The Amazing Spider-Man swings into action on game consoles.
Activision was making Spider-Man video games even before Sam Raimi’s feature film took theaters by storm in 2002. And it was their first movie tie-in, Spider-Man, that showcased the capabilities of 3D web-slinging through a fully imagined Manhattan.
With The Amazing Spider-Man, the Quebec-based developer Beenox is making its first movie-based Spidey game, and has returned the action to the Big Apple for this interactive adventure. The events in the game take place after those of the new movie, and also introduces original villains to the mix. In this exclusive interview, David Deschênes, the game’s lead level designer at Beenox, explains what’s in store for Spidey fans.
GEEK: How does this latest game, which shares the film’s name, tie into the big-screen adventure?
Deschênes: The Amazing Spider-Man is an original epilogue story that follows the events of the feature film. Players can find out what happens to our friendly neighborhood hero next. The story was crafted by Seamus Kevin Fahey, who you might know from Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Battlestar Galactica.
How did you work with the filmmakers on this game?
We were able to get a lot of inspiration, references from the film, as well as the scripts. The filmmakers also gave us a lot of direction concerning the type of combat and the visual style they were aiming for. It helped us create the game with the same vision and spirit they created the film with.
How does this game expand beyond the scope of the movie?
We’re giving the player the opportunity to experience “what happens next” beyond the film. As with the film, the original storyline gives fans a deeper look into the younger Peter Parker — exploring his origins, motivations and relationships. Since the game is also based in the film universe, key characters from the film are woven in along with re-imagined versions of classic Marvel supervillains and all-new villains and characters created specifically for the game.
How have advances in technology helped push what’s capable with the web-slinging action?
The Amazing Spider-Man is built on Beenox’s own proprietary engine. As we’ve made improvements to our engine, we’ve tweaked the web-slinging even more, so that you really feel as if you are Spider-Man. Since we’re bringing you back to Manhattan, we also challenged ourselves to have Spider-Man swinging as fast as you’d expect he would in a free-roaming environment. We’re also excited to debut the “web rush” game mechanic, which lets players make strategic choices on the fly about their next move, whether that’s in navigation or combat.
Can you explain how you worked with Marvel writers to scope this original storyline?
We’ve have a great collaborative relationship with Marvel, and their partnership with Activision has been even longer. We worked closely on a storyline with Marvel, Sony and Seamus Kevin Fahey that honors the spirit of what the film universe is doing and really expands that world interactively for gamers. That also includes working with Marvel to debut re-imagined versions of classic Marvel supervillains who are exclusively in the game. As for how this all ties in, you’ll have to experience the story in the game yourself.
- John Gaudiosi
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