The Spider-Man legacy has always been filled with a sense of wonder, all while managing to keep its feet firmly planted on the ground. This was a superhero legacy built around a typical guy, unlucky enough to be bitten by a radioactive spider and yet gifted (and cursed) with powers beyond belief, able to crawl up walls and spin webs with ease. This hero has seen many comic book issues reaching sky high value, and he has since unfolded into the world of movies and video games with great ease. Now, he...hey, what's this black goop crawling up my skin? Aw, what the hell? Not again! GAH!

Haha, shut up, Workman! Hey, kids, sorry to bore you with the history lesson here, you probably want to hear how Ultimate Spider-Man is. Well, I'm here to tell you, and instead of going through the usual paces, I'm just going to spit it out- this is the best Spider-Man game yet. WORKMAN! QUIT STRUGGLING!

Gah! I can't even get two words in edgewise. Will you at least let me just explain the story? Anyway, in the game, you begin by taking control of Peter Parker, as he and his associate Eddie Brock find themselves in discovery of some strange liquid. Parker's alter-ego, Spider-Man, ends up using it first, forming a new kind of Spidey skin. However, it soon takes a liking to Brock, forming the egotistical Venom...GAH!

EGOTISTICAL?! I would smack you in the face if it wasn't mine, Workman! Anyway, to make a long story short, kids, this story, while not exactly super-long, unfolds with some of the most stylish and true-to-form comic book sequences ever made. The animation style is done in the cel-shaded format, so it really looks like the pages jump right out into motion. The entire game is done this way, and it's a nice approach for the folks at Treyarch. Anyway, as the story unfolds, you'll experience new enemies and friends alike, including some appearances by the Fantastic Four crews and the X-Men. My battle with Wolverine is certainly one of great value, even if it's over after a few minutes.

Oh, please! Wolverine would've ripped you to shreds if it wasn't for my mad gaming skills. Anyway, folks, before this behemoth takes control of my hands again, let me explain how Ultimate Spider-Man differs from its counterparts. This time, instead of just taking control of Spider-Man during most of the sequences, you also get to take control of Venom, who has his own powers that come in handy. Instead of swinging webs, he uses long, oily limbs to smack around enemies and grab objects. He can also jump to insane heights and throw around cars like they were frisbees.

YOU FORGOT THE BEST PART, WORKMAN! Damn it, if it wasn't for me you'd be worthless. Anyway, kids, the best part about being Venom is that you can actually regain energy by eating people. Treyarch added a nice touch by giving you a demonstration figure of a kid with a Spider-Man balloon. You engulf them, devour their energy, and spit them out. HA! It's like the Energizer Bunny, I just keep going and going! Isn't that right, Workman?

I'm not talking to you, Venom. Not after what you did to my date yesterday.

SHE WAS ASKING FOR IT! She kept saying your hair looked funny.

Whatever. Anyway, folks, the game's engine is similar to that of Spider-Man 2's, a free-roaming system that lets you go across the city, completing missions on the fly. It's actually required that you complete a certain number of missions before the story proceeds, and there's everything from taking on gangs to taking part in races where you go from point-to-point. There's also combat tours, which give you a better idea of Spider-Man's range and powers. I got a kick out of hanging enemies up on poles and flinging them around with a spin of the web.