The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014 video game)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Developer(s)	Beenox High Voltage Software (3DS) Gameloft (iOS/Android)
Publisher(s)	Activision
Director(s)	Thomas Wilson
Composer(s)	Samuel Laflamme
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android
Release	iOS & Android April 17, 2014 Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360 & Xbox One
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a 2014 action-adventure video game that will coincide with the release of the film of the same name featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man. It has been developed by Beenox, developer of the previous games Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Spider-Man: Edge of Time and The Amazing Spider-Man, and published by Activision. A Gameloft version was released on April 17 for iOS, and Android devices.

It was released on April 29 in North America and May 2 in Europe for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, and Xbox 360. The Xbox One version was originally reported as delayed, but in the end it has been released alongside the other platforms.

Plot

The game begins with Peter Parker walking out of a convenience store, set two years in the past. The store clerk rushes by, tells Peter he has been robbed, and asks for help chasing the criminal. Peter ignores him stating "Not my problem." Minutes later, Uncle Ben is shot by the escaping thief and dies with Peter watching on.

Two years later, Peter has become the superhero known as Spider-Man and is still searching for the criminal that shot Uncle Ben. Spider-Man investigates a group of street thugs hoping that one of the criminals is the one that killed Uncle Ben. His cover is blown by a falling obstacle and the appearance of Black Cat. After subduing the street thugs, he questions them regarding the criminal who shot Uncle Ben. One of the street thugs tells him that the man works for Herman Schultz, an illegal weapons smuggler.

Spider-Man arrives at the location of Schultz, whose thugs are battling with Russian criminals, over weapons. After Spider-Man stops the gang fight, and webs up the weapon crates he confronts Schultz. Shultz tries to kill Spider-Man, but is unsuccessful, and is quickly subdued. Shultz reveals he was obtaining weapons to fight Russian Mobsters in the gang war. He tells Spider-Man that the Uncle Ben's killer is named Dennis Carradine and that he obtains weapons for clients.

After Shultz escapes, Spider-Man decides to track down Carradine. On the way, Spider-Man stops some car thieves and rescues a man named Stan from a burning building. Peter Parker later heads to the comic store to check up on Stan where he apologizes for what happened to his apartment. Stan considers the incident as "water under the bridge." Spider-Man eventually finds Carradine making a deal with some gang members in the alley behind Nuno's Bar, though Carradine escapes when Spider-Man webs one of Carradine's clients while taking a female civilian hostage. After Spider-Man chases Carradine's car to an alleyway, he finds Carradine murdered and buried under a pile of trash. A symbol on the wall reads "CK" in blood as Spider-Man calls 911 to report a dead body. Peter goes home to see Aunt May and hears from the news that Carradine was murdered by a man the police call "The Carnage Killer" as Whitney Chang reports on it.

He also learns that Shultz' gang and the Russian Mobsters have broken into OsCorp Tower. After fighting the Russian criminals and Shultz' gang, Spider-Man finds the Russian Mobsters threatening an OsCorp electrical engineer named Maxwell Dillon for information on where the OsCorp weapons are being held. Spider-Man defeats the criminals and frees the hostages. After activating the cooling systems for the core at OsCorp Tower, Spider-Man works to break up the fights between Shultz' gang and the Russian criminals. Spider-Man faces off with Schultz who has stolen OsCorp gear called the Seismic Harness Construction Resource and taken the name "The Shocker." Spider-Man defeats the Shocker who reveals that the gangs (examples being the Russian Mobsters, Hammerhead's crew, and Mister Negative's men) are all in fear of the "Carnage Killer" and are at war. Spider-Man leaves Shultz to be arrested by the police and leaves.

