Before I go any further, note that Spider-man: Web of Shadows for PS2, besides the plot premise, some superficially similar elements, and the same box art, bears no resemblance to the PS3/360 version. They are completely different games, both better and worse. The PS2 version shares a limited form of skill enhancement, calling for help from allies, and the ability to switch between black and red/blue costumes, but the similarity ends there. The 360/PS3 version is a much better "sandbox-style" game, whereas this, unlike the movie-based games, is a basic 2D side-scrolling action platformer. That said, the PS3/360 version is rated "T" and contains graphic violence, whereas the PS2 version, rated E10+, has less intensity than the recent Spectacular Spider-man cartoon and is thus more appropriate for younger children. Think of the PS2 game as the Kidz Bop version--the similarities are obvious, but it's totally different. So if you're not interested in the 360/PS3 versions, your curiosity about the differences likely ends there, so I'll look at the game independently from its cousins from here on.

What would happen if the alien symbiotic costume currently known as Venom spread around the city like a virus? Spidey, with the help of S.H.I.E.L.D. and lots of other friends, finds out this time around. But the costume he rejected because it was affecting his personality has joined up with him again, leading him to have to think about every action and its moral implications. These decisions are left up to the player to decide, and those decisions not only affect how the rest of the city, allies, and enemies interact with him, but how powerful he is, depending which suit he wears. Because the game changes based on these decisions, it has lots of replay value, and an intriguing story adds to the desire to pick up and play.

The graphics fall short of previous PS2 Spidey games, often looking muddy and blurred, lacking the detail that a PS2 game should have by this point. The sound, though, is good, and Spidey fans will be thrilled with the Spidey's hilarious banter.

While the game operates on a 2-D plane, it is a Spider-man game, so there's a lot of up and down, puzzles, rescues, and a half dozen earnable special moves. Spidey faces a broad range of enemies from symbiote creatures to thugs to classic villains, mixing it up enough to keep things interesting.

Gameplay is easy enough for kids around age 10 or older to pick up, although the game suffers from minor collision problems, causing charge attacks to pass through enemies harmlessly, and while frequent, we didn't find it enough of an issue to seriously detract from the game.

Compared to other recent PS2 Spider-man games, this one falls short. You're better off with Spider-man 2 or Ultimate Spider-man, but as a side-scrolling action platform game, it's decent, and fans of the wallcrawler will enjoy this one. Rent it before you buy.