by Alex Ramirez

Created on: December 04, 2008

Shaba Games and Treyarch have combined their developer prowess to not only make one of the most ambitious Spider-Man games ever but action-adventure games as well. You see, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is by far one of the most cinematic games I have ever played, and while there may not be a lot of new tricks to the combat, the camera seems to add a sense of innovativeness to the game previously unseen by any game before. So does the camera breathe life into the action-adventure game or does it appear as nothing more than a one-trick pony? Nevertheless, fans need not worry they got the web-swinging right this time.

Somehow finding time from Call of Duty 5, Treyarch has worked in collaboration with Shaba Games to create a very impressive game from top to bottom. The city is laid out very well, boasts some impressive character models, and the game features some of the best animations around, particularly Spider-Man's movements and web-swinging. His transition from swinging to spinning another web really has never been smoother. Also, the blur effects used when Spider-Man is web-zipping to an enemy is expertly done and adds a nice touch to quick pace of the game.

All of the textures in the game feel very appropriate and the symbiotes have never looked better. I was kind of disappointed to see that the game didn't have any CG cut-scenes of our favorite web-slinger, but the in-game engine is decent enough to carry the story progression on its own. It just seems a bit ironic to put some much emphasis on making the game as cinematic possible, and then decide to not do a single frame of CG. Not necessarily a bad choice; just an interesting one.

For those of you not familiar, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows sports a stylized look new to the Spider-Man games and practically the entire the gaming industry. You see, the camera takes a unique almost over the shoulder look, while heavily focusing the camera on whatever you are looking at. It's something that is kind of hard to explain on paper, but once you see it in action you can't help but be impressed. Check it out for yourself here.

While Spider-Man look great in his newest outing he has possibly never sounded worse. His voice is far too whiny, even for Peter Parker, and there is rarely emotion or meaning in any of his lines. It can be kind of hard to get past, but luckily there are plenty of other characters that all sound great. And what would any Spider-Man adventure be without of the wall-crawler's infamous one-liners. I

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