by Mike Smith
Superheroes don't take failure well. It comes with the territory. If you're gonna be seen in public wearing skintight pants, you've got to have an ego that would shame a Big Brother contestant. Come up short, and at best you'll spend weeks brooding in darkened rooms. At worst, you'll disappear only to return three movies later as a super-villain. Protect your self-image -- and the safety of the entire world -- by perusing these hints for Activision's all-new Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.
1. Take to the skies
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man comes with an out-of-the-box combo that sees him leap into the air, web an enemy, and pull himself towards them to strike. Although it seems unwieldy at first and takes a few seconds to prepare, it has several advantages: it's enough to kill a weak enemy, it's used all over the place in mission set-pieces, and it'll keep your feet off the ground making you tougher to hit. But you've got to get the timing right and understand when an enemy's about to block, so practice is key. Later on, you'll have the chance to expand your aerial moves, extending that simple web-hook into a range of impressive, power-packed combos.
2. Red vs. Black
Red or black: which are you? In Web of Shadows, you're going to need to be both, but you'll need to pick the right one for the job. Red Spidey is the agile one with fast swings and rapid-fire ground combo, while Black Spidey is the brute who can throw cars and pull enemies towards him for a beatdown. Don't be afraid to flip between them as often as you like, as there's no penalty. Also, be aware of their different health regeneration systems. Black heals a lot slower than Red, but if you're actively dishing out damage with him, he heals much faster. So if you're using the black suit to hammer on a boss and need to duck out to regain some health, flip to Red and hide.
3. Mission accomplishment
Your superhero buddies will often have lists of "optional" missions waiting for you. Take it from us: accept them all. Most involve killing specific baddie types or rescuing civvies -- boring on their own, but you can double them up with plot missions. That way, if you're taking on a combat-heavy assignment, you could wind up completing an optional mission or two without even trying. That's free experience, and that's a bargain.
4. A Friend Un-looked-for
Summoning allies is a great way to give an enemy mob another target to concentrate on. Use this to your advantage in boss fights where you're tackled by numerous, distracting weaker foes. Let your stooge clean up the trash while you focus on the big ugly. It's easy to forget about them when you're in the Spidey-zone, but there's a lot to be said for having an extra pair of hands on tap.
5. Are you experienced?
As you play, you'll probably find yourself settling into a few standard combat routines that suit your style. Nothing wrong there, but make sure you factor that into your move choices when you level up. It's easy to fall into the trap of wasting points in areas that you only use once in a blue moon, when you could save them to spend on improving your favorites. Sometimes that'll mean waiting until later stages before the moves you want become available, but your patience will pay off with some seriously potent attacks.
Posted: 21 Oct 2008
