Looking back at one of the most amazing Spider-Man games ever made

Spider-Man has been the protagonist of multiple video games over the years with various degrees of success. While titles such as Spider-Man: Friend or Foe may have been underwhelming, others like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 managed to captivate us in many ways. But the first time players felt like they were living a truly amazing fantasy in the shoes of Peter Parker was in Neversoft's Spider-Man (2000).

We all dreamt about swinging across New York's skyline and going toe-to-toe with dangerous foes like Venom only to come out victorious. However, it wasn't until the year 2000 that all those hopes became a reality in a way we've never seen before. Sure, by that point many other pixelated adventures featuring the wall-crawler were already out. However, due to technology constraints (or perhaps lack of passion), none of them had the excitement of Spider-Man (2000).

It's crazy to think 24 years have gone by since this amazing experience was released. Originally launched on August 30, 2000, this first-ever 3D Spider-Man game was the blueprint for many more years to follow. Better yet; its influence is still felt to this very day. Countless memories come when revisiting it - all filled with joy and excitement. So what better way to celebrate the anniversary of this iconic title than looking back at how it paved the way for Spidey in the gaming world?

Made by Spider-Man fans for Spider-Man fans

Since the very beginning of the game, players know they're in for an incredible experience thanks to Stan Lee's phenomenal narration. It wasn't strictly necessary for the legend himself to record lines for the game just like the tutorial of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 didn't need to go all-in with a frenetic Sandman boss. However, it's those little details that let you know the game was made with care and great attention to detail. From Spider-Man fans to Spider-Man fans.

On the same line, it would've been very easy for the game to feature its famous sight-limiting fog without any logical explanation. To be completely honest, I was never interested in why it was there when I was a kid. It wasn't until I revisited this game years later that I discovered it had a narrative reasoning behind it. Sure, its true purpose is to hide the technical limitations of an era when consoles didn't have great draw distances. But even then Neverosft took the time to give a canonical reason for its existence. On the other hand, Spider-Man (2002) didn't let you swing near the street level and never cared to explain why. If you tried to do so, Spidey would just fall to his death which doesn't really make sense when you think about it.

Fortunately, Neversoft explained the iconic fog was released by Doctor Octopus to prepare the citizens of New York for symbiosis. It's subtle details as those that prove there's a great passion behind this project. Other not-so-subtle aspects also elevate the game to a whole other level. For example, Peter's sense of responsibility is brilliantly displayed when he has to choose between saving Mary Jane or stopping Rhino's rampage which could endanger many lives.

Peter himself said it best: "Being Spider-Man has given me a lot, and taken a lot away. But one thing never changes: my responsibility to use my powers for others before myself no matter what the cost". Neversoft truly understood the character and what he was willing to sacrifice for the greater good. It wasn't until Marvel's Spider-Man was released in 2018 that we saw a similar moment take place when the wall-crawler chose to cure the city from the Devil's Breath instead of saving Aunt May.

But even when Spider-Man (2000) was filled with "mature" moments that display who Spider-Man truly is, the game wasn't afraid of being fun either. Its dialog will make you laugh more than once even in the most dire of situations. It's this perfect blend of high-stakes action and witty writing that makes it feel very close to its source material.

A game ahead of its time

Neversoft's Spider-Man was undoubtedly a very ambitious game for its time. It featured many collectibles for players to find, easter eggs that hinted towards other iconic characters, and many boss fights against terrifying villains. However, three characteristics elevate it to greater heights than other modern Spider-Man games.

First of all, we need to highlight the inclusion of a What If...? mode where some events play out a little bit differently. What would be considered a DLC nowadays was just hiding in the base game for dedicated players to discover. This mode featured the introduction of Ghost Rider, Spidey using the 2099 suit, and the Silver Surfer making a brief appearance, amongst other changes. Not only does that add a lot of replay value, but also makes the game feel connected to a wider Marvel universe.

Secondly, unlockable suits in the game weren't just there for cosmetic changes. Some of them included different buffs and debuffs that could greatly alter the playing experience. That concept wasn't revisited until the release of Marvel's Spider-Man for PS4 in 2018; which proves just how ahead of its time Neversoft truly was.

Finally, Spider-Man (2000) featured many Marvel heroes, such as Daredevil, The Human Torch, The Punisher, Ghost Rider, Captain America, and Silver Surfer. Besides Venom even mentions the likes of Namor, Galactus, and the Mighty Thor. If just half of those characters were to show up or be named-dropped in Marvel's Spider-Man 3 players would absolutely lose their minds. Sure, times are very different now and licensing rights are way more complicated than they ever were. But even then, it's clear Neversoft did everything in its power to make sure players felt like their version of Spider-Man was living in a greater universe filled with many iconic heroes and villains.

The dangers of being Spider-Man perfectly portrayed

To this date, I've never been so anxious in a Spider-Man game as I was when attempting to escape from the final boos in Spider-Man (2000). Monster Ock was absolutely terrifying, and players had no choice but to run away from him as fighting him would surely lead to the wall-crawler's demise.

On the same page, web cartridges were limited and would quickly run out. Players needed to stay on top of their game to find more cartridges and wisely know when to use them or risk losing a mission. Even if the wall-crawler has historically faced this same problem countless times before in comic books and series, only Neversoft's game presents it as a gameplay challenge. It's these types of details that give you a better idea of the many struggles that Peter Parker has to face on a daily basis.

Overall; Neversoft's Spider-Man (2000) is a work of true Marvel. Sure, the game has aged a bit especially in its camera work and combat mechanics. However, it also stands the test of time as one of the best Spidey games ever made. Its presence is still felt in modern titles, and we would love to revisit it in the form of a remaster someday.

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