Spider-Man: Mysterio's Menace

The game begins with a string of criminal activity taking place throughout New York City and Peter Parker rushing to the scene. As Spider-Man, you'll choose from one of three locations to start the game through the titles non-linear setup. Though it adds a much-needed sense of variety and freedom, the diverse pathways won't change the outcome of the game. Any of the directions you decide to travel will pit you against familiar super villains like Rhino, Hammerhead, Electro, and finally the boss and name of the game, Mysterio.

While there are only seven stages in the game, don't expect to sling to the end of the levels here. Mysterio's Menace is one title that presents a challenging adventure with enough exciting action to keep frustration to a minimum. Balancing those two factors is always difficult for developers, but Vicarious seems to pull it all off nicely.

In the past, beat-em-up games such as this have always been shallow and uninspired. However, the AI and level design in the game make the generic action label nonexistent. Rushing up to even the standard enemies won't work without employing a hint of strategy. In addition to the punching and kicking attacks for close combat brawls, Spider-Man can fire web bullets, spray foes down with his webbing, and use a temporary web shield.

Even with this wide assortment of attacks, enemies still have an advantage over the wall-crawler. There are a variety of goons that Spider-Man must face throughout each level, each with their own strengths. Whichever type of foe you come across, it's inevitable that the AI is strong and no enemy will be a breeze to knock over. A bit of quick thinking and the required virtue of patience will determine your fate in the end.

As a superhero, Spider-Man boasts great agility, and Vicarious Visions was able to capture his body movement so well in the game that it's fun to just watch the character jump around on the screen. There's little complaint from the control department as players are able to maneuver Spidey with ease while the fluid animation remains constant. While attack combos would have been nice to use against your enemies, the loss does not have much effect on the overall gameplay.

The story unfolds through hand-drawn comic book cutscenes that are accompanied by dialog text explaining the events. The mood of the game is shadowed in darkness, but that is not to say everything is not clear. The truth happens to be quite the opposite. The attention to graphical detail is great, nearly making the game visually perfect. Each motion during an attack, whether it's coming from Spider-Man or a foe, is fluid and almost seems realistic. Vicarious was really able to bring the comic book alive by doing this, something that will remain a feat on such a small screen.

The settings throughout New York City have been captured by the incredible level design and a photo realistic background of the skyline. The stages span from downtown, to chemical plant, to inside a dance club. Again, detail within each level shines, especially when it comes to the dance club where a disco ball rotates making the entire room sparkle. The streets of NYC are lit with streetlights, giving a clear view among the dark alleyways, and just as each level before it, the chemical plant is filled with twists, turns, and enough surprises to keep players captivated for hours. What will really entice players is the chance to collect a number of armor and ability driven Spider-Man costumes, as well as the Black Symbiote suit.

With great music from the opening theme on, it's wise to keep the volume up on this game. Everything you hear suits the atmosphere and a Spider-Man environment. Most remarkable is the fact that the volume level changes according to what room you are in during the dance club stage. In certain spots the music is muffled, while areas within the club are booming with noise. Though small, its presence adds to the already suitable audio department.