While swinging his web throughout the city, Spider-Man notices the disappearances of X-Men Cyclops, Storm, and Wolverine; he then notices a tube from a garbage truck sucking up Gambit, and after figuring out it's Arcade, swings his web to the truck.[1][2] He tracks Arcade down to an abandoned building, which is the location of the first stage; the player portrays Spider-Man de-activating "Security Eyes" in a set order (as indicated by the Spider-Sense) to enter.[3] Inside, he, along with Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine and Gambit, are placed in the deadly games of Murderworld, a simulated program designed by Arcade to torture and kill his victims.[4]
Goal
The player must successfully complete each Marvel hero's two "events" in order to get to control Spider-Man in a final battle with Arcade and escape.[5][6] While any character's first event can be selected at the player's will, his or her second event isn't playable until the completion of the first.[6] All the heroes have the same lives, meaning if one hero loses a life, the others do as well.[7]
Development and release
Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge was released in 1992 for multiple platforms, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Sega Genesis. The development of the game was influenced by the popularity of the X-Men animated series, which was airing at the time, and LJN's desire to capitalize on the success of previous Spider-Man and X-Men games.
Reviewing the Game Boy version, GamePro commented the graphics are good but the controls are frustratingly imprecise and complained of the fact that players must re-solve the tedious level 1 maze every time they start the game.[15] They gave the Game Gear version a negative review as well, saying it retains the problems of the Game Boy version.[16]Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Game Gear version a 6 out of 10, praising the ability to play as multiple different characters but criticizing the difficulty as overly high.[12] Brett Alan Weiss of AllGame criticized the Game Gear version for "awkward" controls, particularly of Spider-Man and its weak portrayals of the superheroes.[5] Super Gamer reviewed the SNES Version and gave an overall score of 75% stating: "A whole host of superheroes make this attractive for any comics fan. Gameplay is varied and tough, graphics impressive and sound brilliant".[34]
Notes
^Released under the LJN brand for Nintendo systems and the Flying Edge brand for Sega systems.
^Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Game Gear port was by five critics with different ratings; three gave it a 6/10, one 5/10, another 7/10.[12]
^Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the SNES version was by four critics that scored it differently; two rated it 6/10, one 7/10, another 8/10.[13]
^GamePro scored the Game Boy port two 3/5 scores for sound and fun factor, 2.5/5 for control, and 4/5 for graphics.[15]
^GamePro scored the Game Gear port two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 3/5 scores for control and fun factor.[16]
^GamePro scored the Mega Drive version 5/5 twice for control and fun factor, and 4.5/5 twice for graphics and sound.[17]
^Nintendo Power scored the Game Boy port 3.5/5 for graphics/sound, 2.8/5 for play control, 3.3/5 for challenge, and 3/5 for theme/fun.[23]
^Nintendo Power scored the SNES version 3.8/5 twice for graphics/sound and theme/fun, 3.2/5 for play control, and 3.4/5 for challenge.[24]
^Software Creations (November 1992). Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Spider-Man: I just hope I'm not too late!... / First Cyclops, then Storm and Wolverine... / Gambit!! Lookout! / [GNNR-SFLANNG!] / Spider-Man: I know that truck! / ...Arcade!!! I have to go after them. / The lives on the X-Men depend on me!
^Software Creations (November 1992). Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Arcade: Welcome one and welcome all. / I'm so glad you could make it, Spider-Man. / Your presence here is a bonus I didn't plan. / Still, there's plenty of fun for everyone, / Let the games begin...
