Spider-Man 3? More like 2.5

You read that right! This game is more of a Spider-Man 2.5 rather than a full-blown sequel to its predecessor. I was expecting more since this version isn’t actually an upgraded port of the PS2/Wii versions.

Yep, the 360/PS3 ones are, in fact, different games and are supposedly the “direct sequel” since developer Treyarch, the guys responsible for Spider-Man 2 for the PS2/Xbox/GC is behind this one. So what could possibly go wrong?

Well, the graphics, in some cases, look ridiculously retarded. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst (likeness only), James Franco, JK Simmons and the rest of the cast look all rubbery with their bad textures. The only good character model of the game, complete with smooth animations, is Spider-Man himself. The environment, on the other hand, is still shallow and could use a little tweaking. Combat-wise, it plays too similarly as the previous games, which makes it at least somewhat good. New moves and such are added, yes, but c’mon, why not show something new?

Perhaps the only factor that is quite enjoyable would be the swinging mechanics. Those who complained about Ultimate Spider-Man’s lack of momentum in gameplay will be pleased to know that this one features a semi-improved version of the one found in Spider-Man 2. It may be the only good part of the game, but we have to admit that it could get repetitive after 10 to 15 minutes of playing.

Spider-Man 3 for the 360/PS3 really feels more and less like its predecessor. Technically, that isn’t a bad thing, but the idea that it was made exclusively for next-gen systems left us feeling iffy about it. If only they polished it more and released it NOT at the same time as the movie, then maybe, just maybe, Uncle Ben would be a lot happier.