Plot: What’s it about?
If you want to make a good video game based on a comic book, you need to let the players feel like super heroes. In Spider-Man: Edge of Time, you feel like Spider-Man. All of Spider-Man’s signature traits are here, the webs, the strength, the combat acumen, the speed and agility, even the wise cracks. And while some games struggle to capture the wit of the comics, Beenox has nailed it with this game. The dialogue is a natural fit for Spider-Man and the voice work (for both incarnations) is just awesome, so without a doubt, you feel like Spider-Man. The story has two web crawlers working in tandem, despite being in different time periods, in order to prevent the death of Peter Parker. So we know the feel of Spidey is there and the sense of humor is intact, but is Edge of Time fun?
While the campaign is on the short side, it is a lot of fun to experience. The focus is of course on combat, which is great thanks to how strong, quick, and agile Spider-Man is. This makes some fights seem a little easy, but you’ll often face large groups of foes, so you’ll still face some challenges. This isn’t just about hammering the attack button either, as the combat system has good depth and allows you to pull off some impressive combos. You can also upgrade your abilities, which lets you fine tune the combat to your own personal style and approach. This also makes a second run through the game attractive, since you can mix it up and try a whole new approach to combat. In short, the mechanics are great here. The combat is varied and well executed, so the main complaint is that you’ll want the campaign to last longer.
One thing I was interested in was how previews showed how one Spider-Man’s actions impacted the other’s progress, as that concept is quite cool. This turns out to be scripted, linear moments however, when I expected dynamic changes to happen based on my choices. Even so, even as scripted moments, these instances add some nice heat to the campaign and keep you on your toes, so still a nice inclusion. As most games do these days, Edge of Time also includes assorted collectibles to hunt down, including some alternate suits to throw on. While not as brutal as some collectible chases, you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled if you want to grab the entire array of goodies. I had a lot of fun with Spider-Man: Edge of Time and if you’re a fan of the character or great action games, you’ll want to give this one a spin.
Video: How does it look?
This game looks great, with bright, comic book style visuals that fit the material like a glove. The Spider-Man designs look awesome, faithful to the source, yet a little creative in some of the new villains. This mix of classic and fresh ensures the visuals never get dull, so overall this game offers a sound, competent visual design.
Audio: How does it sound?
The overall sound design here is quite good, but the voice work really stands out. I don’t often highlight voice work in video games, since it isn’t usually very good, but the actors did a terrific job in Edge of Time. Spider-Man’s wit is well captured, without going over the top. I have to say the voice work really enhanced the experience and made playing Edge of Time more fun, since the characters seemed natural. The music and sound effects are also on point, but the voice work steals the show here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
N/A
