By Micah Stahl
You've tried everything! Even your guidance counselor couldn't make you a professional villain. But you're in luck! Activision can hook you up with a job as a licensed scoundrel this October. The next chapter in the already massive Spider-Man game library, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe gives you the power to take the reins of some of Marvel's baddest of the bad and goodest (look it up!) of the good. Per the norm, Marvel.com has the inside look straight from Activision; we had the privilege to check out this surefire hit firsthand and speak with the source about the Web-Slinger's brand new effort.
Within the game's story arc, you pick up as the always-spunky Spider-Man. Since your enemies hate your guts (a standard sentiment amongst the villain community), they don't really mind dishing out large slices of pain. But after finding themselves under the control of an even more ferocious force, you know that they'll be looking for some delectable revenge. But they take a little coaxing. After defeating your foes, you can play alongside them and some more friendly faces to duke it out against that even more formidable opponent.
With certain villains and heroes playable for the first time ever, the cast of the game remains the standout draw in Activision's latest opus. According to the developer, the game has reached a total of 13 playable villains and heroes alongside Spider-Man with Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Venom, Rhino, Scorpion, Iron Fist, Blade and Sandman already announced. It's as we've always been saying, 13 is anything but an unlucky number.
And Spidey's going to need plenty of luck because he's way out of his element in Friend or Foe. Activision brings Peter Parker out of New York City for the first time and straight to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. From there, you'll travel the world, from villages in Nepal to rooftops in Tokyo. Formula for success: combine exotic locales with a crazy cast and add one superstar hero.
It's titular hero Spidey who represents for the speed fiends, with agile aerial maneuvers permitting him to execute combos and web-based attacks. Iron Fist falls under this category as well, employing his magic and martial arts capabilities to clear the way of any foe. Demonstrating his unpleasant ferocity is Venom, exploiting his symbiotic suit to execute poisonous maneuvers and brute strength. Green Goblin shows us why he's the techy guru, utilizing Pumpkin Bombs and Razor Bats to expel evil forces.
It's not just abilities and move sets that distinguish the characters, but their special powers as well. For example, Sandman frazzles his enemies with a sand filled tornado attack called Whirlwind and a ferocious gust maneuver named Sandblast. Doc Ock demonstrates his power and agility with his tactics Steel Trap and Tentacle Terror, both moves launching his claws into attack mode.
But wait one minute, home shoppers, there's more! Not only does this game sport the first cooperative system in a Spider-Man game, but it also allows a second player to randomly dive in and out of the game at his or her convenience. Although you must stick with the character you pick at the beginning of the level, it resembles ye olde classic arcade beat 'em ups of days gone by. And we mean that in the best way possible.
To top it all off, the game includes a versus mode for those players that need to quell the important questions of their existance. Not, "What is the meaning of life?" but, "Who is more powerful: Sandman or Venom?" Included in the game are 10 unlockable stages in which to whoop on friends and family.
Don't count on Spider-Man: Friend or Foe being just for kids either. Even if the game is aiming for an E10+ rating, the Activision crew is gunning for a broad audience of enlightened fanboys and comic newcomers alike. With beautiful graphics and a stellar story written by popular Marvel scribe Brian Reed (MS. MARVEL), you can look forward to an original game injected with the authentic comic experience this October.
Check out the Villains Vignette clip and some other tricked out screens below!
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 "Venom")
 "Iron Fist")
 "Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus")
 "Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus")
 "Venom")
 "Spider-Man")
 "Spider-Man and Rhino")
 "Rhino")
 "Iron Fist vs. Rhino")
 "Spider-Man and Green Goblin")
 "Spider-Man and Rhino team up")