After the incident at OsCorp Tower, OsCorp CEO Harry Osborn, and Wilson Fisk make an announcement that their companies are working together to fund a privatized police force called the Enhanced Crime Task Force meant to contain criminals like Shultz and the vigilante Spider-Man. When Wilson Fisk offers to take OsCorp off of Harry's hands, Harry tells him that the answer is still no. Wilson Fisk comments that he'll wait until Harry dies from the disease that killed his father Norman Osborn. Spider-Man had to work to keep the peace while evading detection from the Enhanced Crime Task Force. Spider-Man then rescues more people from a burning building. Spider-Man then assists the police in a car chase in order to rescue a civilian hostage. While Spider-Man is trying to stop a fight between street thugs and Russian Mobsters in Central Park, he finds a note on a bound street thug from someone called "Kraven the Hunter" offering him help. Spider-Man investigates a shooting at a bus station where fights some street thugs. After taking down a street bruth, Spider-Man meets Kraven the Hunter who offers to train Spider-Man and tells Spider-Man to meet him at his loft. Peter Parker gets a call from J. Jonah Jameson about why he didn't get any pictures from the OsCorp/Fisk press conference. Peter Parker tells J. Jonah Jameson that he had school where J. Jonah Jameson states that a press pass was wasted on him. After defeating some street thugs, Spider-Man considers the pros and cons of the situation and enters the loft as Peter Parker acting as though he were interviewing Kraven for the Daily Bugle. When Peter stated that he had seen Kraven the Hunter on TV take down a Siberian Tiger with his bare hands without hurting it, Kraven the Hunter stated that he was able to relocate it from the nearby village without hurting it. Kraven reveals that he came to New York to hunt the cross-species OsCorp made. After killing all the cross-species, Kraven the Hunter stayed in the city and started catching criminals. He also gives Peter some insight on why he does things and on the criminals of the city. Kraven the Hunter leaves Peter alone talking to someone on the phone about weapons where he wants tranquilizer darts. Peter Parker then takes pictures of three interesting objects. After finishing his call, Kraven the Hunter takes Peter Parker to show him his trophies of the cross-species Scorpion, Iguana, and Nattie after they escaped and were hunted by Kraven the Hunter who killed them in a comibination of saving their victims and self-defense.

At home, Peter Parker gets a call from Felicia Hardy (who now goes by the name of Black Cat) after she stole the number for Spider-Man from Whitney Chang. Black Cat states that crime is going up and suggests that she and Spider-Man "chase each other out of town." After thwarting some petty crime, Spider-Man goes to confront Kraven the Hunter who wants to make Spider-Man a hunter since Kraven the Hunter has no son of his own. When Kraven the Hunter offers to work together with Spider-Man to find the "Carnage Killer," Spider-Man states that he prefers to operate on his own. Kraven the Hunter tells Spider-Man where the warehouse that the Russians are storing stolen OsCorp tech there. Spider-Man targets the lesser Russian Thugs in order to trail them. Upon getting a photo of OsCorp tech, Spider-Man traces the van carrying the OsCorp tech to an underground hideout. Spider-Man finds a map containing the locations of where the Russian Mob operatives were killed by the "Carnage Killer" and snaps a picture of it. While moving through the hideout without being seen, Spider-Man deciphers the stolen OsCorp technology and then engages a Russian Speedy. After defeating the Russian Speedy, Spider-Man sends the picture of the map of the areas where the "Carnage Killer" struck to Kraven the Hunter. Then Spider-Man sends a flier for an anti-crime fundraiser held by Wilson Fisk. Kraven the Hunter tells Spider-Man that he must go to the location of the fundraiser and stop the Russian Mob.

Arriving at the theater where the fundraiser is being held, Spider-Man enters as Peter Parker where he meets up with Whitney Chang and Harry Osborn. After talking to Harry Osborn on the rumors about Wilson Fisk, Peter Parker follows a suspicious waiter and then changes into Spider-Man. After saving the waiters from the Russian Mobsters, Spider-Man pursues a Russian Mob operative until he is attacked by a Russian Brute and some Russian Mobsters. Afterwards, Spider-Man changes back into Peter Parker where he eavesdrops on some of the fundraiser guests where he encounters Felicia Hardy at the bar. As Wilson Fisk arrives at the fundraiser, Peter Parker goes to speak to Wilson Fisk where he mentions about the Russian Mobsters that were tied up downstairs. Wilson Fisk states that the criminals "won't get away with it" and that the Enhanced Crime Task Force will catch them. Peter Parker then gets info from Wilson Fisk about his thing against Spider-Man, about how hard it is to find the "Carnage Killer," and about the Russian Mob activities. After exiting the theater, Peter Parker changes into Spider-Man in order to find the Russian Mob's hideout. Spider-Man follows a truck being used by the Russian Mobsters to their hideout where he destroys their high-tech weapons while taking out the Russian Mobsters. Spider-Man hears that the Russian Mobsters have caught the "Carnage Killer" and finds a way to the hangar where he is being held. Spider-Man works to save a hostage who the Russian Mob suspects of being the "Carnage Killer." After saving the hostage, Spider-Man learns from the man that he heard the "Carnage Killer" nearby and was mistaken for the "Carnage Killer" by the Russian Mob.

