Suppose you played the original PlayStation version of Spider-Man back in 2000. In that case, you might feel nostalgic looking at this new image comparing Black Cat and Spider-Man from that game with their counterparts in Insomniac Games‘ open-world Spider-Man from 2018. While waiting for November’s release of Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PC, fans can enjoy this graphic that looks back on the character’s extensive history in video games.
The 2000 release of Spider-Man by Neversoft used the same engine as the company’s smash success Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. It gave players control of the spider-themed superhero as he traversed several levels based in and around New York City. The game garnered positive reviews from fans and critics alike.
It spawned three sequels because it included fan-favorite characters from the Spider-Man canon, including Black Cat, Spider-sometimes Man’s romantic interest, and villains like Venom and Doctor Octopus. Spider-Man on PlayStation proved that the character was more than capable of making a move from side-scrolling titles into full 3D. However, many fans still need to remember it better as 2004’s Spider-Man 2, developed by Treyarch and boasting a web-swinging mechanism, is still acclaimed.
Reddit user SnuglyTalc shared this image to r/gaming comparing the visual style of the original PlayStation Spider-Man game with that of the PS4 version released in 2018. Compared to their PS4 counterparts, the original game’s models are more blocky and polygonal in look. Some players reminisced about the demonstrations that came in cereal boxes among the many comments praising the 18-year graphical leap between the two games.
Spider-Man has been featured in video games for decades, from side-scrolling brawlers to references in Fortnite. However, this image demonstrates how the character’s portrayal continues to change and evolve to fit the gaming trends of the era. Some fans of the wisecracking, smart-aleck superhero could even be prompted to pull out their PlayStation and re-experience one of his earliest 3D adventures in the wake of this news.
