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The Amazing Spider-Man (Game Boy)
Encyclopedia
The Amazing Spider-Man
is the title of a video game released for the original Nintendo
Game Boy
. It was published in 1990
by LJN
Ltd. (a subsidiary of Acclaim
), and developed by Rare. It is a platform
side scrolling action game
.
It was followed by two sequels The Amazing Spider-Man 2
and The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers
.
's most dangerous super villains have discovered his secret identity, Peter Parker, and kidnapped his wife, Mary Jane
. The action game takes the player through various ciy locations, battling an assortment of minor thugs, animals, and a supervillain at the end of each level who, through intermission scenes, will taunt Spider-Man as to the whereabouts of his wife.
- main character - Peter Parker, bitten by a radioactive spider, now fights crime as the Amazing Spider-Man. He begins the game through a phone call with Mysterio
, who tells him that his wife, Mary Jane, has been kidnapped. Spider-Man travels through the city, fighting criminals and arch-villains in an attempt to get Mary Jane back.
Mary Jane Watson-Parker
- Also known as M.J., Mary Jane is the wife of Peter Parker. She has been kidnapped by Spider-Man's worst enemies.
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
is the title of a video game released for the original Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
. It was published in 1990
1990 in video gaming
-Notable releases:*Bonk's Adventure is released for NEC's TurboGrafx-16 and is the first US appearance of Bonk, the mascot of the TurboGrafx-16.*February 12 — Nintendo releases the NES game Super Mario Bros. 3 in North America...
by LJN
LJN
LJN was an American toy company and video game publisher. It created toy lines and video games based on movies, television shows, and celebrities. It was headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and later in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.-Founding:...
Ltd. (a subsidiary of Acclaim
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
), and developed by Rare. It is a platform
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
side scrolling action game
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
.
It was followed by two sequels The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
- Summary and storyline :While the game was a sequel to the 1990 video game titled The Amazing Spider-Man, it played much differently from the first game and was widely panned by video game critics...
and The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers
The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers
Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers is the third and final video game released by LJN for the original Game Boy based on the popular comic book hero of the same name...
.
Storyline
Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
's most dangerous super villains have discovered his secret identity, Peter Parker, and kidnapped his wife, Mary Jane
Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
. The action game takes the player through various ciy locations, battling an assortment of minor thugs, animals, and a supervillain at the end of each level who, through intermission scenes, will taunt Spider-Man as to the whereabouts of his wife.
Characters
Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
- main character - Peter Parker, bitten by a radioactive spider, now fights crime as the Amazing Spider-Man. He begins the game through a phone call with Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
, who tells him that his wife, Mary Jane, has been kidnapped. Spider-Man travels through the city, fighting criminals and arch-villains in an attempt to get Mary Jane back.
Mary Jane Watson-Parker
Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
- Also known as M.J., Mary Jane is the wife of Peter Parker. She has been kidnapped by Spider-Man's worst enemies.
Bosses
- MysterioMysterioMysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
- first boss - This former special effects wizard appears to know Spider-Man's true identity, and uses that knowledge to trap him. Mysterio is the first boss and is found at the end of an alleyway. He uses his smoke effects to try to confuse Spider-Man. - The HobgoblinHobgoblin (comics)The Hobgoblin is the alias of several fictional characters that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first and best-known Hobgoblin is Roderick Kingsley. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #238, and was created by Roger Stern and John Romita, Sr...
- second boss - He awaits Spider-Man at the top of a building. He drops pumpkin bombs on Spider-Man while flying through the air on his goblin glider.
-
-
- In the instruction manual, the Green GoblinGreen GoblinThe Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
was originally pictured as the end boss for this level. However, he was replaced because, at the time of release, the villain was presumed dead in the comics.- ScorpionScorpion (comics)MacDonald "Mac" Gargan is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He originally appeared as the villain Scorpion, and then years later bonded with the Venom symbiote to become the third incarnation of Venom...
- third boss - He taunts Spider-Man into entering the subway, where he uses his prehensile tail to try to impale Spider-Man. - RhinoRhino (comics)The Rhino is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita, Sr., the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #41 The Rhino (Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich) is a fictional character that appears in comic...
- fourth boss - Through Central ParkCentral ParkCentral Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
and at the dead end in an alleyway, the Rhino uses his massive weight to try to run Spider-Man through. He is of sub-par intelligence.
- Scorpion
- In the game, this boss is actually listed as Neanderthal, not Rhino. Yet, to anyone who reads the comics, the witty taunts that take place during the game's intermission scenes replicate those normally given by the Rhino. In fact, the term "neanderthal" may be intended as an insult, rather than a name.
- Doctor OctopusDoctor OctopusDoctor Octopus is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics since 1963. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man's greatest foes...
- fifth boss - A brilliant doctor before an accident fused mechanical arms to his body, Doctor Otto Octavius uses his new appendages to try to stop Spider-Man at the end of the rooftop of the second building. - VenomVenom (comics)Eddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
- sixth and final boss - The true abductor of Mary Jane, Eddie BrockEddie BrockEddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
has had it out for Peter Parker even before he bonded with an alien symbiote. He has powers similar to Spider-Man, using webbing to his advantage during their sewer battle.
