Spider-Man 3 (video game)
Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 open world action-adventure video game loosely based on the film of the same name and released for Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on May 4, 2007. A PlayStation Portable version was released on October 17, 2007. GameCube and Xbox versions were planned, but both were cancelled due to low sales for Xbox and limited resources for GameCube. The game was delisted and removed from all digital store fronts on January 4, 2017.
The game's plot expands on the film by including additional characters and elements from the Spider-Man comic books and the Marvel Universe. Depending on the platform, different villains from the comics are featured, but all versions of the game feature the film's three antagonists: New Goblin, Sandman and Venom. Tobey Maguire, James Franco, Topher Grace, Thomas Haden Church, and J. K. Simmons reprised their roles from the film. Kirsten Dunst, who portrayed Mary Jane Watson in the film, is replaced by Kari Wahlgren. Some characters from the film do not appear in the game, namely Aunt May, Gwen and Captain George Stacy.
Gameplay
Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
Similarly to its predecessor, Spider-Man 3 is a third person action-adventure video game, set in an open world based on Manhattan. Players take on the role of Spider-Man and complete missions—linear scenarios with set objectives—to progress through the story. Missions are structured in a non-linear manner like in the Grand Theft Auto series, meaning that the game features multiple storylines which can be played in any order the player desires. Once the player has completed a number of missions from each storyline, they unlock a main story missions, related to the plot of the film. In addition to the story missions, the game also features side missions, such as races, combat tours and disarming bombs, as well as random attacks in the streets by the city's gangs, which the player can choose to stop. If a number of gang attacks in a specific district are thwarted, then the gang loses control of that district and attacks will no longer occur there. This crime wave mechanic is also influenced by the story missions and combat tours involving each gang.Players can web swing, crawl walls, and fight enemies using a variety of combos. The game introduces quick-time events and collectibles, which are scattered throughout the city, including the subaway. It also features the symbiote black suit, which is automatically unlocked after a number of story missions and introduces a "rage" mechanic, that is charged up by attacking enemies and allows the player to deal extra damage. Unlike in other versions of the game, once unlocked, the black suit in unremovable, and the player returns to Spider-Man's traditional red and blue costume only near the end of the story.
The game also features an upgrade system where upgrades are unlocked automatically as the player progresses in the story. In the Collectors Edition of the Playstation 3 version, the New Goblin is a playable character, similarly to the Green Goblin in the first game. The New Goblin is also available as downloadable content for both Playstation Network and Xbox Live. He can be selected from the game's menu, much like the player can select from regular Spider-Man and black suited Spider-Man once they completed the story with the former. If choosing to play as black suited Spider-Man, then the game starts from the beginning, but all upgrades are unlocked, therefore this esentially serves as a New Game Plus. If choosing to play as the New Goblin, then none of the story missions are available, but the player can still free roam through the game's map and complete side missions. On PC, the New Goblin is playable only through mods. Peter Parker in his civilan outfit is also playable on PC through mods, and through a glitch that prevents progression in certain story missions across all three versions.
PlayStation 2, Wii and PlayStation Portable
This version of the game is similar to the Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 one. The narrative is mostly unchanged, save for a few slightly modified missions and several secondary storylines being replaced with a new one featuring Morbius and Shriek, as is the map, featuring only a few esthetic changes due to these consoles' limiations. New CGI cutscenes are included, in additon to several recycled from the next-gen version. The most notable change is the ability to change between the red and blue costume and the black suit at any time through a short quick time event. The black suit actually requires to be removed from time to time, because, if worn for too long, it will corrupt Spider-Man, leading to a game over. There is a cooldown before the black suit can be worn again.The game features an upgrade system where upgrades need to be manually purchased; there are no upgrades for the black suit. Upgrades are purchased through hero points, similarly to Spider-Man 2, which are uncloked from completing either the main story missions or side missions, including races and combat tours, as well as some that appear randomly across the map. Unlike previous Spider-Man games, these random missions are activated through a radio transmission, allowing the player to accept or decline them, and may vary from stopping muggins to delivering fruit pies. The collectibles and crime wave mechanic from the next-gen version also return, albeit with several modifications. Collectibles, mainly the Spider Emblems, which can be found only during story missions, actually reward the player once found, by unlocking the black suit. The crime wave is now influenced mainly by the combat tours, as there are no longer main story missions involving the gangs. Rather than clearing the city of the gang's influence, the player's goal is to help the NYPD take over, which is depicted as its own "gang", allied to the player, in the menu map.