The next day, Spider-Man gives Kraven the Hunter a description of the "Carnage Killer" and heads to the location that Kraven the Hunter will meet him at. Upon meeting up with Kraven, they find him being threatened by Cletus Kasady who was threatening the driver of a drive-by shooter. Spider-Man ends up intervening where Cletus states that his victims were killers. After Spider-Man defeats Cletus Kasady, Kraven the Hunter states that he is trying to unleash the killer instinct in Spider-Man. When Spider-Man claims that this is not who he wants to be, Kraven the Hunter states that there will be a greater predator than Spider-Man. Cletus Kasady is apprehended by the police and taken to Ravencroft where he meets Donald Menken.

Following the increase in criminal activity involving the gang war and Spider-Man, the Enhanced Crime Task Force goes into Phase II of the Suppression Initiative. Whitney Chang calls Spider-Man telling him to watch out for the Enhanced Crime Task Force. As news of someone called the "Kingpin" is filling in the power vacuum following the Russian Mobs' defeat, Spider-Man heads to the police convoy where he helps to protect the evidence that the police are transporting from various street thugs. Spider-Man then hears of a break-in at the Kane Museum and heads there. Spider-Man finds some street thugs in the Kane Museum and defeats them. Then Black Cat shows up and fights Spider-Man where she now sports super-speed. Upon being defeated by Spider-Man, Black Cat stated that she was transferred to Ravencroft until she was freed by Kingpin who had his doctors do a cross-species experiment in exchange for her services. Denying Spider-Man's help to get her into Witness Protection, Black Cat escapes.

The next day, Spider-Man makes his way to Harry Osborn's apartment in order to get some info on Wilson Fisk. Peter Parker meets with Harry Osborn where Peter Parker voices his opinion that Wilson Fisk is the Kingpin. They find info that Wilson Fisk is using OsCorp's money to pay Kraven the Hunter. Harry also tells Peter about his disease that Norman Osborn was working on when he was still alive, it's relation to the cross-species experiments, and info on the body armor of the Enhanced Crime Task Force. Spider-Man fights some crimes in Manhattan and then returns to Harry Osborn's apartment. Upon landing on Harry Osborn's limousine, Spider-Man tells Harry that he can't give him his blood to evade a repeat of the Lizard incident. After the discussion, Spider-Man makes his way to Kraven the Hunter's loft to get some answers on his connections with Kingpin. Upon entering Kraven the Hunter's loft, Spider-Man finds a secret room where he discovers that Kraven the Hunter wants to hunt Spider-Man. Kraven the Hunter then tranquilizes Spider-Man and takes him to Central Park where Kraven the Hunter stated that Spider-Man eliminated Kingpin's rivals. In order to see if Spider-Man would make a possible worthy opponent, During the fight, Kraven the Hunter stated that he used Spider-Man to eliminate Kingpin's rivals and that Cletus Kasady threatening a drive-by shooter's driver was to see if Spider-Man can spill blood. Spider-Man then defeats Kraven the Hunter and demands to know how to get to Kingpin. Kraven the Hunter tells Spider-Man that Kingpin is involved with the Ravencroft patients in order to fund Ravencroft and how to get past the security system. Spider-Man then webs up Kraven the Hunter and heads to Fisk Tower.

Arriving at Fisk Tower, Spider-Man infiltrates one of the trucks and rides it to Kingpin's hideout. Spider-Man then proceeds to fight the Enhanced Crime Task Force soldiers and street thugs before entering Kingpin's safe house and confronting Kingpin. Spider-Man defeats Kingpin where it is revealed that he paid Kraven the Hunter as a security consultant and released Cletus Kasady. Before Spider-Man can find incriminating evidence to expose Kingpin, Max Dillon breaks free from his confinement as Electro and causes havok in Manhattan. As Spider-Man leaves, Kingpin states that any evidence that Spider-Man plans to find will be gone by the time he returns.

