Highlights
- Spider-Man has had many forgotten video game titles across different platforms, such as the side-scrolling platformer on SNES and the side-scrolling beat 'em up on Game Boy.
- Some of these forgotten titles, like The Amazing Spider-Man on Game Boy and Spider-Man: Mysterio's Menace on Game Boy Advance, showcased impressive gameplay and animation for their respective platforms.
- The initial Spider-Man game on PS2, while overshadowed by its groundbreaking sequel, was a bestseller at the time and offered players the opportunity to web swing around a 3D-rendered New York.
As the upcoming release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 approaches following the enormous success of its predecessor, the video game stock of the web-slinging hero has seldom been higher. Spider-Man as a franchise and character has always been an enticing fit for the video game formula. The ability to traverse entire cities in the sky, solve mysteries like a detective, and bring down bad guys in athletic and unique ways only begs for a fitting video game adaptation.
Peter Parker’s travails have been covered in video games for decades prior across many platforms and genres. Though there are plenty of Spider-Man games available for players to experience, there are a few that gamers may have forgotten about.
7 Spider-Man – SNES
Based on the 90s animated series, Spider-Man on the Super Nintendo is side side-scrolling platformer that brings much of the animated series to life. This is a forgotten title as it's usually overshadowed by the harder-to-acquire Spider-Man titles on the platform, Maximum Carnage and Separation Anxiety. In this last outing for LJN and Activision with the Spider-Man license, Dr. Octopus and Green Goblin team up to seek revenge on Spider-Man and attack the city. As a side-scrolling platformer, there are several better offerings on the SNES, and its gameplay does not stand out.
This being said, the level design and animation make good use of their source material from the animated series. Moreover, the other Spider-Man releases on the platform are markedly difficult, and this may be the ideal SNES title for fans of the franchise and certainly those of the TV series.
6 The Amazing Spider-Man – Game Boy
Brought together by the unlikely publisher developer union of LJN and Rare in 1990, The Amazing Spider-Man on Game Boy is a surprising gem. Producing detailed environments of buildings to climb and alleys to fight through, this side-scrolling beat ‘em up is one of the Game Boy's best offerings of the genre. In this title, players are on a mission to save the kidnapped Mary Jane and must battle their way through several villains, including Mysterio, Rhino, Dr. Octopus, and Venom.
While the game would receive varying reviews, some high in praise and others more tepid, it is nevertheless a fine display of the Game Boy’s capabilities. The capture of various New York environments is staggeringly detailed, and there is a fun engaging beat ‘em up here.
5 Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace – Game Boy Advance
Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace's takes the 4th generation console format of side-scrolling and brings it to the GBA hardware. This fast and bright platformer brings more depth, fluidity, and animation quality than ever seen before in Spider-Man’s 2D outings. Perhaps most charmingly, the GBA’s capacities gave Spider-Man’s web-swinging a sense of travel not felt outside his 3D open-world titles.
Developed by Activision, this game is not long; a gamer can get through it in 2 or 3 hours. Though its animation, its fast gameplay, and its gauntlet of familiar bosses make this a brilliant if forgotten Spider-Man title.
4 Spider-Man – PS2
A game overshadowed by a truly groundbreaking sequel and oft-forgotten thanks to it, Spider-Man on the 6th generation of consoles was a bestseller for its time. A movie tie-in with the initial Sam Raimi Spider-Man outing, this title follows the story of the film yet also expands, adding several villains from the franchise. Most impressively, the game features a voice cast matching the film cast, adding to the immersion of the game. The gameplay takes beats from the PS1 title as a stage-based 3D beat ‘em up, yet it provides the opportunity to web swing around a 3D-rendered New York like never before.
Unquestionably, its sequel would revolutionize not on Spider-Man games but also open-world games in 3D. However, if a gamer is to go back, they will find that this initial entry is a fine Spider-Man game with much to offer.
3 Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six – Game Boy Color
At the turn of the millennium, developer Neversoft would make their name with the debut of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise. Sandwiched between the original and its iconic sequel, Neversoft would release Spider-Man on the PlayStation to critical acclaim. Curiously, the game got three sequels on three separate platforms, with Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six on the Game Boy Color being the first. Taking cues from older platforms, the gameplay is a side-scrolling platformer across 6 stages, culminating in a final boss battle with Dr. Octopus.
Using the Game Boy Color’s titular palate, this is a colorful and vibrantly animated Spider-Man outing with comic book onomatopoeia popping up with every strike. This oft-forgotten Spider-Man game is hardly original, yet it’s far from easy and features some remarkable cutscenes throughout.
2 Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro – PS1
Neversoft gave gamers the first 3D outing of Spider-Man that remained iconic for years to come. It got a fully 3D direct sequel with Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro a year after its release. In contemporary terms, this release made today would be called DLC. Enter Electro features all the same combat mechanics and linear gameplay of its winning original and not much more to add on top. Enter Electro is likely less talked about than its original because it is a blatant case of more of the same.
The plot revolves around Spider-Man taking down Electro after he starts a series of heists around New York City. Both soundtrack and cutscenes do not stand up in comparison to their predecessor in what feels like a rushed production hoping to capture the steam of its original.
1 The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. Kingpin – Sega CD
Bolstered by the Sega CD’s added CD–ROM technology, The Amazing Spider-Man vs. Kingpin was released in 1993. Essentially a definitive edition of the earlier Genesis title, this side-scrolling platformer places Spider-Man against Kingpin as he threatens to detonate a nuclear bomb within 24 hours. While the Genesis title is treasured by many, this Sega CD upgrade is less so, mainly thanks to the limited run of the hardware it was released on.
The upgrades here are substantial; this Sega CD edition features faster gameplay, extra moves in Spider-Man's combat, and a high-quality soundtrack. However, most likely to impress the gamer are the full voice acted and animated cutscenes that feel right out of the comic books. Though this title may have been somewhat forgotten by fans of the famed web-slinger, it's certainly worth a playthrough for those willing to give it a chance.