The Amazing Spider-Man (GB)

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is already out this year of 2023 and yet here I’m playing Rare Limited’s The Amazing Spider-Man (1990) on Gameboy. 

This is generic Spidey’s pose. Maybe if you pick any of his comic, the cover art will be like this where Spider-Man busily slings web around. Back when I owned Gameboy, I have this game and never actually finish it because it’s not easy game. Because…surprise! Surprise! It’s a game published by the infamous LJN. If you watched Angry Video Game Nerd, you should know how notorious LJN is. Nonetheless, I’m curious to finish this game. *Pressing “Start” button*  

 

So, what the plot in this game? It’s simple. Mary Jane (Spider-Man’s love interest and wife in future) is missing. One of Spider-Man’s archenemy Mysterio, calls Spidey on walkie-talkie/radio/primitive version of cell phone (maybe?) claiming he kidnapped Mary Jane. This quite similar to the prologue of Final Fight, that I like. So, the game is not bad so far. What’s Mysterio’s demand? Nothing, really. He just wants Spidey to walk down the alleyway to settle the dispute for good. With fighting, of course. Not with friendly game of Monopoly. Hasbro won’t approve that. The demand seems petty unlike Mad Gear gang that wants Mayor Mike Haggar to let their dirty business undisturbed by law. But then his name is Mysterio, which mean he has his own mysterious way unbeknownst to commoner like me.    

 

The game is as simple as you can get. It’s 2D platformer. The control is D-Pad to move left/right or crouch if you press down. Pressing “A” button will make Spidey jumps while Pressing “B” button will make Spidey attacks in his facing direction. While standing, pressing “B” button will make Spidey pull his arm backward and then unleashing big straight punch. Perhaps when he’s winding his punch, he dodges incoming attack directed to his upper body briefly. However, the thug simply kicks Spidey in the shin so it doesn’t matter. Or I’m just overthinking about the slow process of Spidey’s punch because recently I played Battle K-Road, a rather janky fighting game that has pretty elaborate mechanism on low/high dodge.   

 

There’s lizard man who like to claw at Spidey’s toe. Since this is Spider-Man game, I assume he’s Doctor Connors or better known as The Lizard. To deal with him, you can crouching kick him when he’s out of the manhole but that also when he draw his sharp claw at your feet. Or you can use this easy way: jump on the manhole cover. That will give him big concussion. Big enough to make him retreat forever from this particular manhole. 

 

The alleyway is more dangerous with this thug that has gun! You can see the bullet near the stack of crate, which is bigger than the thug’s gun. I will walk through this open trash container and kick the thug. I give him big impact force and lots of germ on my boot.

 

I can see someone shooting gun as Spider-Man as evil thug. But then there’s this guy come out from window with baseball bat, trying to hit Spidey. My first impression is: that guy is seriously studying for final exam until Spidey making noise so his anger is justified.  

 

Thugs will drop item upon defeated. The items will be destroyed when touch the floor so you have to get them immediately. One is white ball that only increase your score when picked. The other is this film roll, I think? When picked, it will increase web count by 1, which is very useful to have. Obviously, Spider-Man is known to use web for various stuffs. Everytime he uses web. The web bar goes down. When it’s fully depleted, it will automatically refilled if there’s still web’s number. As how Spidey can use the web. We will see later.    

Some windows reveal angry man with baseball bat. While the other reveal delicious burger that Spidey can pick to refill health by 50%. Spidey has ability to jump high by walking few steps first and then jump. If he jump from standing still or he doesn’t walk far enough, he will just jump with average height like how high you and me can jump.    

As I reach the dead end, a smoking fireball attacks me and bouncing left and right. Sniper_sf13_magic_reac06.wav

 

After several minutes bouncing left and right, the fireball turns into Mysterio himself! He will teleport to random spot, then lob fireball in quite weird trajectory and the repeat the teleport routine. You can or rather must punch him before he has a chance to lob the fireball thus interrupting him, just like this. With enough punch, he will be defeated. I say this boss fight is kind of underwhelming for Mysterio. I remember he can turn into giant in Spider-Man game on PS 1 using movie effect or whatnot. Compared to that, this boss fight is lackluster in execution. I mean, sure. The bouncing fireball part is cunning but the part after that where he’s kind of mimicking Dracula’s routine in any Castlevania, is fairly lame. 

