If you set the controller down, the character idles are humorous, and even the supercomputer narrator describes some of the silliest mission briefings ever. When SpideyвЂ™s quips turn lame or old, each sidekick usually has a unique, funny punch line to save the gag.

Great music and voice acting add much more to the presentation. Likewise, the environments feature a nice variety of colors, but they look like Plasticine models. Most of SpideyвЂ™s swings and flips are spot-on, but some animations like run cycles look slow or otherwise strange. The Wii version has nothing to offer, though, with its jagged PS1 graphics, a slightly slower frame rate and the worst tacked-on motion controls yet.ДЇriend or FoeвЂ™s visuals are a little weird to begin with. As the string of cage fights turned from furious to tedious, I considered building my own super-powered costume and killing Spider-Man myself.В You can almost make it happen, too, in the simple player-vs.-player sparring bonus mode.ДЄs Rhino says in the game, however, вЂњitвЂ™s always fun to win stuff and smash stuff.вЂќ At least the 360 version rewards your time with a dozen very simple achievements, a quick thousand points which you can clean up in a weekend rental. You can clear out the five worlds in five hours or less, especially if you ignore the hidden collectibles, though the ceaseless room-to-room game flow will frazzle your brain if you try to take it all in one day. You can buy upgrades between levels so the sidekicks wonвЂ™t die as easily, but youвЂ™re more likely to spend your reward money on new moves for Spider-Man. ( Oh, really? ~Ed.) I actually like that the sidekick characters have a smaller move set вЂ“ theyвЂ™re more approachable for your newbie friends to play) вЂ“ but SpideyвЂ™s killer throws constantly steal the spotlight. ItвЂ™s a slightly different story for SpideyвЂ™s sidekicks, who start out weak as kittens. Who knew that all of SpideyвЂ™s worst enemies were so allergic to crates and rocks?

Many players will never die, and the boss fights are laughably short. Basic enemies vary slightly and die quickly as you mash any button you like. Problem is, Friend or FoeвЂ™s only difficulty level is Way Easy. It feels clean, easy, and fun, which is way more than I can say for other Spider-games.

You really feel like youвЂ™re devastating legions of enemies while looking your best. Two-button combos let you grab foes from across the room in ways you wish Kratos could. Spidey fans may miss the enormous free-roaming Manhattan, arguably the best feature of prior Spider-Man games, but Friend or Foe is focused wholly on its simplistic combat. Toss in a few obscure superheroes that have never appeared in a video game before like Black Cat and Iron Fist, and you have a virtual Spider-Man parade of sidekicks to lead through twenty short levels on five continents. Even Spidey and company can hardly believe it either, but theyвЂ™re just happy to inflict one more mindless beating. YouвЂ™ll catch a ride on a black-ops Helicarrier, rescue all your friends and foes, and save the world from a legion of half-alien, half-holographic monsters. The throwaway storyline follows Spidey on one crazy globe-trotting day.

Spider man friend or foe