Retro(game)spective - Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage

Retro(game)spective

Every day Ben “Ben Pack” Pack or one of his brave compatriots will play a retro game, and break it down for you. That’s right, every day. To complain about us eventually missing a day or suggest your own, go ahead and comment below the article, or email us at retrogamefunclub@gmail.com.

10/12/2010

The Game: Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage

If you weren't scared of this as a child, you aren't human.

Release Year: 1994

Skewes: SNES, Sega Genesis

So what’s it like: "Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage," is a video game adaptation of a comic series of the same name. In the game you play as Spider-Man, and eventually Venom, and try to take down the symbiotic known as Carnage, before he murders all of New York City.

Mr. Schwarzenegger from "Commando" would like to have a word with you.

The game is a side-scroller beat 'em up. The game is pretty standard as those types come, with little variation. You can swing as Spider-Man, but since the levels are so short (unless they are the impossibly hard climbing levels), these are useless. You can bring enemies to you or create a shield with your web, but you are best just keeping to your basic punches and kicks. There are lots of bosses, most of them are aggravating, as you have to often fight them two at a time.

Alright Spidey, here's your chance. Don't fuck this one up.

This game is hard, but not "I can beat this if I keep doing it enough" hard. You don't regain lives or health when you beat levels, you can get looped into infinite combos by enemies. There's nothing interesting or innovative of this game, so I wouldn't be upset if it was forgotten in time.

I get it. You're based on a comic book.

Should you go back: No. Go play Final Fight.

Should this game be remade: No.