Mysterio is defeated but Mary Jane still nowhere to be found. Then Hobgoblin calls Spider-Man and challenges him to roof top for a fight.

This section tests Spidey’s ingenuity as wall crawler. Hobgoblin constantly throw fireball from above, completely off-screen. The only indication about this fireball is from the signature: Spider’s sense and this section is the only part in the game where it’s implemented. So climb sideway when spider’s sense is triggered and keep your eye on those angry student with baseball bat.

During this wall climbing, don’t ever press jump button. It will make him jump few meters and drop like sack of stones. Unless you want to reach that exit window with “in” writing on it. Why Spidey not just climb to it? There’s invisible barrier that prevents him to do that. LJN rubbish magic Some secret Norman Osborn’s technology at work here. The fireball comes down quicker the nearer the exit from you, so you better jump into that window fast.

 

Now we’re back to 2D beat em up genre again but with addition of different floor elevation and instant death pit. Of all Marvel’s Superheroes, I don’t think Spider-man is not fitting to be knocked out when fall into pit. He can’t fly but he has superb acrobatic skill. He can just flip to reduce effect of fall. If that’s not working, he can use his web to make safety net or cable. Anyway, the enemy placement becomes trickier. As I try to knock this thug’s crotch, his friend drops behind me and snipes my back.   

Another thing that goon dropped is this dark brick that when picked will explode with its copies, flying in 8 direction. Other than that explosive visual effect, I have no idea what the dark brick item does.

 

Naturally, Spidey can attach his web to swing around. You can do this by holding the jump button while Spidey is on at least 50% upper part of the screen. So, most of the time, normal jump can’t be linked to the web swinging. You need the high jump for that. It goes without saying that the web swinging cost web over time.  

 

Here it is. The Hobgoblin. His routine starts with constantly chucking fireball from above while slowly move to the right. Next, he will descend to that pit then charging to the left, moving along the roof either slow or fast.     

 

You can hit him when he’s charging. You can position yourself at left corner or right corner. Left corner strategy is the safest method but right corner strategy is the fastest and you don’t need to move to right when Hobgoblin begin to bombard you.

 

Hobgoblin is defeated but Mary Jane still missing! Next, Scorpion call Spidey and tell him to go to subway. I don’t know about you but calling your enemy Scorpy seems intimate and not appropriate with the enemy relationship.

 

Subway level, Spidey defies being good citizen to pay train fare and sit tight inside of train. Probably to cut the train fare cost. I begin to question his title “Friendly Neighborhood”. Anyway, this level does the same like other 2D level. The difference is the ground is moving (because it’s train) and every stop there’s handgun thug ready to fire at Spidey’s shin. Not this guy though. He’s facing wrong direction. I think his nervousness gets the best of him. This is his first day work as thug and carrying handgun. Give him a break.  

 

Then there’s bats. New York subway line has big problem! It become vacation spot Dracula’s minions while their master still asleep because of whip to the face by current Belmont generation.  

 

You can walk over the tunnel to dodge those bats. You can see slight sight of Spidey’s feet on the top left. This is like secret way in Super Mario Bros.

 

Spidey encounter Scorpion at 3rd stop. Oh my goodness! I know Scorpion’s deadly weapon is his tail but the way he swings it is…quite suggestive. Stay away from his tail wiggle and he start to jump at you. There’s you chance to jump kick him. Everytime he get hit, he will retreat and later drop at random spot. Avoid his drop and tail then jump kick. Nuff said.

 

Or you can shoot him with the web projectile from distance. It’s done by holding attack button. I notice that the projectile is in 3-way pattern akin to Contra’s spreadshot. In first level, the web shot only in single straight pattern. I think I know what the dark brick does. It upgrades my web shot. As far as I know, there’s 4 power levels. Power level 1 is single web bullet. Power level 2 is 3-way web bullet. Power level 3 is single web net. Power level 4 is 3-way web net.

Mary Jane is not found as Scorpion is defeated. Next Rhino makes the phone call although I’m not sure where’s his phone is in this picture here. Maybe he uses airpods instead of walkie talkie like others. People think Rhino is half wit but he’s smart enough to use more advanced telecommunication tool than other Spider-Man’s enemy. I question his status as idiot character. 