- Doctor Octopus
- In the instruction manual, the Green Goblin
-
Gameplay
Spider-Man has three extra lives and three continues. However, there are no passwords or secret codes. The intermissions scenes between each level feature Spider-Man trading catchy barbs with a supervillain on a cell phone or a walkie-talkie to find out where he should go next.Abilities
- JumpJumpingJumping or leaping is a form of locomotion or movement in which an organism or non-living mechanical system propels itself through the air along a ballistic trajectory...
- Spider-Man can jump a normal and a double height. When he double-jumps, he can swing on a web. - PunchPunch (strike)A punch is a striking blow with the fist. It is the most commonly used attack in hand to hand combat. It is used in some martial arts and combat sports, most notably boxing where it is the only type of technique allowed...
- Spider-Man's primary standing attack is a solid punch to the jaw. - Low kickKickIn combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
- While crouching, Spider-Man can do a low, side kick. - Jumping kickKickIn combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
- While jumping in the air, Spider-Man can do a side kick. - Web swinging - While double-jumping, Spider-Man will shoot out a diagonal web and swing along it. This can only be done for a short time until the web-meter runs out.
- Web shoot - While standing still, Spider-Man can shoot a glob of webbing from his wrists. This slightly depletes his web-meter.
- Wall crawling - In the two vertical levels, Spider-Man will automatically be able to climb up the side of a building.
- Spider sense - In the two vertical levels, Spider-Man will "buzz" with his spider sense, indicating that the player should move Spider-Man out of the way of possible falling objects.
Items
- Web vials - These items are used to restore Spider-Man's web-meter, since his webbing is in limited supply. They are dropped by henchmen throughout the levels.
- HamburgerHamburgerA hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
- This tasty treat will restore some of Spider-Man's health meter. - Point bundles - When defeating a henchman, these bundles may drop and raise Spider-Man's point total.
Meters and counters
- Points counter - Displayed at the bottom left of the screen, with the word "SCORE" just above it.
- Life counter - Displayed at the bottom center of the screen. Indicated with a small picture of Spider-Man's face. Indicates the number time the hero can lose all health before game overGame overGame Over is a message in video games which signals that the game has ended, often due to a negative outcome - although the phrase sometimes follows the end credits after successful completion of a game...
. - Health meter - Displayed at the bottom center of the screen, just above the life counter and shows how much life Spider-Man has left.
- Web meter - Displayed at the bottom of the screen and shows how much webbing Spider-Man has left at his disposal.
- Web counter - Displayed at the bottom of the screen, above the Web meter, and shows how many times the web meter can be emptied before it will not be refilled.
Levels
- Alleyway - Upon receiving a call from Mysterio at his apartment, Spider-Man agrees to meet him in the alleyway. The level is linear, moving from left to right, and includes human henchman, as well as alligators popping up from manhole covers.
- To the Rooftop & Rooftop - Hobgoblin dares Spider-Man to meet him on top of a skyscraper. The first part of the level plays out vertically, moving from bottom to top. Hobgoblin rains down explosives on Spider-Man, which can be averted by paying attention to his spider sense while dodging henchman who attack with baseball bats from windows. Once Spider-Man reaches the top, he can hop through a window and appear on the roof. On the roof, it becomes a normal left-to-right side-scrolling level, with the Hobgoblin waiting at the end.
- Subway - Learning nothing from the Hobgoblin, Scorpion calls Spider-Man and tells him he will be waiting at the end of the subway line. As the level starts, Spider-Man is on top of a subway car. Periodically, while the car is at rest, henchman will pull themselves up and shoot at him. Once Spider-Man makes his way past the station, the train starts up. On the way to the next station, bats will try to harm Spider-Man. After two stops, Spider-Man faces off against the Scorpion.
- Central Park - After no news from Scorpion, Rhino's call takes Spider-Man to Central ParkCentral ParkCentral Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. Besides the regular henchman and the lizards throughout the level, birds frequently fly about, and briars fall from trees when Spider-Man steps within their vicinity. Near the end of the level, there is a transition back to an alleyway, and Rhino is found at the end of one just like Mysterio from the first level. - Skyscraper & Rooftop #2- This is second vertical portion of the game. The first part takes the player up another skyscraper, now with flying birds and henchmen who shoot at Spider-Man. On the second rooftop, birds fly about while Spider-Man makes his way to Doctor Octopus.
- Sewer - In the final level, Spider-Man must fight his way through a sewer to battle Venom, the true kidnapper of Mary Jane. CrocodileCrocodileA crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s roam the fetid waters as henchmen fire on Spider-Man while hanging from water pipes. Waste from sewer drains impede his movement. At the end of the level, Spider-Man faces off against Venom. Upon Venom's defeat, Mary Jane and Spider-Man are reunited.