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Swing around the city duffing up supervillains in search of the Kingpin.

This time the evil Kingpin of Crime has gone too far! He's devised his most cunning, evil scheme yet which has three goals: to destroy New York, to take over the world - and to destroy the Amazing Spider-Man once and for all!

After rescuing an old granny, Spidey comes home from a day of web-slinging to spot the Kingpin making a TV broadcast - a transmission depicting Spidey as a criminal! What's more, the Kingpin reveals that a bomb has been hidden, a bomb powerful enough to level Manhattan! He says that the web spinner is responsible and offers an enormous reward for his capture. Gumph!

Before undertaking some crime-fighting, Spidey chooses where to go! This CD version of the game includes a map of New York where the web-slinger chooses his destination. All of the sights of New York are here, apart from the Statue of Liberty... In Easy and Normal mode, the super-villains' locations appear on the map. In Nightmare mode, Spidey has to track 'em down.

Spider-Man's web shooters are his most valuable tools. He has one positioned on each wrist and can create virtually any web-related structure with them - in the comics at least. In the game, they are limited to these uses:

2. Web-Cage Temporarily imprisons a foe.

3. Web-Shield Virtual invulnerability for a few previous seconds.

Every Spidey game ever tones down his superhuman abilities. In this game, it takes four or five punches to deck a common punk. Considering that in the comics Spider-Man has tipped over a rail freight container by flicking it, this seems a bit wrong.

Why have thin walls blocking our hero's progress when he has the strength to punch through them with the power of an exploding mortar shell? How about having some of this power at the disposal of the player in the next Spidey game? These are Spidey's abilities as dictated by the guide to the Marvel Universe of comics. Perhaps one day, a Spidey programmer might stick to them.

A whole host of Spidey's most twisted opponents have been enlisted by the Kingpin. All the old favourites like Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Lizard, Hobgoblin and Electro rear their ugly heads. Also along for the ride are Mysterio, Vulture and, of course, the evil Venom! Take them all on in order to track down the Kingpin!

The cart version of Spider-Man is an excellent platform game, but this CD version is a lot better with loads more levels, two more supervillains to dispose of, plus appearances from Bullseye and Typhoid Mary - two characters from the Daredevil comics (also a bit tricky to defeat - the comic Spidey could pulp those two with one punch!).

Sega's Marvel conversions at least try to capture the spirit of the comics. However, Spidey is still a bit of a weed (that's why I've included the Marvel Universe stats in this review - perhaps someone will take note) - those pesky rats and bats still sap loads of energy.

Otherwise, this is a smart platformer - a bit easy perhaps if you've played the cart game, but there's a lot more variety and the amount of levels is just amazing.

In fact, the tracks Sega add are far superior and don't have crap lyrics either! Still, getting back to the game, the graphics are ace and the gameplay is a lot faster than the cart version.

The villains change the locations of their hideouts with each game adding to the lastability.

Spider-Man Vs. Kingpin on the Megadrive remains one of the better platformers available to this day, despite its age. This CD version is expanded and refined in all areas and the standard of playability is raised as a result.

Players now have greater control over Spider-Man's abilities with his new techniques adding to the excitement and asserting Spidey's cool. Of course, it's a bit embarrassing to find this superhuman troubled by rubbishy little bats and other similar tiny creatures but I suppose this is all by the way when the game is so faithful everywhere else.

Like Rich I'm disappointed with the musical accompaniment. It's like CD games are doomed to being laden with dodgy rock-guitar music for all eternity! Regardless this is a mighty excellent platform game and is presented so stylishly that it is hard to pass by. Ask Rich.

Presentation 90%
P. Nice animated introductions, decent instructions and a fair smattering of options. N. The loading time of each level becomes annoying.

Graphics 84%
P. Some awesome sprites for Spidey and the supervillains. N. The backdrops range from great to a bit poor.

Sound 83%
P. Awesome QSound soundtracks courtesy of Sega. N. Forlorn song from someone from Mr. Big that is utterly poor. Sad lyrics abound.

Playability 90%
P. This plays a lot better than the cart version. Fast and easy to get into and instantly addictive.

Lastability 80%
P. Very difficult to complete the game with all 21 Spidey covers in Nightmare mode. N. Easy to complete in Normal mode and Nightmare modes.

Overall 87%
A great improvement over the cartridge version, with loads more levels and variety. A tad too easy though.