Spider-Man arrives in Manhattan to face Electro, Max then tells Spider-Man that he was captured and taken to Ravencroft to be experimented on. He blames Spider-Man for not saving him and letting then hurt him since they were "partners." Spider-Man tries to calm Electro down, but Max then goes into a rage and attacks Spider-Man leading to a fight across New York. Spider-Man eventually defeats Electro.

Meanwhile, Harry Osborn discovers and injects himself with Richard Parker's spider venom and starts to cause havoc in the OsCorp building prompting Spider-Man to investigate. After taking down more of the Task Force and defusing bombs placed around the city, Spider-Man encounters a now insane and grotesque Harry Osborn who now dubs himself the "Green Goblin". Green Goblin tells Spider-Man that he has lost all faith in his life saying that his late father has ignored and has never been there for him in his life, Peter and Spider-Man has disappointed him by not trying to help him with his disease, so in retaliation he has decided that he will make the citizens of New York suffer starting with the death of Spider-Man. Spider-Man regrettably defeats his former best friend.

Afterwards, reports start to come in from the police that the RavenCroft Institute is under attack because of riots. Spider-Man then heads to investigate, and it is revealed by Donald Menken that it is Cletus Kasady that escaped after being experimented on with a symbiotic red liquid code-named Venom (which was meant to cure Norman Osborn's disease). Spider-Man then helps Menken get away from the riots, and then heads over to Cletus who has morphed inmates with the symbiote. He states that he wants them to spread the word on how death is all that matters while Spider-Man believes that Cletus is making his Symbiotic army because he wants the family he never had and kills because he wishes he had what his victims do. The two fight and Cletus is overwhelmed by the symbiote and dubbing himself Carnage. The two keep fighting and the battle ends when Carnage is burned, leaving only Cletus on the ground.

Some time later, Peter Parker visits Stan again to talk about Uncle Ben when Stan encourages Peter to be the man that Uncle Ben wanted him to grow into.

In the post-credits, Kingpin is on the phone with the Mayor of Manhattan about the Carnage incident and that he will continue to finance the Enhanced Crime Task Force himself after what happened to Harry Osborn. After his call to the Mayor, Kingpin speaks to Chameleon who has been posing as Donald Menken all along. When Chameleon asks what their next plan is, Kingpin states that "the real work begins."

Voice Cast

• Sam Riegel - Spider-Man/Peter Parker
• David Agranov - Carnage/Cletus Kasady
• Ryan Alosio - Shocker/Herman Schultz
• J.B. Blanc - Kingpin/Wilson Fisk
• Steven Blum - Kraven the Hunter/Sergei Kravinoff
• Mark Bramhall - Uncle Ben Parker
• Kevin Dorman - Green Goblin/Harry Osborn
• Chris Edgerly - The Burglar/Dennis Carradine
• Ali Hillis - Black Cat/Felicia Hardy
• Misty Lee - Jean DeWolff
• Stan Lee - Himself
• Diane Michelle - Aunt May Parker
• Sumalee Montano - Whitney Chang
• Michael A. Shepperd - Electro/Max Dillon
• Glenn Steinbaum - The Chameleon, Donald Menken
• Fred Tatasciore - J. Jonah Jameson

Crew

• Tom Keegan - Casting Director, Voice Director
• Mami Okada - Casting Director
• Eric P. Sherman - Producer

Gameplay

The game retains its open world gameplay of previous entries in the franchise. The game's free roam area of Manhattan is more expansive, spacious and detailed than that of the previous game's, and most of the story takes place in the open world. In addition to advanced combat and upgrades, there is different types of webbing (example, the player can use different webbings to freeze or blow up something on impact), and web-slinging is similar to that of Spider-Man 2 and its subsequent based games. Unlike the previous game, all versions of the game have free roam. The PS4 version can be played on the PS Vita using remote play, with optimized controls.

