Genesis

Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage

One word of warning though: the Genesis version also preserves the same challenge as the SNES version, so don't think for one second you're just going to pick this up and beat it in a few days. This game is tough and takes no prisoners.

Although it's not a bad game, Maximum Carnage just doesn't approach the expectations built up by the reputation of it's famous stars. Acclaim has produced some very entertaining Spider-Man titles in the past and it probably will again. But Maximum Carnage isn't maximum fun.

Overall, Maximum Carnage is a solid game that exhibits high production values but makes for a good to mediocre gaming experience. I would recommend playing it, but only buy it if you are a fan of the genre. Of course, for all you Spidey fanatics, this is a must-own title, at least for the story line and graphics.

I just have to wonder if there wasn't some kind of quality control. Did everybody just go to sleep on the job or something? Haven't they even checked out what a comic book looks like? Does anybody know what it sounds like when somebody gets hit? Whoever designed this atrocity should have gone to some kickboxing tournaments and visited the comic shop.

Maximum Carnage has a lot going for it, but extended play reveals a shoddy, poorly designed game. For one thing, the game is one-player only! That's an absolutely crime when you consider the game co-stars Spiderman and Venom! And while there are a nice variety of villains, you'll spend most of the time beating up the same three thugs over and over again - including babes who attack with their hair. Sorry Acclaim, but giving them different colored outfits isn't fooling anyone! This mindless slugfest wears thin in a hurry, especially when the game forces you to backtrack in certain areas! Some of the climbing sequences are totally idiotic, with flashing arrows indicating where incoming projectiles will strike. The game is long, but there is no password to save your progress - just a few continues. In closing, I'd like to thank my trusty Game Genie, without which this review would not have been possible.