The primary features for the Wii version are motion controls. By flicking the Wii Remote & Nunchuck, the player can perform various actions such as combat, and one of Spider-Man's trademark abilities, web swinging. There are also certain mini-games tailored to the motion controls. This can range from disarming a bomb, to completing quick time events. The PlayStation Portable version is a full-on port of the PlayStation 2 version with an extra feature exclusive to the version known as "Conquest Mode": an extra mode where the player has to traverse the city and complete challenges such as combat tours, delivering items, and protecting civilians under a time limit. The more challenges are completed, the more hero points the player earns. Once time has elapsed, the score is calculated and the most recent save is loaded; the mission can be replayed any time to get a higher score. Conquest Mode can be exited with a visit to the Daily Bugle building in order to return to the main game. Conquest Mode can be accessed via the title screen or Scrapbook.
Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS
The Game Boy Advance version is a level based 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up; only the characters are rendered in 2.5D. It follows the film's plot, with very few additions. A map is used to enter levels, and each level has question bubbles that give hints. The Nintendo DS version is completely 2.5D and uses the Touch Screen to execute most attacks. Players can put on the black suit at will, but it will be disabled if Spider-Man's health is too low. This version supports wireless multiplayer.Plot
Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
A year after Doctor Octopus' death, Spider-Man stops a new gang, the H-Bombers, from blowing up the Carlyle building. The next day, Peter Parker explains that the city finally sees Spider-Man as a hero and there has been no major threat recently, though new problems arise in the form of Eddie Brock, Peter's rival at the Daily Bugle, Harry Osborn, who blames Spider-Man for his father's death, and new gangs terrorizing the city: the H-Bombers, the Apocalypse, the Arsenic Candies, and the Dragon Tail. However, these gangs don't prove to be too much of a threat, as Spider-Man easily foils their plans on multiple occasions. At the same time, an alien symbiote inside a meteor crashes in Central Park and attaches itself to Peter's shoe, who was there with his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson, and Harry becomes the New Goblin to exact revenge on Peter.Later, Peter investigates the lab of his science teacher, Dr. Curt Connors, who was reported missing, and discovers he was experimenting on himself with a lizard DNA serum in the hopes of regrowing his right arm, only to transform into the ferocious Lizard. After the Lizard attacks him, Spider-Man pursues him into the sewers, discovering that numerous other people have also been transformed into lizard, and the villain's plot to release these lizards into the city. While Spider-Man defeats the Lizard and thwarts his schemes, he escapes further into the sewers. Upon returning to the city, Peter is attack by the New Goblin, whom he defeats and knocks unconscious before taking him to the hospital to recover. Elsewhere, escaped convict Flint Marko accidentally falls into a cockpit full of sand while scientists are doing experiments there, and is transformed into the supervillain Sandman.
The next day, Spider-Man continues his battle against the H-Bombers, aided by Detective Jean DeWolfe, whom he helps investigate some crooked cops. Upon learning the Bomber's leader is businessman Luke Carlyle, Spider-Man foils their final attack on the Daily Bugle, saving J. Jonah Jameson and destroying the Bomber's helicopter in the process, despite Carlyle's escape. At the same time, Spider-Man investigates the connection between Scorpion and sciecne corporation MechaBioCon and learns that head scientist Dr. Stillwell has placed Scorpion under mind control and transformed him into a living weapon to carry out various tasks. Spider-Man ultimately frees Scorpion from Stillwell's control, with the help of Dr. Andrews, who developed feelings for Scorpion and wants his wellbeing. Upon returning home, Spider-Man is approached by the symbiote, which envelops his body, leading to a new black suit that enhances his powers. After spotting Sandman robbing a bank, Spider-Man pursues him into the subway and fights him, before the symbiote's influence leads him to almost kill Sandman by releasing a large amount of water upon him.
The following day, Peter humiliates Eddie Brock as Spider-Man and earns a promotion in his place after they both receive the same assignment, leading him to swear revenge against both Peter and Spider-Man. He also finds the Lizard again and reverts him back to his human form, despite Kraven the Hunter and Calypso attempting to hunt the Lizard and then transforming him into "Mega Lizard". After Spider-Man again foils the schemes of the gangs he has been facing, the Kingpin attempts to unite them against Spider-Man, who foils his plan after a fight which results in Kingpin's apparent death. Later, after Peter becomes violent during a date with Mary Jane, she breaks up with him. Realizing the black suit is increasing his aggressiveness, Spider-Man retreats to a nearby church and removes the symbiote using the bell's sonic vibrations. However, the symbiote then attaches to Brock, who followed Spider-Man and watched him unmask himself, turning him into Venom.
