubbling larval state with the recent release of Spider-Man: Friend or Foe for Nintendo DS. After spending some time with the game however, it may actually be worth the effort to drag your old console out of mothballs before dropping the cash for this one. 

A Not-So-Diverse Cast of Characters

Upon a quick glance at the cover, Spider-man: Friend or Foe suggests to gamers that they’ll finally have their chance to power Doc Ock’s mechanical legs, pilot Green Goblin’s glider, or play as any one of numerous other characters from the Marvel universe; specifically Black Cat, Blade, Sandman, and Venom.  Technically, you do get to control those characters, but in reality Activision doesn’t completely deliver on its implicit promise. 

Of course, being able to instantly switch between Spidey and Venom is exhilarating, even though it’s been done before [in Ultimate Spider-Man – ED], the problem lays in the game’s lack of distinguishing factors between these once-diabolical enemies, turned-cooperative villains. The best part of the Marvel universe has always been the specificity and originality of every character. 

In this manifestation, every support character has two special moves: a projectile and a crowd control.  The graphics of these hackneyed moves are for the most part unique, but when I, for example, tossed out a pumpkin grenade with a pedestrian Green Goblin and it didn’t explode, a tiny part of me died inside.  And yes, you heard me right; you will never get to fly around on his glider either. Trick or Treat?

Fool Me Once, Activision…

Before it dawned on me Next Level games was only going to tease us with a half-baked villain turned BFF experience I did find myself enjoying the well-crafted environments and delicious renderings of the non-projectile special moves - even the music in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe feels creative and fitting.  The ease, speed, and originality of the game’s dynamic environments and the ability to interact with them alone held my interest for a time: climbing buildings, running down streets and collapsing caves - even trips the light-fantastic down spiraling paths over bubbling lava - are all great-looking backdrops to this Spider-Man incarnation; all of which end up being one of the few redeeming qualities behind this otherwise hack’n’slash Gauntlet: Legends state of affairs. 

This attention to graphic detail extends into each character’s special throws as well, which are slowed down a la Matrix bullet-time and made to look surprisingly impressive for a handheld game.  This effect served as a welcome respite from the relatively monotonous punch and kick combo animations, though, they were occasionally glitchy as well, with partners appearing all over the screen or frozen in motion if you left them too far behind. 

The enemy-bashing-centric gameplay is occasionally broken up by short plot-related puzzle breaks Next Level dubs ‘mini-games’, which are all quick to learn, and even somewhat challenging at first.  Advertising these as ‘mini-games’ however is like Activision telling me vacuuming their floors will be a blast. There’s simply not enough depth here to earn the ‘mini’ label. Not this time, web-head!

No Death or Taxes 

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe contains a simple monetary system, in which copper, silver, and gold ‘Spidey’ coins are collected to unlock various upgrades, different play modes, and the ability to use alternate partners while revisiting previously completed levels in free-play mode.  These coins are virtually everywhere and ingrained deep within all of us gamers is the primal instinct to jump at and collect these sparkly currencies wherever and whenever we see them. 

Unfortunately, the upgrades simply aren’t worth the added effort.  To be fair, there is one slick move you can purchase for Spiderman which I can only describe as exactly what I’ve always wanted to do to baddies in a Spider-Man game. Trust me on this!

Other than that, upgrading Spidey’s health or special bar is pointless because the game is simply too easy to begin with.  I was halfway through the game when Spidey finally died for the first time, only to have him revived with half health within five seconds of swapping to my freshly-converted super villain. Um..can’t you see I’m busy here Mr. Parker?
 
Despite my various disappointments with the game, I was still entertained overall.  The game is short enough that by the time its major deficiencies become apparent… it’s almost over.  That said, I’d just as soon bury my face in a stack of old Daniele Steele novels in a bargain bookstore before playing Spider-Man: Friend or Foe again.  If we ever get to revisit the world of Spider-Man we can only hope it won’t contain endless freeplay levels, mindless mini-games and quests to collect shiny coins for useless upgrades we don’t want. If that’s the case – leave me out and pass me a Dew and my dog-eared copies of Secret Wars on your way out will you?