Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game is basically a fighting game, but it's comic book-style fighting. The story is over the top and the characters are fun and silly. The most violent it gets is when the character Doc Ock picks up villains with his mechanical limbs and smashes them down on the ground. The game has an excellent drop-in, drop-out cooperative mode so that two friends can play together.
Families can talk about video game styles. What do you like better: cartoon-ish games like this one or more movie-like games like the one for Spider-man 3? Do you like the cooperative play or would you rather play alone? How is cooperation an advantage in this game?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Marc Saltzman
If you launch SPIDER-MAN: FRIEND OR FOE expecting a comic book-inspired brawler for younger players, you won't be disappointed with this superhero adventure. But those in search of a deep story, open-ended environments, or high-definition graphics should swing past this title.
As its name suggests, this game lets you not only play as the webbed wonder, but it also lets you choose a sidekick from one of a dozen villains to help fight a greater evil. Each villain has his own unique fighting technique and super powers. The sidekicks include Doctor Octopus ("Doc Ock"), Venom, Rhino, and Green Goblin, all of whom need to be defeated by you before they'll fight alongside you.
When playing alone, you control one character, while the game's artificial intelligence handles the other. For example, while fighting baddies as Spider-Man, the computer will control, say, Sandman, but you can switch between the two at any time by pressing a button on the game pad. The game's mechanics also allow the two characters to work together at times, in ways such as bypassing traps (by each character stepping on pressure plates at the same time) or defeating a bigger "boss" enemy by taking advantage of each character's skills. If you want to replay a level -- be it in a high-tech laboratory, on the sandy streets of Egypt, along city rooftops, or throughout a creepy Transylvania -- you can swap out the current sidekick for a newly unlocked one from the main game screen. This adds to the game's replayability.
Another welcome feature in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is built-in cooperative play. At any time, a friend can pick up a second controller on the game system and take control of the second hero or villain.
Played from a third-person perspective -- and in classic "platformer" style, the action tends to move from the left side of the screen to the right -- you will have fun "button mashing" to defeat the enemies.
Influenced by the game's comic book origins, the characters and environments are colorful and bright. The animation is smooth, so you will enjoy pulling off slick moves, such as using Spidey's web to pull items toward him, or using aerial acrobatics during combat sequences.
Skilled gamers will be rewarded with special unlockable characters, including the black-suited Spider-Man from the last motion picture, as well as special behind-the-scenes materials. A "Versus" mode lets you fight in a number of arenas.
Perfect for younger players who want a fairly straightforward fighting game but with plenty of replayability, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is an enjoyable twist on the popular franchise.
Fans will also enjoy other superhero video games like Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
For younger children, turn to a LeapPad title called The Amazing Spider-Man.
Reviewed: 10/24/2007
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ViolenceOver-the-top brawling action including punches, kicks, and fantasy weapons. |
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Social BehaviorHeroes and villains cooperate to take on evil. |
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CommercialismBased on the Spider-Man franchise. |
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