Spider-Man Game Awards: Ranking the best parts of Spider-Man video games
By Javier Reyes
Best Health Bar
- Spider-Man (GBA version)
- Spider-Man (PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, and PC versions)
- Spider-Man (PlayStation, N64, Sega Dreamcast, Game Boy)
- The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes (SNES)
- Spider-Man: Friend or Foe (PS2, Xbox 360, PSP, Wii, PC)
Winner: GBA version
Full disclosure: 100% of the reason I made this category was so that I could give an award to the Game Boy version of the 2002 game based on the movie. I have a soft spot for it and remember spending an excessive amount of time trying to beat the level with Shocker (who also, for some reason, had an annoyingly difficult section in the console version).
The animations were surprisingly good, and something about seeing the “POW! BAM!” text emanate from enemies as I beat them into oblivion was always satisfying. If only the same thing could happen if I ever decided to take my vengeance on my real-life enemies.
Anyways, I figured the best way to sneak the game into the awards was to reference the unique health bar design, which was a red spider-web that deteriorated each time you were hit. The number of red sections that disappeared when taking damage felt somewhat arbitrary, but who cares? It looks cool and cool is what rules.