The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 video game)
Open-world Spider-Man game serving as an alternate epilogue to the 2012 film.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Amazing Spider-Man is a 2012 action-adventure game developed by Beenox and published by Activision, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and the 2012 film of the same name. Its story serves as an alternate epilogue to the film, continuing months after the events of the movie, and was followed by a sequel in 2014. The game was released on multiple platforms, with versions for Nintendo 3DS and Wii featuring significantly different, linear gameplay without an open world.
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows; Wii U (March 2013); PlayStation Vita (November 2013)
Lore & Background
The game's story takes place months after the film, with cross-species experiments created by Oscorp using Curt Connors' research escaping into Manhattan and infecting the population with a deadly virus. Spider-Man allies with Gwen Stacy and Connors to find a cure, while new Oscorp CEO Alistair Smythe attempts to develop his own cure to be credited as the city's savior and eliminate Spider-Man and Connors. The plot is continued in the game's sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, released in April 2014.
Reader's Guide
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 video game) is notable for its open-world Manhattan setting on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Windows, featuring a Web Rush bullet-time mechanic and a combat system reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham series. The Nintendo 3DS and Wii versions are stripped down, with linear levels selected from a map and no open world. The game received mixed to positive reviews, praised for gameplay, controls, combat, dark tone, and soundtrack, but criticized for difficulty, story, visuals, repetitive side missions, and lack of innovation. Its legacy includes introducing a unique damage system where Spider-Man's suit degrades with damage, and offering downloadable content with additional suits and mini-games. A sequel followed in 2014.
Did You Know?
- The game's story serves as an alternate epilogue to the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man.
- The Nintendo 3DS version includes an exclusive side-scrolling beat-em-up mode called 'Vigilante Mode', but it is not a strategy-based role-playing text game.
- A party hat for 'Spidey's 50th anniversary' becomes available if the player changes the console or PC date to August 1, 2012.
- The Wii U version was released as The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition in March 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 video game)?
It is an action-adventure title created by Beenox and released by Activision in June 2012, built around the Marvel superhero and tied to the live-action film of the same name. The narrative picks up months after the movie's climax, functioning as an alternate continuation rather than a direct retelling.
What powers and abilities does Spider-Man use in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 video game)?
Players control Peter Parker as he swings across the city using web-shooters, crawls on walls and ceilings, and relies on his heightened spider-sense to dodge incoming attacks. His superhuman strength and agility let him take on villains in hand-to-hand combat throughout the open-world map.
How does The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 video game)'s story end?
The plot wraps up with Spider-Man confronting the final threat tied to Otto Octavius, restoring peace to New York City. Because the game is framed as an alternate epilogue, its conclusion diverges from the film's ending while still honoring the core conflict between Peter and his enemies.
Why is The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 video game) considered important in the Spider-Man game lineup?
It marked one of the first times Spider-Man could freely traverse a fully open New York City in a video game, setting a new standard for movement and exploration in the franchise. Its success led directly to the 2014 sequel, which expanded the open-world formula even further.
How do the Nintendo 3DS and Wii versions of The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 video game) differ from the main open-world release?
The 3DS and Wii builds use a linear, level-based structure with no free-roaming city, making them fundamentally different experiences from the PS3 and Xbox 360 editions. Players on those versions progress through set sequences rather than exploring an interconnected map.
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