Summary
Overlooked Spider-Man games showcased the character in a variety of genres, like beat ’em up, platformer, and fighting.
Some forgotten games, such as The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin and Spider-Man: Battle for New York provided unique experiences.
Despite being underrated, titles such as Spider-Man: Edge of Time had dedicated fan bases due to improved gameplay and storytelling.
As he is the face of the Marvel Universe, Spider-Man has been featured in a plethora of memorable video games over the years, such as the Ultimate Alliance trilogy and the Marvel’s Spider-Man series by Insomniac Games. With that being said, not every good Spider-Man game ends up being a major success, for one reason or another.
From obscure handheld adventures to forgotten AAA titles, Spider-Man has starred in a surprisingly diverse array of titles that often get overlooked. Even if they aren’t the strongest games in the corners of the Spider-Verse, they are still a showcase of what developers can bring to the character across various genres.
The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin!
Wilson Fisk Goes To War With Spider-Man
The 90s were filled to the brim with 2D sidescroller Spider-Man games, with the most famous being Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage. Sega console owners had their own exclusive Spider-Man game in the form of The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin!, which has the simple concept of Spider-Man battling through a legion of villains until stopping the Kingpin and his plot to set off bombs around New York City.
Despite being a quality title for the web-slinger, The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin! was lost in the ocean of Spider-Man and Marvel games at the time. This is especially the case with the improved Sega CD version, which not only improved on animations and gameplay but also introduced new levels, fully voiced cutscenes, and collecting comic books.
Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace
The Trilogy Ends On The Game Boy Advance
The original PS1 Spider-Man games are often seen as the foundation for all modern games featuring the wall-crawler, but many people don’t know there was a third game in that series. Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace is the often-forgotten third chapter, developed by Vicarious Visions, which shifted to a 2D perspective instead of 3D.
Like many licensed games, Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace was overlooked because it was on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, which was dominated by more popular titles like Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda. While it’s not as acclaimed as its predecessors, it remains an entertaining superhero adventure that even mimics the PS1 visual style with 2D sprites.
Marvel Nemesis: Rise Of The Imperfects
EA’s Darker Fighting Game Wasn’t Perfect, But It Was Unique
Spider-Man and his rival, Venom, are both playable in the arena fighting game Marvel Nemesis: Rise Of The Imperfects. From X-Men to Fantastic Four members, multiple Marvel characters are the survivors of an alien invasion of Earth, as well as their champions known as Imperfects. It’s a unique Marvel game with a much darker tone, and presents open environments for characters to run, jump, and fight in.
Compared to other superhero fighting games, especially Marvel Vs. Capcom games, Marvel Nemesis, did not prove to be successful in terms of sales or reviews. At the time, critics were harsh on the game, denouncing it for its unorthodox gameplay, but over the years, the small but dedicated fanbase has praised its single-player story and visual style.
Spider-Man: Friend Or Foe
The Villains Can Be The Heroes
During a time when open-world Spider-Man games were the norm, a more linear experience like Spider-Man: Friend or Foe came and was immediately forgotten. Featuring designs inspired by the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is best played in co-op multiplayer, since the concept is based around Spider-Man teaming up with his villains, from Doc Ock to Black Cat.
On the one hand, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is harmless fun that children and adults can have fun with, since it is the most straightforward action-adventure game that can be beaten in a few hours. However, on the other hand, it’s critiqued for having little to no layers to the gameplay, with the only things that stand out being the art style and villains.
Spider-Man: Battle For New York
Green Goblin Is Playable In The Ultimate Spider-Man Prequel
Where Ultimate Spider-Man became an open-world gem for the PS2/GameCube era, its prequel remains overlooked by most gamers, mostly due to being a handheld title. Spider-Man: Battle For New York ditches the open-world gameplay to be a linear 2.5D sidescroller with the same cel-shaded comic book visuals.
Spider-Man: Battle for New York is a prequel to Ultimate Spider-Man, featuring Spider-Man as the main protagonist. Like the first game, it also allows players to control a villain, specifically the Green Goblin. Having the option to play as a villain is rare in Spider-Man games, especially for a main character. This unique feature makes the handheld prequel a valuable follow-up to the original game.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes
One Of The Best Looking Spider-Man Games Was Only In Japan
The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes is a rare title to find because it was only released in Japan, presenting another side-scrolling adventure, but one that is considered more difficult. Every level is on a short time limit, which requires playing through and beating the boss in one go, which is easier said than done.
With a heavy mix of A-list and B-list Spider-Man villains and impressive sprite animations, The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes is worth playing to see them alone. For every Venom and Doctor Octopus, there are lesser-known characters such as Beetle and Alastair Smythe, creating a diverse roster.
Spider-Man: Edge Of Time
The Sequel To Shattered Dimensions That Time Forgot
Despite being a direct follow-up to the fan-favorite Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and offering improved gameplay, visuals, and storytelling, Spider-Man: Edge of Time flew under the radar. Consequently, it has become a title that its small fanbase actively promotes, even though it is no longer available for purchase on any service.
Focusing on two versions of Spider-Man instead of four might seem like a downgrade, but Peter Parker and Miguel O’Hara having a shared and more complex storyline makes the plot have more depth. It also allowed the developer team to focus on those two Spider-Men and have them play better than ever in Spider-Man: Edge of Time. Additionally, the story features a memorable plot twist that some fans might not expect.
