Faded Boxers

I originally hadn’t planned on playing this game until after I finished the ones I was currently playing. (Yeah, I don’t like playing several different games at once. I like to focus on one and play it until one of us dies.)

But during the Christmas break, a couple of my buddies came over and decided to give this game a try instead being good guests and let me play whatever I wanted to play. But despite my initial misgivings, we ended up playing it for I think 4 hours. We would have continued playing had it not for this stupid thing called the Sun which was threatening to shine and ruin a perfectly good evening.

After my buddies left, I found myself picking up the game whenever I hit a wall in whatever game I was trying to finish at the moment. I eventually noticed a couple of things about the game that could have been done better, but overall, it’s a worthy addition to my game library.

Plot

The plot is pretty simple. So simple actually that it borders on stupid. But being a beat ‘em up game, one really can’t be too hung up on the plot or lack thereof. It’s like complaining about a porno movie having bad actors.

Anyway, some meteor crashed into 6 different locations around the world and is wrecking havoc by way of littering their respective locations with ugly holograms known as phantoms. Now — stay with me here– by definition, holograms aren’t supposed to be corporeal; but for some unexplained reason, these phantoms are all that Spidey and his friends beat up for the duration of the game. With the exception of the big bosses of course.

And since this game is entitled “Friend or Foe,” you go against Spidey’s most notable nemesises (nemesii? Nemeseseseses?) Doc Ock, Sandman, Green Goblin, etc. And when you finally beat them, they agree to join you in your quest for….something.

Graphics & Audio

The graphics is pretty much made of awesome. I can never be bothered to look up the hardware specs of the Wii or what it’s capable of graphics wise, but whatever limits the Wii has, this game is pushing it. So says my graphics boner.

Same with the music and voice acting. Unlike the movies, Spidey is back to his wisecracking self. And surprise surprise, his jokes are actually full of the funnies.

Gameplay

Now the game mechanics is where I’m a bit undecided about. On one hand, it’s easy enough so it’s fun but not frustrating. On the other hand, it’s insanely easy that I can’t stand playing it for more than 1 level because everything just kind of repeats itself. Speaking of which, there’s hardly any variation on the game play. Basically all you do is just mash the buttons on your controller and 100% of the time, you’ll chance upon an awesome combo. Which isn’t very awesome after you do it for the hundredth time.

The boss levels are only challenging until you figure out the correct timing or strategy to defeat him. And since there are only 6 levels with around 3 to 4 sublevels each, you can finish the game in a couple of days. (I actually finished it in a week not because I suck, but because I do a lot of responsible stuff. Because I’m mature. Like an adult.)

Bottomline

This is the video game equivalent of a Krispy Kreme doughnut. It’s sweet, and it’s delicious. It may not have much in terms of nutrition and substance, but you just can’t stop even if it’s for your own good.

I give this game a rating of 3 Spidey Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: