
Measuring how much the city trusts you is a good idea, and does compel you to keep the streets clean, but in practice, it feels artificial and pointless. To do so, you complete side missions, such as rescuing people from burning buildings, stopping high-speed chases, and fighting street toughs. The city views you as either a hero or a villain based on how much crime exists, so you must stop the many evildoers to keep everyone happy. Villainy is one of the major framing devices in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Why does Spider-Man spend so much time fighting petty thieves when there are real villains out there? As I punched Kingpin, he would ask questions that made me even more leery of my actions. This was a fight of endurance as I had to withstand the attacks of his henchmen while avoiding his rumbling charges.
#THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN 2 CRACK#
And then there's the markedly different showdown against Kingpin, who's so fat he was arrested for having 10 pounds of crack.butt crack (at least according to Spider-Man). Squaring off against the lightning-fast Black Cat, who hides in the shadows and then strikes with sadistic glee, tested my reflexes and my hunting ability. Granted, such simplicity exists in boss fights as well, but those battles do demonstrate how interesting this system can be when the challenge is ratcheted up. Cops don't mind when you photograph their laptops, right? Attack when your foe's guard is down, dodge when he flashes red, and repeat until everyone is squirming at your feet. Combat is closer to an elaborate quick-time event than a test of skill. But it is very simple, and after a while it becomes too predictable for its own good. Dodging enemy attacks and retaliating with incredible force makes you feel like the purveyor of justice Spider-Man wants to be, and there were times when I was caught in the simple pleasure of making digital people squeal with pain. It's easy enough to latch on to faraway enemies, pulling yourself toward them in a frenetic burst of violence as you teach them the follies of their ways with your fists. Spider-Man spends a lot of time fighting enemies, and much of it is blandly enjoyable. Such problems broke my immersion in a snap.Īt what point does Spider-Man stop fighting for the greater good and start becoming a menace in his own right?

When I would stop to collect a floating comic book, or try to wall-run up the side of a skyscraper, I would often clip through surfaces as the camera jittered and shook. Still, movement only has that freeing rush when you're not acting with a purpose. I didn't want to be stuck walking like a sucker. When there aren't any buildings, you fall to the ground, which is a little restrictive, but made me choose my path smartly. By independently shooting webs out of each hand, you guide yourself around buildings with speed and precision, and once you're accustomed to the rhythm of movement, you can deftly scoot around corners without breaking a sweat. Firing webbing at skyscrapers creates an incredible sense of locomotion in part because of how well it represents the way I imagine it would feel to be in Spider-Man's tights.

Spider-Man is at his best when he's soaring above the congested streets of New York. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is as flawed as its sure-headed protagonist, equal parts enjoyable and aggravating, which made my feelings waver as I smacked down evil-minded foes in the well-realized Manhattan that Peter Parker calls home. You see, to enjoy the game, you have to forgive it for its many problems. But the question of forgiveness stayed with me throughout the adventure, and not just in regard to Spidey's questionable acts, either. Such questions are never answered in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Is it all right for him to beat the stuffing out of ordinary criminals considering how much stronger he is? To steal information from a police officer's laptop or bug wireless towers to spy on citizens? At what point does Spider-Man stop fighting for the greater good and start becoming a menace in his own right? But I find it hard to accept his morally challenged choices. The way he insults his enemies while knocking their heads together, and makes wry observations while swinging through the city, have always made me laugh. Peter Parker is a grounded guy despite his extraordinary powers, and his innate relatability makes him likable. The idea of forgiveness is endemic to what The Amazing-Spider 2 is. Emotions are what cause us to waver in our beliefs, to brush aside a questionable act from a loved one or to put blinders on when the truth overwhelms us.
