Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a video game title encompassing three versions: a full-3D action-adventure game set in an open world for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360; a 2.5D side-scrolling brawler/platformer for the Nintendo DS; and a 2.5D sidescrolling beat em up action game for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable (called Amazing Allies Edition).
The game received generally positive reviews from critics, who singled out the boss fights, destructive combat, use of an original story and open-ended nature. However, the game's choice system received mixed reviews; although some praised how the player is able to create a dynamic experience with their choices, others were critical of the system's limitations. In addition, reviewers criticized the storyline's poor execution, bothersome camera controls, the inability to free-roam after completing the game, lip-syncing issues and the subpar graphics.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, along with most other games published by Activision that had used the Marvel license, was de-listed and removed from all digital storefronts on January 1, 2014.
Gameplay
Spider-Man Web of Shadows is a third person action-adventure video game, set in an open-world that resembles Manhattan, although some buildings and areas are replaced with their comics counterpart, such as Fisk Tower or the Trask Building instead of the real-life Empire State Building. The gameplay is very similar with that of previous Spider-Man titles (namely Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 and Ultimate Spider-Man), with the player taking the role of the titular hero and all his spider-like super-human abilities. Thus, the game features "web-slinging" (which allows the player to travel very fast across the map by attaching a web line to a nearby building), wall crawling, and a complex combat, featuring a large number of moves and combos. The game improves on the combat system from previous games, with the player now being able to fight not only on ground, but on the walls of buildings and in the air as well; the wall combat is possible due to the game including enemies that, like Spider-Man, can walk on walls, while air combat is possible due to flying enemies, which can be fought only by using a new type of attack called "web strike". Web strike can be used as both an attack and a mean of transport, because it consists of Spider-Man attaching a web to the nearest enemy and pulling himself to that respective enemy; Spider-Man can either hit the enemy, or jump over him when he is very close to him, as some enemies can counter web strike and will hit Spider-Man when he touches them.
At specific points in the story, various choices appear that have the player choose between the Red Path or the Black Path. These choices influence the story, the way other characters interact with Spider-Man and even the ending of the game. In addition, there is a new feature called the "reputation bar", which becomes red when the player chooses the Red Path or prevents various crimes around the city, and starts turning black when the player chooses the Black Path or causes mayhem and destruction in the city. As they progress through the story, the player also has the ability to summon various allies that will assist them during fights: if the reputation bar is red, the player can summon heroes to help them out (Luke Cage, Moon Knight and Wolverine), whereas if the bar is black, the player can summon villains for help (Black Cat, Vulture, Rhino and Electro).
The player is able to switch between Spider-Man's traditional red and blue costume and the black symbiote suit at any time during gameplay, with both suits having their own separated sets of upgrades; upgrade points are earned from defeating enemies or completing specific tasks, and are used to purchase new combat moves for each of the two suits individually. Chris Scholz from Shaba Games commented that the developers "worked on really separating the black and red suits to give the player a different feel." For example, red and blue-suited Spider-Man is fast and agile, while symbiote Spider-Man is stronger and more destructive.
The mini-map on the screen is also different from the style used in previous Spider-Man games. The traditional 2-D overhead view has been removed, replaced by a new 3D map with an "X", "Y" and "Z" axis which shows the player's position in three-dimensional space (north and south, as well as vertical position). Also, as a Wii exclusive, there are 6 alternate costumes (Spider-Carnage for the black suit, and Spider-Armor, Ben Reilly, Spider-Man 2099, Cosmic Spider-Man and the Iron Spider suit for the red suit).
Although the player is unable to free-roam after the storyline's completion, there is a secret code: watching the credits, selecting continue, watching the credits again and selecting continue. If the code is done right, the player can replay the game with all of their previous upgrades already made.
Plot
Manhattan is infested with symbiotes and S.H.I.E.L.D. and various superheroes are trying their best to stop the invasion. A depressed Spider-Man ignores the battle that is happening around him and makes his way through the invasion, looking for Mary Jane. After helping some S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and police officers fight off several symbiotes, Spider-Man eventually finds her with Luke Cage. However, a mysterious figure appears and knocks Spider-Man out.
In a flashback taking place four days earlier, Spider-Man has yet another encounter with Venom, during which a piece of the symbiote attaches to him, recreating his black suit. However, the suit makes him much more aggressive, allowing him to easily defeat Venom.. While Mary Jane is taken away by paramedics in an ambulance, Spider-Man discovers that he now has more control over the black suit, being able to take it on and off at will. Spidey is asked by Luke Cage to stop two gangs, the Rolling Sevens and the Park Avenues. Spider-Man confronts their respective leaders and convinces them to have a peaceful meeting at the Harlem Park. Spider-Man watches over the meeting, spotting assassins with Goblin tech.. He manages to defeat them before they ruin the meeting and also finds evidence that they are secretly responsible for the gang war. Depending on the player's choice, Spider-Man either reveals the truth or lets the gangs kill each other. Regardless the choice, the gang war is over and Spider-Man heads to Fisk Tower, after concluding that the assassins were working for Kingpin.
Spider-Man arrives at Fisk Tower, only to find Black Cat leaving and begins chasing her. During the chase, several of Kingpin's assassins show up and attack Spider-Man, but luckily Moon Knight arrives as well in his Mooncopter and deals with them, while Spidey has a brief fight with Black Cat. After defeating her, Spider-Man goes to confront her at her apartment, where Black Cat reveals that she's secretly working against Kingpin and still has strong feelings for him. . Spider-Man now joins forces with either Moon Knight or Black Cat to stop Kingpin's illegal activities, defeating numerous of his men across the city and even foiling their attack on the courthouse. He also tracks down Vulture, who has been mass-producing Goblin gliders for Kingpin's goons to use, and defeats him, leaving him for the police. After several more fights with Kingpin's men, Spider-Man eventually finds and confronts several goons on the roof of the MetLife Building, only to be suddenly interrupted by numerous deranged civilians, who attack them with their hands and teeth. Spider-Man manages to defeat both Kingpin's men and the civilians, but a news helicopter appears and records Spidey throwing civilians off of the building, leading to the police to believe him to be a murderer. Unknown to them, the civilians have been secretly infected by symbiotes.
