One of the 2014 films generating some hype and buzz among fans is THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, which will be hitting the cinema in April in the UK. Like its predecessor, the film was directed by Marc Webb and will star Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, respectively, alongside prominent newcomers to the franchise Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, and Paul Giamatti.
As we touched on in a previous post on the future of the Gwen Stacy character, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 is primed to take the franchise to new heights. It seems we’re in for, at the very least, four more Spider-Man films. But given the considerable popularity of the web-slinger even beyond film, we’re also curious about another aspect of the franchise: will gaming developers be adapting the fresh film material into more Spider-Man games?
The short answer is yes. There is already a 2014 game announced for the next-gen consoles. But looking past this year, do Spider-Man gaming fans have even more excitement to look forward to in the coming years? Let’s hope so.
Looking back to the rebirth of the Spider-Man comics in popular film with 2002’s Sam Raimi-directed SPIDER-MAN, the character and comic book themes have been some of the most successful in video game adaptations. There have been a number of excellent games released in the past decade on everything from Nintendo and Xbox consoles to online casino sites. To recap, here are some of our favourite Spider-Man themed games from the past decade or so:
Ultimate Spider-Man (2005)
This game is a popular favourite that was released for Gamecube, PS2, and Xbox, along with some handheld consoles. The game was popular largely because it was artistically designed to imitate a comic book style, rather than simply touched up with the most capable graphics of the time. Mark Bagley was the man behind the beloved artistic approach.
Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows (2008)
Noted by the website Comic Book Movie as the best Spider-Man game of all time, “Web Of Shadows” was released in 2008 for Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360, and is considered one of the most complete Spidey games to date. The game allows players to choose between good and evil paths for Spider-Man (in a red and black suit, respectively), and incorporates other Marvel characters along the way.
Spider-Man Jackpot (2014)
For those who are less interested in console games, this casino jackpot is actually a blast. The Spider-Man jackpot is featured at the Betfair Casino, and it puts an intriguing twist on a basic gambling jackpot by employing a Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin theme. At the end of the day it’s less of a pure “video game” and more of a casino experience. But again, for those looking for Spider-Man games in unique forums, it’s a great deal of fun.
The Amazing Spider-Man
Developed by Activision and released as an accompanying game to the 2012 film, this game is the perfect selection for those who are excited for the film coming this summer. Essentially, the storyline players engage in while playing this game is designed to follow THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and precede THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, so who knows? Perhaps it even offers some glimpses of what we’ll see in the next film! Reviews were generally positive, and while it’s not the boldest or most complex game, it’s a blast to play, and a direct prequel to the upcoming next-gen game.
These are only a few selections out of many more Spider-Man games that have come out over the years, particularly since the 2002 film helped to launch the Marvel revival in film. And there’s hope among fans that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be the best game yet! But with what sounds like several new films headed our way, it looks as if even the distant future is bright for Spider-Man gaming fans.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 is released globally on 2nd May, although us lucky UK folks get the film on 18th April. Excelsior!
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