This level is Central Park and oh man! It has lots of problems: Tree stumps in the middle of walkway. Gun-toting bandits. Falling spiked chestnuts. The Lizard stalk at every manhole. Vicious sparrows. You think that cute sparrow sitting on the tree stump is harmless. You’re very wrong. They want to charge at Spidey between his eyes if he’s close enough to them.

 

Also, burger on a tree branch! I’m thinking to get some hotdog on normal stall but there’s none. So I take this weird burger. Beggar can’t be picky.

 

The game is not easy and relentless. But thankfully lesser enemies only can take 1 hit from Spidey. I particularly like this thug that flying hundred meters after Spidey kick his crotch.

 

Like Mysterio, Rhino appears in dead end. His pattern is very simple, really. He walks slowly. Once he’s done with startup walk, he will run. That’s it. He will do this left and right. Because he’s too lazy to move that arm to punch, he’s easy target for punching. Just be careful not to get greedy on your hit. You can sneak like 1-2 punches safely before he’s running. Also, you need some startup walk for high jump. Normal jump can pass over him safely, but high jump is your best bet. Note that don’t ever try to shoot web at him. The web projectile will only bounce at Rhino’s thick armor. Besides your punch/kick is more powerful than the web bullets. I can’t say for certain for power level 4 web projectile.  

 

You can probably guess that Spidey can’t find Mary Jane after defeating Rhino. This time, it’s Dr Octopus who challenges Spidey. I don’t think these villains working together on Mary Jane kidnapping. It’s not in Final Fight or Mug Smasher, where the captive constantly getting moved to other places. I bet these villains just pulling prank. Imagine, everytime these villains downed and Spidey interrogates them. They just say “It’s only prank, bro!” with gleaming smile and few teeth lose.  

 

It's another wall climbing section but with more enemies: handgun-wielding thug and sparrows. The thug prevents you from climbing further without stopping to hit him first but he barely can do anything within your punching range. I thought to myself “This is not as bad as first wall climbing section where Hobgoblin constantly throw fireball from above, right?”

 

Until there’s conga line of sparrow, that is. I know they don’t do conga dance but you get what I mean, right? These queue line of sparrow can appears from left or right or even both! Luckily the hit detection for Spidey’s attack is in both hand and foot. Just make sure Spidey’s attack facing at those damn birds.

 

The rooftop section is not easier either. There’s more death pit, weak platform, less platform, and goddamn birds again! There’s lots of section where you’re forced to do the web swinging here so you should save the web reserve for this occasion. While web swinging, Spidey can kick incoming birds. But should just one bird touch Spidey, he will fall to the long death pit. Although Spidey will respawn in further safe platform instead of previous safe platform, I think it’s not worth it to waste Spidey’s life for the merciful spawn point where you can advance easily. The idea is for the player not to abuse the safety while web swinging but it’s balanced in not good way. So you have to do the web swing in flawless way or die.

Finally, Spidey encounter Dr Octopus. Naturally, he attacks with his claws…but he uses the lower claws like Scorpion! So he’s twice as sexy as Scorpion, maybe? His pattern quite simple. He moving left or right, depending on Spidey’s position regardless his position’s elevation. He moves one step while stretching his claw, standing still and stretching his claw again, then he moves forward again or turns back.   

 

You have to sneak a punch at back of his head before he can turn around. The timing on that is very strict and not easy. I think if the upper platform was removed, the fight would be much easier.

 

Once again, Spidey can’t find Mary Jane. Suddenly Venom challenges Spidey to go down to sewer. The way Venom says that lines, suggesting they do “adult” stuff at sewer, which is probably the worst place to do that. Let’s rescue Mary Jane before she gets Tetanus or something horrible.

 

Right at the start of the level, I encounter thug that can shoot handgun diagonally! He’s true genius. It’s not easy to dispatch him. I can’t shoot web while jumping. I can’t do that while web swinging but A) It’s not high enough B) It costs lots of web cartridge. If Spidey is below him, he will drop down and proceed to stab Spidey with knife. So, you can deal with him once you’re below him and successfully passed his bullets.

 

I’m pretty sure this is real sewer level because there’s feces drops on waste channel. It’s very hard to dodge these droppings while web swinging. Spidey can only change direction after he swing twice: left and right hand. Might as well as take endure the craps [literally].