The game re-innovated the web swinging mechanic, allowing for a more interactive and engaging experience swinging through New York City's open world. Unlike The Amazing Spider-Man video game, the player's webs will appear to attach to buildings, although it still attaches to thin-air allowing the player to swing from anywhere in the city, regardless of whether buildings are present. Now the player is only limited to the space around them in order to swing properly; if there is no object a web can attach to, the player will be unable to web swing and fall. Additionally, the method of web-swinging has also been changed. Players playing on console systems will now web swing using the left and right triggers of the controllers. The left and right triggers take control of Spider-Man's left and right hands, respectively (example, if a building appears on the left, the player is better suited to use the left trigger and if one appears on the right, the player would be better suited to use the right trigger to swing.) Both triggers can be held at the same time which allows players to boost Spider-Man´s swing speed.

Morality is used in a new system known as "Hero or Menace" where players will be rewarded for stopping crimes or punished for not consistently doing so or not responding. The player is able to upgrade Spider-Man's web shooters. During certain sections of the game, the player can control Spider-Man's alter ego Peter Parker and walk around doing detective work.

Players have access to Peter Parker's home, and his room allows players to replay previous missions from the main storyline, purchase upgrades and equip the various costumes available.

Additionally, new enemy types have been introduced. Armored guards can be taken down either with a stealth attack or by the Ionic Web upgrade, which allows players to break down armor, thus leaving the guard vulnerable to damage.

Furthermore, the city has been expanded to incorporate unique districts that allow for more open space to the player. The crimes from the first game have been expanded on, but it also includes new crimes such as arson and hostage situations. The crimes also progress dynamically, such as fighting criminals on the street then chasing one that gets away in a vehicle. Unlike the previous game, there will be constant random side activities. Additionally, the use of the Web-Rush system returns and has been expanded on from the previous game, now allowing for critical strikes, dodges and rolls. There are also new upgrades and abilities introduced into the game, some of which have been expanded on from the previous game.

The player can, as before, use their in-game smart phone to access the map, which provides the player with information of activities taking place in the area at the time. Players can use the map to track current activities and missions the player will be able to participate in throughout the game. Missions include:

• Photo Investigation: Players must use their camera to take a photo of a suspicious situation

• Task Force

• Police Deadlock: Players must aid the police in defeating the criminals

• Rescue: Players must help civilians in need of assistance

• Hideouts: Players must infiltrate hideouts in order to recover stolen Oscorp technology

Players will also use the in-game smart phone to manage in-game messages and upgrades for their suit and skills.

Missions have been altered to fit players' play style. Rather than players navigating through a linear level, levels have been redesigned to be more open, allowing players to explore the map and providing them with different ways to approach the mission. Players can now choose between a silent, stealth approach and a combative, open approach to engage their enemies. Additionally, stealth based attacks have been improved since the previous entry, since players are now able to silently take down enemies from a distance. Players are able to silently take down enemies from any surface the player is on, whether it be the ceiling, the wall or the ground. Players are also able to repel from their webs and perform inverted take downs on enemies.

The game will have an alternative storyline that differs from the film. Therefore, the events in the game will be different than those in the film in order to avoid any spoilers.

Development

The game was announced at New York Comic Con October 2013 slated for a Spring 2014 release. It was announced that Beenox would be developing the game.

Motion capture performances were provided by Aaron Schoenke of Bat in the Sun Productions, as well as Sean T. Krishnan and Alina Andrei.

Marketing

A small teaser trailer was released at the New York Comic Con in 2013 to support the first announcement of the game. In January 2014, the first trailer for the game was released to the public. The release date for the console versions was announced in March 2014. The walkthrough trailer was released on 27 March 2014. The launch trailer for the mobile version was released upon the release of the game.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	(iOS) 60.00% (PC) 60.00% (PS4) 58.80% (PS3) 58.00% (X360) 80.00% (XONE) 54.00%
Metacritic	(iOS) 60/100 (PS4) 57/100 (PC) 57/100 (XONE) 49/100

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 received mixed reviews upon release; the iOS version of the game has a weighted aggregate rating of 60/100 on Metacritic, based on 11 reviews, and 60.00% on GameRankings, based 8 reviews, PlayStation 3 version of the game has 58.00% on GameRankings, based on 1 review, PlayStation 4 version of the game has 58.80% on GameRankings, based on 5 reviews, and 57/100 on Metacritic, based on 7 reviews.

External links

• Official website
• The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (video game) at Internet Movie Database