Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge

Infobox VG
title = Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge


developer = Software Creations
Unexpected Development
publisher = LJN (Acclaim)
Flying Edge
designer =
engine =
released = Game Gear
1992
SNES
vgrelease|NA=1992|PAL=1993-08-19

Game Boy
1993
Genesis/Mega Drive
vgrelease|PAL=1993vgrelease|NA=1994-06-24
genre = Platformer
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = SNES, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear, Game Boy
media =
requirements =
input =

"Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge" is the title of a video game first released for the Super Nintendo in 1992 by Acclaim's "LJN" label. The game was later released for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Gear (versions for Sega consoles were released under the "Flying Edge" label). The single-player game features characters from Marvel Comics.

Game play

In the first level, the player controls Spider-Man who must use his spider sense to disarm several bombs located throughout the immediate exterior and maze-like entrance to an abandoned building. After the player completes this level Spider-Man learns that the evil Arcade has kidnapped Storm, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Gambit. The player must successfully complete each character's level (each set in Arcade's deadly "Murderworld") in order to get to control Spider-Man in a final battle with Arcade.
*Spider-Man's Levels: New York City rooftops with the bosses being the flying demon N'astirh and Shocker in the First stage, with Rhino and Carnage in the Second stage.
*Storm's Levels: Underwater level with Storm having a limited air supply. Her bosses were various machines used to control the giant tank-like levels.
*Wolverine's Levels: Circus-themed First level with the boss being Apocalypse at the end of the First stage, and a rampaging Juggernaut chasing him throughout the Second stage.
*Gambit's Levels: Two stages, both of which take place in a cave where a giant spiked ball is chasing him; the first level boss being a giant playing card, the final boss a gigantic version of Black Queen.
*Cyclops' Levels: Two stages, plus a final "Boss stage" after the Second stage; the First and Second in a giant mine complete with mine carts and multiple Sentinel, with the final boss being the Master Mold within its' own Final stage.

After completing each stage, the player controls each hero as they fight in similar-designed mini-levels themed after the "Behind-the-Scenes" of Murderworld. The only character to have a signifigant change is Storm, who now walks, shoots multiple bolts of lightning rapidly and calls upon gusts of wind, and jumps about four times the height of the other characters. The last level takes place inside a large room, where Arcade chases Spider-Man back and forth in a large Arcade-shaped robot, which operates like a Matryoshka Doll, until Arcade is finally defeated. The X-Men stand-by at the edges of the room, occasionally attacking on their own.

The two 16-bit editions of the game were nearly identical, except the Sega edition removed the buzzing sound that occurred whenever Spider-Man's Spider-Sense occurred. The feature had existed in the Super Nintendo version.

Reviews

Critics often found the game to be incredibly difficult to complete. However, thanks in no small part to a feature/glitch found in the first Gambit stage, the player could net "infinite lives". This made the seemingly unbeatable game much simpler, as all the player would have to do is play the Gambit 1 stage, collect several extra lives, intentionally allow the spiked ball following him to reach him, die, and choose another character at the Select Screen.

This technique could be repeated until the player completed the Gambit 1 stage.

Also, several magazines praised the game for being one of the first to offer a game in which Spider-Man was easy to control and actually felt believable.

Despite acrimony over the difficulty, the game continues to attract attention due to the soundtrack, composed and arranged by Tim and Geoff Follin.

External links

* [http://marvel.com/videogames/X-Men_Games X-Men video games on Marvel.com]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/spider-man-and-the-x-men-arcades-revenge Spider-Man and the X-Men: Arcade's Revenge at MobyGames]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=OQPsj2owtIQ Video review (YouTube)]