 

Thankfully, Spidey doesn’t die if he’s on this shin-depth sewer water but be careful! The water is full of crocodiles! Dam those ignorant kids who thought baby crocodiles can be cute pet like Iguana or whatnot, flushed down them. Now Spidey suffers the consequence of the irresponsible act of those kids. While in sewer water, Spidey walk even more slower. Talking about icing the cake on Spidey’s suffer.

 

Finally, the fateful battle against Venom, the most dangerous Spidey’s enemy. Venom will descend and ascend with his web while shooting net webs randomly. It’s barely bullet hell. You can dodge his web by jumping, crouching, or even hanging on web for a second.

Once Venom switches side, here’s your great opportunity to kick him several time. But still be careful of his projectiles. I have to say this adaptation of Venom, is very loose. In original, he’s muscular, big, and brutal. Plus his weakness is very specific: sonic wave (sound) and fire. He’s supposed to be twice bigger as Spidey, jump around wildly while occasionally punch or shoot web. He will be significantly bigger challenge than he is here. But thankfully I wasn’t the game designer. Moreover I was 11 years old back in 1990. No way, Rare wouldn’t employ such young kid.

Venom falls to the center of sewer water while Mary Jane drops down from web binding. Finally, we rescue Mary Jane. Ma’am. Are you sure you want to do “it” in sewer in this instance. I know you feel relieved that you are rescued by Peter Parker, your future husband. But I think you better hold on that feeling to somewhere safe.

 

Oh nice. She makes sharp remark to Spidey. Thanks, I guess. At least she can control her libido. But you know the difference between friend and enemy, don’t you? They’re 180^o different. Just saying! That’s the closure of my childhood game. I’m done!

 

Rare Limited’s The Amazing Spider-Man (1990) is fairly simple 2D platform game yet pretty difficult. The main things that make the game difficult, are short-range melee attack, skin contact damage, and how relentless the enemies are. But thankfully, one hit is enough to defeat them. The game consists of 6 levels. As many as Sinister Six’s members. First 4 levels are easy enough. Level 5 is where Rare ramps up the difficulty. Constant spawn of sparrow, death pit is more in quantity and length, bad platform placement, and crumbling platforms. The last level, the sewer is even harder. There’s Thug that perches on strategic position while shooting downward diagonally, constant feces drop, and water full of crocodiles. Quite strangely, the entire stage has more difficulty than the boss fights. Also, they have inconsistent difficulty gradient. Mysterio is quite hard because he’s invincible when he was bouncing fireball and has ability to teleport in random spot. Hobgoblin constantly bombard entire screen. Then Scorpion is pretty easy as long as you keep him from him. Rhino is even easier because all he does is just walking and then running although he’s immune to any web projectile. Dr. Octopus can be as easy as Rhino if not for that upper platform that’s placed strategically bad. Lastly, Venom is not hard if you know how to dodge his web shooting. It’s barely danmaku/bullet hell. I’m amazed with how well Rare handles the control despite the button limitation and it’s pretty intuitive too. Pressing “A” button will make Spidey jumps. Holding it will initiate web swinging. Pressing it after several step of walking will make Spidey jump high. Pressing “B” button will make Spidey attacks in his facing direction. Punch, jump kick, crouching kick. You name it. Holding it will shoot web projectile. Then there’s projectile upgrade mechanism that’s quite interesting. Another thing that makes the game difficult is the lack of item drop. Only run-of-the-mill thugs that drop item. Not bat, sparrow, angry student, or The Lizard. The burger also lacks of appearance. It only appears in random window and that particular tree branch. I forgot to mention that there’s no burger in sewer. But again, who wants to eat burger that lied on murky floor of sewer? Spider-Man may be stronger than average human but he’s not immune to diarrhea or Cholera. The music is pretty catchy. Strangely, everytime you pause the game, the music replay from beginning instead of where you left paused. The sound effect is bit grinding in my ear but appropriate, I think. The graphic is very good for Gameboy game. You can clearly identify Spider-Man in the game.  

 

As I have said before that The Amazing Spider-Man (1990) is pretty hard game. I believe Rare makes the game hard because the game is relatively short but nonetheless, I don’t approve that reason. It’s just typical bad design in 80s or 90s video games. Plus, they only give you 2 continues. It should be -at least- twice the amount considering how rubbish difficulty is in level 5 and 6. But the gameplay is not terrible and the boss fights are enjoyable. Least for Dr Octopus. If you somehow can finish the game without any continue or savestating, I consider you amazing. I mean “The Amazing Spider-Man”.