May 18, 2005 - With the Spider-Man license in hand and the next Spidey movie not out until 2007, Activision decided it needed a Spider-Man game to fill the gap. Rather than rehashing Spider-Man 2, Activision looked towards Marvel comics for inspiration. They chose the relatively new Ultimate Spider-Man comic-book as the basis for continuing the Spidey game franchise. This isn't your father's Spider-Man (we're not even sure what your father would be doing with Spider-Man... not that there's anything wrong with that). USM is a slick and refreshing take on Spider-Man gaming, adopting both the look and emotional gravity of the comic.
Thank Goodness They Didn't Choose Penultimate Spider-Man...
In 1999 Marvel launched a new Ultimate line of comic books with its flagship title Ultimate Spider-Man. The Ultimate Universe is separate from regular Marvel continuity and is designed as a way for new or absent readers to hop right into books featuring familiar characters without having to know a lot about their storied histories. Writer Brian Michael Bendis helped launch the Ultimate Universe and has been the sole writer on USM throughout its entire six-year run. It only made sense that Activision utilize Bendis' brain in constructing a videogame based on his comic-book baby.
Bendis signed on and has contributed to the story, written every line of dialogue (and he is one verbose writer) and helped with signing and directing the voice talent. To ensure the game matched the look of the comics, Activison enlisted USM artist Mark Bagley to do pencil designs for every character. Implementing a nifty black inking technique, developer Treyarch has created a perfect translation of the comic. No, not a near-perfect or a "hey, that sort of looks like a comic-book" translation -- this is the comic in 3D.
Aside from the artistic style, Ultimate Spider-Man creates a "living comic-book experience" with comic-panel inserts and dialogue and sound effect balloons. The comic panels transition through live gameplay with ease. Sometimes they signal a civilian in peril, sometimes they are story devices. There are some who hate heavily-stylized games, but USM's comic panels match the gameplay. It's not just style for style's sake.
Enemy Mine
The Ultimate version of Spider-Man isn't radically different from the Spidey you know and love. This is Peter Parker at the start of his superhero career, fifteen-years-old and wracked with guilt over the death of his uncle. He's unsure of himself, his role as a hero and his ability to be close to the girl he loves, Mary Jane Watson, without getting her killed. Peter can still spin a web any size, is a thorn in J. Jonah Jameson's side and dishes out quips faster than enemies can throw punches.
USM's story isn't just inspired by the comic, it actually continues the Ultimate Venom storyline from Ultimate Spider-Man. The game begins with a titanic battle between Venom and Electro for the right to kill a currently unconscious Spider-Man. You take control of Venom with your goal to keep Electro from killing Spidey so that you can have the honors.
Once Venom has defeated Electro, Nick Fury shows up and puts a stop to the villain before he can end Parker's life. Fury, it should be noted, is not the David Hasselhoff-esque classic Marvel version. Instead, the Ultimate Fury is a dead ringer for a one-eyed Sam Jackson. Sadly, in the demo, Jackson didn't provide Fury's voice over, but it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role.
The comic-book story arc ends with Venom defeated and Peter saved. However, many questions about Peter's father and the final fate of Venom remain. The original videogame storyline takes over from here, promised to be completely accessible to those unfamiliar with the comics, but especially rewarding to fans of Bendis' book. In fact, the game story will lead into a future comic-book arc.
Taking a page from Halo 2, you play roughly half of USM as web-slinging Spidey and half as the vicious Venom. The story of Venom and Spider-Man are inseparable, so it's sensible to tell the story from both perspectives. Despite the switchover, Spidey is still the star.
Spider-Powers Activate!
As with Spider-Man 2, you can freely explore Manhattan as Spidey, swinging past downtown skyscrapers under a giant full moon. However, since Peter Parker lives in Queens with Aunt May (portrayed as a strong woman in her fifties as opposed to a feeble octogenarian), Spidey can also swing through Queens. Though, really, who wants to explore Queens?
Activision hasn't revealed what sort of goodies will be hidden around Manhattan, but expect plenty of reason to swing through New York. Of course, there's more to USM than a few hours of glorious swinging. When you want to continue the storyline, just head to the Story Marker to be zipped into your next crucial mission. Hopefully you enjoy swinging around outside, because Treyarch has admitted to the mistakes of the past and has removed the indoor levels. Spider-Man is meant to roam freely and he won't be confined in tight quarters in USM.
