Top Five Spider-Man Games (2013 Edition)

While the Dark Knight is currently getting all of the attention in the gaming world thanks to the announcement of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (even on SPC), let's not forget about another superhero who has great intellect and a sensational stable of villains to contend with, Spider-Man. Several years ago I posted a list of my favorite Spider-Man games. It's two years later, and it's time to revisit the topic of what the best Spider-Man games of all time are. How will the list different from 2011? Let's find out as we explore SPC's personal favorite superhero, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

5) Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro (PS1)

The original Spider-Man on PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, and Sega Dreamcast was a phenomenal game. In fact, you might be seeing it appear on this list later on. Hint, hint. The sequel, Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro was exclusive to the original PlayStation. It not only allowed Spidey to actually swing on ground level as opposed to being stuck to the rooftops, but the game had a new feature that its predecessor lacked, which was the ability to mix and match up to three abilities from unlocked costumes, adding some strategy into what load-out you chose. While the game is not nearly as memorable as the original PS1, N64 and Dreamcast game, it is still a worthy Spider-Man game to play.

4) The Amazing Spider-Man (Multi)

Without a doubt the best Spider-Man game to come out of this past generation of game consoles, The Amazing Spider-Man is the companion game to the feature film which released last summer. The game serves as an epilogue to the events that happened in the movie, while bringing a myriad of side missions to partake in and costumes to unlock. Web slinging is much more beginner-friendly, but it's not brain-dead easy  either so no worries there. Abilities like the Web Rush made combat and controlling Spidey all the easier, and it made for some insane stunts and actions that would otherwise be impossible to do. Whether you stick with the PS3, 360, or Wii versions or go with the Wii U Ultimate Edition, Amazing Spider-Man will satiate your appetite for more of everyone's favorite webhead.

3) Spider-Man 2 (PS2, GCN, XBX)

Oftentimes cited as one of the best Spider-Man games period, if not the best, Spider-Man 2 was also released as a companion game to the movie of the same title. The cast featured Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, and  Alfred Molina as Doctor Otto Octavius, a.k.a. Dr. Octopus. The game had a web-swinging system that took a little getting used to, but it was much more realistic to games prior. For instance, one could not swing off the heavens like previous games. You needed a nearby building to swing off of. Spider-Man 2 featured a varied amount of missions, plenty of side content, and let's not forget the most epic, challenging boss fight in any Spider-Man game, the battle with Mysterio at the convenience store! 

2) Spider-Man (PS1, N64, DC)

Our second favorite Spider-Man game is simply named after the webhead and that's it. Neversoft developed this title for the PS1 version while Treyarch did the Dreamcast version. The same engine for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was the one used for this game. The actual gameplay itself had Spider-Man roaming around in various levels-- some indoor, some outdoor-- completing objectives or simply trying to get from the start of the level to the goal. Unlockable costumes gave players new abilities and a new perspective on the game. We love the version of Spider-Man so much, not just due to nostalgia, but due to how it proved that Spidey could be great in a 3D game. 

1) Ultimate Spider-Man (PS2, GCN, XBX)

The webhead's most wonderful effort in SuperPhillip Central's favorite Spider-Man game is Ultimate Spider-Man, based off the comic of the same name. The game's look was heavily inspired by the comic books, offering a gorgeous and stylish cel-shaded art style that still comes off as nice to gaze at to this day. Like Spider-Man 2 and The Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man had plenty of things to do in its open world setting, such as races and finding and collecting tokens. The arsenal of familiar characters only made for a better time with faces like Carnage, Silver Sable, Beetle, Shocker, R.H.I.N.O., and of course the second playable character in the game, Venom. It all adds up to the quintessential Spider-Man experience on any platform and in any game.