Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man has become nothing if not a staple of the gaming landscape over the years. His more modern adventures kicked off with the PlayStation version of Spider-Man and Activision is continuing the tradition with Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.

Without a Spidey film to tie the game to in 2008, Activision is freed of the movie tradition of featuring a few boss battles with on-screen protagonists and odd appearances from villains such as The Rhino, and has opted fo ... more >>

Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man has become nothing if not a staple of the gaming landscape over the years. His more modern adventures kicked off with the PlayStation version of Spider-Man and Activision is continuing the tradition with Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.

Without a Spidey film to tie the game to in 2008, Activision is freed of the movie tradition of featuring a few boss battles with on-screen protagonists and odd appearances from villains such as The Rhino, and has opted for an epic story that adheres more closely to the Webbed Wonder's comic book exploits.

An army of symbiote clones, spawned from the insidious Venom has taken over New York, and it's up to Spidey to sort things out. Thing is, the appearance of symbiotes can provoke some less than desirable character traits in the Wall Crawler, so his black costume and all the nastiness that comes with it is out in full force. Players will get to choose between the brutal black suit and the more friendly red and blue, affecting the course of the game's branching storyline with the choices they make.

Spider-Man's joined by a huge cast drawn from the pages of the comics, with the likes of Wolverine, Luke Cage, Black Cat and The Vulture all making appearances.

The combat's been overhauled, too, so expect spectacular airborne fights with the whole of New York City as Spidey's playground - or weapon, if you so prefer.

It's up to you to decide whether you'll be a friendly or not-so friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Watch out, New York! << less