Spider-Man 2 Update

At an event last week, Activision and Treyarch showed off Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game is the next installment in Activision's series of games based on the film incarnations of one of Marvel Comics' signature heroes. While we got an exclusive look at the game last week, the current demo showed off some new bits we hadn't seen, including some cool boss fights. While there weren't any real surprises--the game was looking plenty heroic the last time we saw it--we're still pleased by how it's coming together.

The demo showed the ins and outs of the new mechanics being implemented, such as webslinging, combat, and the new game structure, and it showcased the city you'll roam in. We were also able to check out some of Spidey's more advanced moves. Our personal favorite had him stringing up a baddie from a light post, which blended his webs with combat. You'll get plenty of chances to hone those skills in the game's open-ended gameplay, thanks to the various random missions you can take on and challenges you can try.

These skills will actually be vital to your success in the game later on, as the boss fights are pretty intense. We got a glimpse of a fight with the Shocker--wherein Spidey is joined by the Black Cat--which required you to zip around like a pro in order to avoid being fried. The battle had a nice old-school feel to it--Shocker appeared to have a pattern to his attacks that you'll undoubtedly be able to master in order to defeat him. The city showcase did a fine job of extolling the virtues of Treyarch's impressively modeled metropolis and all the things to do in it. The assorted random missions and the sheer size of the city give the game a slick sense of freedom and scale that is truly fitting of a game starring Spider-Man. The ability to zip through the buildings and perform insane acrobatics--all of which are nicely animated--at your own pace is a welcome part of the experience.

As we've said before, Spider-Man 2 is shaping up to be a sequel worthy of its license. Superhero movie games are always a roll of the dice because either the license is adhered to so strictly that the game isn't fun to play, or the gameplay isn't true to the license, but Spider-Man 2 looks to be ably walking that fine line. Anyone looking for some web-fueled action on their consoles should keep an eye out for Spider-Man 2 when it ships later this month, just in time for the movie.