Spider-Man later helps Connors make up for his actions by curing the other lizards, and helps Scorpion exact revenge on Stillwell, defeating Rhino and rescuing Dr. Andrews in the process. When Scorpion attempts to kill Stillwell, Andrews helps him realize this will only make him the monster Stillwell wants him to be, so he leaves, while Spider-Man hands Stillwell over to the police. Meanwhile, Venom blackmails Sandman into helping him kill Spider-Man, threatening to murder his daughter. The pair kidnap Mary Jane to lure out Spider-Man, while a recovered Harry comes to his friends' aid. He rescues Mary Jane defeats Sandman, before Venom kills him. Spider-Man ultimately defeats Venom using sonic vibrations, but the villain dies after getting impaled on some steel bars.
Afterwards, Spider-Man reconciles with Mary Jane, while Sandman is reunited with his daughter, who was rescued by the police. He apologizes to Spider-Man and leaves peacefully. The game ends with Peter resuming his neverending battle against crime, while stating that the only way to honor and remember those he loves is by never giving up being Spider-Man.
PlayStation 2, Wii and PlayStation Portable
A year after Doctor Octopus' death, Spider-Man stops a new gang, the H-Bombers, from blowing up the Carlyle building. The next day, Peter Parker explains that the city finally sees Spider-Man as a hero and there has been no major threat recently, though new problems arise in the form of Eddie Brock, Peter's rival at the Daily Bugle, Harry Osborn, who blames Spider-Man for his father's death, and new gangs terrorizing the city. However, these gangs don't prove to be too much of a threat, and Spider-Man makes quick work of the H-Bombers, foiling their attacks on the Daily BugleThat night, while Peter is with his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson, an alien symbiote inside a meteor crashes nearby and attaches itself to Peter's shoe. Shortly after, Peter is attacked by Harry, who became the New Goblin to exact revenge on him, but defeats him and knocks him unconscious, before bringing him to a hospital to recover. Elsewhere, escaped convict Flint Marko accidentally falls into a cockpit full of sand while scientists are doing experiments there, and is transformed into the supervillain Sandman. After returning home, Spider-Man is approached by the symbiote, which envelops his body, leading to a new black suit that enhances his powers. The following day, after the H-Bombers attack the Daily Bugle, Spider-Man defeats them for good and unmasks their leader as businessman Luke Carlyle.
Later, Peter investigates the lab of his science teacher, Dr. Curt Connors, who was reported missing, and discovers he was experimenting on himself with a lizard DNA serum in the hopes of regrowing his right arm, only to transform into the ferocious Lizard. After the Lizard attacks him, Spider-Man pursues him into the sewers, discovering that numerous other people have also been transformed into lizard, and the villain's plot to release these lizards into the city. He also encounters Kraven the Hunter, who is trying to hunt both him and the Lizard. While Spider-Man defeats the Lizard and thwarts his schemes, he escapes further into the sewers. Eventually, Spider-Man tracks down the Lizard again, just as he was beaten by Kraven and reverted to his human form. While Spider-Man defeats Kraven, Connors injects himself with another serum that transforms him into "Mega Lizard", but Spider-Man is able to again restore him to his human form. Grateful, Connors later promises to help Spider-Man analyze the symbiote.
After another assignment from Jameson leads Spider-Man to encounter a vampire, he defeats the creature and brings it to Connors, who reveals the vampire to be renowned biochemist Dr. Michael Morbius. With Morbius claiming that his wife Shriek was responsible for his transformation, Spider-Man track her down, thwarting her attempt to mind control the people of New York, though Shriek escapes. After battling Shriek's gang, the Waste Tribe, Spider-Man learns about her wherabouts and takes Morbius to her so that she could cure him. However, Shriek turns Morbius against Spider-Man, who defeats him, before fighting Shriek as well. Using the symbiote to overcome her powers, Spider-Man defeats Shriek, who then cures Morbius of his vampirism, but is left severly weakened and falls into a coma. Spider-Man leaves the unconscious Shriek in Morbius' and Connors' care and departs.
