Xbox Hardware & Games

Video: 3
Audio: 3
Gameplay: 4

The Ultimate Spider-Man video game is based on the comic book of the same name, a wildly popular monthly series dating back several years, written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Mark Bagley, that revitalized Spidey by returning him to his roots-capturing both the purity of his heroics and his perpetual underdog status. Bendis provided the story and Bagley the designs as they appear in their new cel-shaded videogame incarnations. Perhaps more so than any other electronic adaptation, USM is the most like a comic book brought to life: Stylistically it displays a not-quite-cartoony edge that belies the newfound seriousness and emphasis on credibility. It possesses its own unique look that is at once aesthetically pleasing and true to the Marvel Universe in many small details. And, for what it's worth, the dialogue might be the best I've ever heard in any game, a real treat for those who invest the time playing, and paying attention.

This is a free-roaming action adventure with an original twist that allows gamers to play as Spider-Man-exploiting his finesse and agility-or the nasty super-villain, Venom-relying more upon his sheer unbridled physical strength, for those who enjoy causing widespread destruction of private property. Comic fans will appreciate the large supporting cast of familiar characters, good guys and bad, spread across a series of missions set in the sprawling environment. You'll find yourself web-slinging around the city, thwarting gang members, robbers, and the like as you progress through the story. Players can interact with just about anything they see. While challenging, some of these missions can begin to seem a little redundant, and yet it all seems to be over a little too soon: I would not say that this is a particularly difficult game to beat, but it is just so damned much fun to explore, especially with its visual flair.

Powers and controls are simplified-this is a teenaged Spider-Man after all-to jumping, webbing, punching, kicking, throwing; and dodging enemies is often as important as attacking them. The spider-sense power is now an onscreen indicator, no longer represented in controller vibration as on some past Activision Spider-Man games. It's too bad then that the game itself-a definite cornerstone for Activision, who has done a slew of excellent Marvel Comic-based titles-is not more technically sophisticated. Neither the Xbox nor GameCube version supports progressive scan video, Xbox does not support Dolby Digital, and neither PlayStation 2 nor GameCube support Dolby Pro Logic II audio. With such a big city and so many bad guys and victims to discover, more precise audio cues would certainly have been a boon. Even the Xbox version appears to be an undistinguished stereo, which, while aiding the reproduction of the music and ably conveying the excellent voice work, does not offer any real involvement. The stylized graphics successfully carry over to the handheld realm. The Nintendo DS offers a fresh take on the USM experience with unique dual-screen features and touchscreen controls.

Xbox has the overall audio/video edge (the PS2 version appears to be putting a strain on the graphics processor), but the 480i image shows jagged edges on most shapes, and rain effects look, well, not so hot. A pity, because, dramatically, this one of the best comic book video games of all time, but it's just not nearly as technically sophisticated as it could have been. Perhaps it will be revisited for the upcoming next-generation systems...?