Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a 2008 action-adventure video game based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The game was released in October 2008 across multiple platforms, and encompasses three drastically different versions: one released for Microsoft Windows, the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360, which features an open world and non-linear gameplay; one for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable (titled Spider-Man: Web of Shadows – Amazing Allies Edition), which is a 2.5D side-scrolling beat 'em up; and one for the Nintendo DS, a Metroidvania-style beat 'em up. All three versions have several common elements, such as moral choices that alter the narrative, the ability to summon allies during fights, and a similar plot, despite different characters being featured. Web of Shadows' storyline is significantly darker than most previous Spider-Man games, as it revolves around a symbiote invasion threatening Manhattan, which Spider-Man must stop with the help of several unlikely allies.
Upon release, the game received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics, who singled out the boss fights, destructive combat, original story, gameplay and open-ended nature. However, the game's choice system received mixed reviews; although some praised how the player is able to create a dynamic experience with their choices, others were critical of the system's limitations. In addition, reviewers criticized the storyline's poor execution, bothersome camera controls, the inability to free-roam after completing the main storyline, lip-syncing issues and the subpar graphics.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, along with most other games published by Activision that had used the Marvel license, was de-listed and removed from all digital storefronts on January 1, 2014. It was the only Spider-Man game developed by Shaba Games and was assisted by Treyarch (their last time on a Spider-Man game), as the license was then passed to Beenox, who went on to develop several Spider-Man games of their own, beginning with Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions in 2010.
Gameplay Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 Spider-Man Web of Shadows is a third-person action-adventure video game set in an open-world outer area of Manhattan. The gameplay is very similar to that of previous Spider-Man titles (mainly Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 and Ultimate Spider-Man), as it revolves around combat and exploration. Players control Spider-Man and can web swing, web zip, crawl walls, and use the 'spider-sense' to identify and lock onto enemies. The combat has been significantly improved compared to previous games, with players now able to fight enemies not only on the ground, but also on walls and in the air. The game introduces a "web strike" mechanic, which allows Spider-Man to attach a web line to the nearest enemy and pull himself towards them to deal damage.
While free roaming, players may stumble upon various random events, such as gang fights, injured civilians that need to be taken to the hospital, and, in the later stages of the game, symbiote nests that must be destroyed. While entirely optional and not required for completing the game, these events reward the player with XP, which can be used to unlock new fighting moves/combos for Spider-Man. Players can also earn XP from simply playing through the main story, completing challenges (such as defeating a given number of enemies), and finding collectibles hidden around the map. Collectibles also increase Spider-Man's health bar and web swinging speed.
The player is able to switch between Spider-Man's traditional red and blue suit and the black symbiote suit at any time during gameplay. Each suit provides a different gameplay style, and features individual upgrades. Chris Scholz from Shaba Games commented that the developers "worked on really separating the black and red suits to give the player a different feel". For example, while wearing the red suit, Spider-Man is faster and more agile with his attacks, whereas symbiote black suit Spider-Man is stronger and more destructive.
At specific points in the story, the player is presented with choices that affect Spider-Man's morality. This is reflected in the 'reputation bar', which becomes red when Spider-Man has a positive reputation, and black when the reputation is negative. At higher reputation levels, Spider-Man is viewed as a hero, and civilians will act friendly towards him and cheer him on; at lower reputation levels, civilians will cower in fear in Spider-Man's presence or run away. The reputation bar also affects which allies Spider-Man can summon during fights: at high reputation levels, superheroes such as Luke Cage, Moon Knight, and Wolverine can be summoned, whereas at low reputation levels, only villains like Black Cat, Vulture, Rhino, and Electro will come to Spider-Man's aid.
The mini-map on the screen is also different from the style used in previous Spider-Man games. The traditional 2-D overhead view has been removed, replaced by a new 3D map with an "X", "Y" and "Z" axis which shows the player's position in three-dimensional space (north and south, as well as vertical position). Also, as a Wii exclusive, there are 6 alternate costumes (Spider-Carnage for the black suit, and Spider-Armor, Ben Reilly, Spider-Man 2099, Cosmic Spider-Man, and Iron Spider for the red suit).
Although the player is unable to free-roam after the storyline's completion, this can be achieved through a secret method, which has the player watch the credits twice. Afterwards, when they select to continue the game, the player will start a new game, but will retain all their previous upgrades; this essentially acts as a New Game Plus mode.
PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions were released as Spider-Man: Web of Shadows – Amazing Allies Edition and are drastically different from the console and PC version. These versions do not feature an open world, and are instead 2.5D side-scrolling brawlers. Players can alternate between Spider-Man's two costumes at any time during gameplay, with the game providing several scenarios in which one suit is more useful than the other. For example, there are several weak walls which can only be destroyed by the black suited Spider-Man. Each suit has individual upgrades, which unlock new combos or increase Spider-Man's health bar.
Like its title suggests, this version puts more emphasis on the ally system than the other versions, providing the biggest variety of allies and consumable power-ups. Instead of cutscenes, the game features dialogue trees, during which the player must select Spider-Man's replies from several different options, which can make Spider-Man appear respectful, mean, or neutral. Depending on which reply is chosen, the player will receive upgrade points for Spider-Man's red suit, black suit, or both. These sections function similarly to the moral choices in the console and PC version, and can have a major impact on the game's story.
Nintendo DS The Nintendo DS version is also a 2.5D scrolling beat 'em up. Like in the other versions, Spider-Man has both his traditional red and blue suit and his symbiote black suit, which the player can switch between at any time during gameplay and which offer different playstyles (the red suit provides faster movement and attacks, whereas the black suit is slower, but has more devastating attacks). Players earn XP from defeating enemies, which can be used to unlock new combos for both suits. As the players progress through the story, they will also obtain upgrades that will allow them to explore more of the open world map and eventually reach the end of the game, similarly to the Castlevania and Metroid franchises.
The choice system has been redesigned to only consist of players choosing which mission to undergo next. This version features the fewest allies out of all the versions, with a total of four allies: Black Cat, the Green Goblin, Nightcrawler, and Venom. It also features an exclusive revival system where, if the player's health depletes, they can spend one "life point" to attempt to revive the fallen Spider-Man by using the Touch Screen to draw health orbs to him, while poking at poison orbs to destroy them. The revival will be successful if Spider-Man receives enough health orbs before a time limit is reached.
Plot Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 The game begins with Spider-Man (Michael Vaughn) looking for Mary Jane Watson (Dana Seltzer) in the middle of the symbiote invasion in Manhattan. He finds her with Luke Cage (Robert Wisdom) and tries to talk to her when he is attacked by an unknown assailant. Flashback to four days prior, Spider-Man has an encounter with Venom (Keith Szarabajka). Venom's symbiote attaches onto Spider-Man and he gets his black suit back. Spider-Man uses the symbiote and defeats Venom but he flees. Later, Spider-Man helps Luke Cage with a gang war between the Park Avenues and the Rolling 7s in Harlem. They get the gang leaders (James C. Mathis III and Isaac C. Singleton Jr.), to agree to a parley. There, Spider-Man takes out some high-tech snipers trying to assassinate the gang leaders and gets evidence that the Kingpin (Gregg Berger) set up the gang war. He can now choose between the red suit and the black suit: if he chooses red, he shows the evidence to the gang leaders and they stop the gang war; if he chooses black, he lets them kill each other and Luke Cage would be furious.
Afterwards, Spider-Man heads to Fisk Tower to confront the Kingpin, only to witness Black Cat (Tricia Helfer) leaving so he begins chasing her. With assistance from Moon Knight (Robin Atkin Downes), Spider-Man defeats Black Cat, who reveals she is working as a double agent to bring down the Kingpin in an attempt to gain Spider-Man's affection. Spider-Man can again choose which suit he uses: in red, he rejects Black Cat and teams up with Moon Knight; in black, he accepts Black Cat's feelings and teams up with her. He finds out that the Vulture (Kristoffer Tabori) was overseeing the production of Goblin gliders. Spider-Man fights Vulture and beats him before deciding his fate: in the red suit, he webs up Vulture and swings away; in the black, he does the same but recruits him. During a fight with Kingpin's men, Spider-Man is attacked by deranged civilians that can climb up walls. Spider-Man then encounters Wolverine (Steve Blum) in Hell's Kitchen who attacks him because he can smell the symbiote inside of him. Spider-Man proves he can control the symbiote and Wolverine teams up with him to fight the symbiotes. Spider-Man then encounters Venom and finds out that the deranged civilians were symbiote-infected. He fights Venom again but he flees again. As more people become infected, a S.H.I.E.L.D. team led by Black Widow (Salli Saffioti) sets up quarantine camps across Manhattan. Electro (Liam O'Brien) rampages through in search of his sister. Spider-Man defeats him and Electro is knocked out. His sister runs out of the camp and transfers her symbiote to him, resulting in her dying and Electro becoming Symbiote Electro.