Peter later humiliates Eddie Brock as Spider-Man and earns a promotion in his place after they both receive the same assignment, leading him to swear revenge against both Peter and Spider-Man. He also battles Sandman after he robs an armored van, but symbiote's influence leads him to almost kill Sandman by releasing a large amount of water upon him. After Peter becomes violent during a date with Mary Jane, she breaks up with him. Saddened, he realizes the black suit is a negative influence on his behavior and retreats to a nearby church, where he removes the symbiote using the bell's sonic vibrations. However, the symbiote then attaches to Brock, who followed Spider-Man and watched him unmask himself, turning him into Venom. He blackmails Sandman into helping him kill Spider-Man, threatening to murder his daughter. The pair kidnap Mary Jane to lure out Spider-Man, while a recovered Harry comes to his friends' aid. He rescues Mary Jane and Sandman's daughter, and helps Spider-Man defeat Sandman, before Venom kills him. Spider-Man ultimately defeats Venom using sonic vibrations, but the Eddie seemingly dies after the symbiote leaves his body.
Afterwards, Spider-Man reconciles with Mary Jane, while Sandman is reunited with his daughter. He apologizes to Spider-Man and leaves peacefully. The game ends with Spider-Man resuming his neverending battle against crime, while stating that the only way to honor and remember those he loves is by never giving up being Spider-Man.
Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS
While patrolling the city, Spider-Man spots a building on fire, so he goes there and defuses a bomb. He then spots the New Goblin flying around and realizes that he is his friend, Harry Osborn, who believes Spider-Man murdered his father and wants retribution. After Spider-Man defeats Harry, he leaves to rescue morecivilians trapped in a building.Later, Spider-Man encounters Sandman, but is unable to defeat him, so he returns home, where the alien symbiote envolps him, leading to a new black suit that enhances his powers. The following day, Spider-Man thwarts the schemes of the vilalins Electro, who has kidnapped a senator, and The Mad Bomber, who has planted explosives throughout the city. After defeating both villains, Spider-Man encounters Sandman again and pursues him, eventually defeating him by violently washing him away down the sewers.
Realizing that the symbiote's influence is starting to corrupt his mind, Spider-Man removes it using sonic vibrations from the bell of a nearby church. However, the symbiote attaches to Eddie Brock instead, who desires revenge against both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, turning him into Venom. Spider-Man is later attacked by both Venom and Sandman, who survived their last fight and now has quicksand powers at his usage. After defeating Sandman, Spider-Man and Venom engage in a final battle, until Venom falls off the building and seemingly dies. Spider-Man proceeds to call for an ambulance, as the symbiote leaves Eddie's body slithers away into the night. The game ends with a screenshot reading "The End?"
Special editions
Special editions of the game were available to PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 owners. The PlayStation 3 Collector's Edition artwork shows the fully colored Black Suit of Spider-Man instead of a hybrid of both suits. Common features for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 were an interview with Avi Arad, chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment and founder of Marvel Studios, Spider-Man 3 movie webisodes, a behind the scenes featurette with the cast, and a collectable lenticular card with the movie's images. The PlayStation 3 Collector's Edition came with a pre-installed DLC which featured the ability to play as the New Goblin. The New Goblin DLC was later made available for download from Xbox Live and PlayStation Network users on July 12, 2007.Reception
Spider-Man 3 received "generally positive" reviews for the DS version but "mixed or average" reviews for all other platforms, according to review aggregator Metacritic.The PlayStation 2, Wii, and PlayStation Portable versions have been criticized for a short story mode and disappointing graphics, with GamesRadar suggesting that they were technically inferior to the preceding game from 2004. The Wii version has however been praised for the use of the Remote and Nunchuk in its gameplay, which is considered to be the Wii version's strongest point. The Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 versions, despite receiving only average reviews, have been universally better received than the PlayStation 2, Wii, and PlayStation Portable versions. The Wii version was given a "D+" grade by The Wire. X-Play gave the Wii version 1 out of 5, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions 3 out of 5, and the DS version 4 out of 5.
The game was also criticized for not being the same version on each system. Some criticism has surfaced due to having New Goblin only fully playable in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was also criticized for having a lot of glitches. However, Game Informer liked the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of game, giving them an eight out of ten. For the Nintendo DS version, GameSpot praised the number of moves, Tobey Maguire's voice acting, and the variety of missions, but criticized the soundtrack. ScrewAttack named the Wii version of the game the 7th worst superhero game.