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Spider-Man: Friend or Foe Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

Spider-Man has always been a loner, so make some new friends by beating up the old!

Spider-Man Friend or Foe is one the newest games to jump off the Marvel gravy train. Developed by Next Level Games, this title borrows heavily from the Spider-Man movie trilogy while taking its own creative liberties to create an entertaining gaming experience.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe screenshot

The title gives a large hint as to what the game ensures, and since the novelty act of web-slinging had been used in previous titles, Friend or Foe offers the option of finally playing as Spider-Man’s many foes. For many comic fans, this is either a love or hate situation since most hardcore fans know it would take something unfathomable to make Venom fight valiantly beside Spidey. Comic trivia aside, Friend or Foe turns out to make a pleasing beat-em up with a close friend.

The story begins with Spider-Man casually sitting on a rooftop when just about all his most memorable villains attack him. It is when the web head is completely surrounded that each villain begins to abruptly disappear right before his eyes. As if things weren’t strange enough, you are then teleported aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D helicarrier and greeted by Nick Fury, the original version not the Samuel L. Jackson iteration. You are quickly informed that it is up to you to find, defeat, and recruit your enemies use their help to solve the mystery of their disappearance and the rise in symbiotic life plaguing the area.

Before starting a level, you are informed about the stage via Nick Fury and the artificially intelligent helicarrier, which ensures some comical commentary from time to time. While in the helicarrier, you can access a variety of options such as character upgrades, rewards, bios, and unlockable content. As you defeat enemies, they drop orbs which you can use at the helicarrier for all the aforementioned reasons. Things like toughness, abilities, items, and special attacks can be bought and upgraded.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe screenshot

Friend or Foe is in fact a beat-em up game, and before I elaborate on the gameplay, it is important that I point out that this game is truly designed for young kids. From the second the game begins you will notice a very cartoon-ish and kiddy charm that the game possesses, added with lots and lots of humor. Do not be surprised when you realize the pure hearted web head isn’t the only one cracking the funny one liners. In fact, the game possesses no seriously epic moments that are trademarked with Spider-Man’s uncanny bad luck.

Don’t think I’m bashing the game though; Friend or Foe is a pleasing beat-em up title. You are constantly aided by one of many unlockable friends or enemies which you can switch to at the press of the button. Characters also possess their own signature moves which can also be upgraded with the points you collect during missions. With the use of a special item, you can unleash a team attack combo that not only destroys all enemies on screen but makes for really dynamic cutscenes. I strongly suggest unlocking Venom and using the team combo attack; it is hilarious! If you are not satisfied with the A.I. as the second player, a friend can grab the second controller and jump in at any time and leave without ever breaking up the gameplay. Unfortunately, Friend or Foe is not online compatible so you will have to settle for friends within close proximity like “ye old days.”

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe screenshot

Since combat is the heart of the game, you are swarmed by dozens of enemies at one time and you and your selected ally unleash a flurry of combos. Combat moves are divided into several fashions. You have an attack button and a grab button which you can combine to unleash combos. I can confidently say a lot of work was put into the characters specific movements and fighting styles. Spidey pulls off some amazing moves even before he is fully upgraded. Since the game is designed for a younger audience, the combo system is very watered down, but the positive effect is that it is easy to pull off a lot of fantastic and colorful attacks that can only come from the Marvel universe.

Another contributor to the way you pull off combos is the size of the enemy. Enemies are divided into three classes: small, medium, and large. Small enemies are noticeably weaker and easier to throw around. Medium sized enemies take a lot more of a pounding and often take the deliberate team effort of you and your ally in order to defeat. Since medium sized foes are a lot tougher, characters like Spidey can yank their feet from under them to cause lots of damage instead of wasting time and energy trying to punch them while someone like Rhino can take them head on. Large enemies are almost like mini bosses, which take a bit of strategy to defeat. They often consist of throwing objects at their exposed areas several times in order to defeat, but if not handled correctly they can be a real bother.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe screenshot

Of course, if you’re like me, then the real reason you bought this game is because you wanted to play as all those cool Spider-Man hating villains. Spidey’s friends make their cameos of course, but it isn’t until you get to your very first foe and make him join your party that you really get into the game. The villains that eventually join your party must be defeated first, and this is where the boss battles begin. The watered down gameplay is acceptable but the boss fights really leave something to be desired and come off as very cheap and tedious. First off, the bosses have very long health bars, and after you figure out how to defeat them and start landing punches, a quick cutscene resets the battle and your positions. It is very awkward. Imagine fighting someone, and when his heath is half way down you exchange dialogue and pop back several feet away to continue the battle. Though you are rewarded for the tedious battle by unlocking a new character.

The graphics in Friend or Foe are very pleasant, and as I stated before have a very cartooni-ish charm about it which kind of makes me feel like I’m watching a cartoon on the Nickelodeon network. Great detail is not only put into the characters but the environments as well. Massive landscapes can be seen in the background, and subtle details like the stitching in Spider-Man’s suit can be easily seen. Matched with the clean, precise audio and voices that closely match the movie’s counterparts, Friend or Foe makes for a pretty decent game.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe screenshot

Overall, I must say that Spider-Man Friend or Foe is just above mediocre considering that it is significantly targeted towards a younger audience. It is a fun, enjoyable, and quirky game that a father can easily pick up and play with his son. Though the boss fights are tedious and combat a bit too simple, by the end of the day I’m glad I own this game, and judging by a very suspenseful name said just before the credits roll I’m definitely looking forward to a sequel.

Features:

  • Unlock and play as a variety of Spider-Mans most formidable foes!
  • Use team work to defeat your foes and unleash amazing combo attacks.
  • Awesome jump in or out gameplay at anytime.
  • Upgrade Spidey and company to increase their performance.
  • Play as Venom! What more do you need?!

  • Rating out of 5 Rating Description

    3.5

    Graphics
    The graphics have a cartoon look that match an animated series.

    4.0

    Control
    Controls are tight and responsive.

    4.0

    Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
    VO’s match their movie counter parts.

    3.0

    Play Value
    This is a fun game that is too simple for veterans.

    4.0

    Overall Rating Great
    Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

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