Spider-Man: Edge of Time revolves around the timelines of both The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099 as they must work together to prevent a catastrophic death for Peter Parker.
If you've ever delved into the world of Spider-Man games, you will be well aware that they are very hit or miss. Marvel as an organization generally has a pretty poor track record transforming their franchises into playable games. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions was one of those rare occasions where a decent game was produced. Naturally, they've commissioned a spiritual successor in Spider-Man: Edge of Time.
Spider-Man: Edge of Time is a 2011 video game made by Beenox and published by Activision, and is the second game produced by the studios to be based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man (following on from their work on Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions).In the game, players control both the Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099 in two connected timelines that follow the untimely death of. Explore two connected, evolving timelines in Spider-Man: Edge of Time. From the corrupt, futuristic world of Spider-Man 2099 to the contemporary times of the Amazing Spider-Man, it s up to Spidey to navigate this action-packed adventure that has the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Spider-Man: Edge of Time (Video Game 2011) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
The game itself does not follow too much from the previous narrative or feature the same characters. It does attempt to build on the gameplay and mechanics that made Shattered Dimensions so successful. Could Marvel do the impossible and deliver two decent Spider-Man games in a row? Let's find out.
Living on the Edge of Time
So what's happening on the Edge of Time? This Spider-Man game takes a dive into a futuristic narrative where not one - but two Spider-Men serve as the protagonists. One Spider-Man from the future of 2099 is a playable character and a Spider-Man one in the present. The scene is set one present Spider-Man - Peter Parker is killed by Anti-Venom. Only to be revived in an alternate timeline where futuristic Spider-Man Miguel O'Hara comes back investigating the evil ambitions of antagonist Walker Sloan.Did you follow all that? No? Well, buckle-in - the game doesn't make it any easier to follow. In stark contrast to Shattered Dimensions - Spider-Man: Edge of Time gets very little right in the narrative, gameplay, and overall entertainment. Gone are the intriguing characters, the varied mechanics, and an easy-to-follow story.
The pretty looking environments and well-rendered models serve as assets to climb, grapple, swing, and do all the things a Spider-Man does. Both combat and obstacles become monotonous very quickly, however. Enemies are the same, puzzles don't vary too much, and you'll find yourself free-falling more than Tom Petty. The futuristic setting could lead to a potentially strong output - but the issue is the confusing storyline really challenges gameplay execution without it becoming muddled. The simple approach of smash and grab was undertaken to be safe.
What's Done Can Be Undone
What Shattered Dimensions got right has seemingly been undone in Spider-Man: Edge of Time. What we have is a lot of focus on good looking visuals and seamless animations. But does not present anything enticing or rewarding in terms of gameplay. The whole 6 to 7-hour campaign will be spent just slugging through enemies and facing some very uninspired boss fights with the same set of skills.
Honestly, the game is passable on the merit that it looks good and polished. When you're making comparisons with its predecessor, though - your expectations are higher than usual. It's by no means as bad as other third-person time-rippers like Quantum Theory - but it is a game that I wouldn't recommend. It's just far too mixed up.
Pros
- Good looking models and environments
- The voice acting is a fantastic element of engagement
Cons
- Confusing storyline
- Monotonous gameplay
- Combat and puzzles never change much