Take on Quentin Beck

Spider-Man® 2 is almost as much fun to play as it is to watch on the big screen. It can also be so frustrating at times that you’ll want to string your Xbox® up by a web line and let the NYPD take it into custody. For me, the first such mucho frustrato moment came with a challenge issued to our friendly neighborhood webhead by one Quentin Beck. Beck has a chip on his shoulder about Spider-Man’s popularity and heroism, and has rented out Madison Square Garden to prove himself to the populace. Peter Parker gets riled up, naturally, when he learns that someone is trying to convince New York’s criminals thatSpider-Man doesn’t have any powers (and it doesn’t hurt that J. Jonah Jameson wants photos of the whole thing), so he swings on in to face the challenge.

By the way, if you’re a long-time true believer, you’ll know exactly who Beck is when you see him, but let’s play along with Beck and Treyarch for now. Besides, the “revelation” scene of Beck’s true identity is hi-freakin’-larious.

The Great Goon Gather-Up
Beck’s challenge comes in two parts. The first one is both frustrating and educational (once you get past the frustration). You’ll need to do a little preparation if you really want to show Beck who’s boss. That means you need to go shop for some moves at the Spider-Man Store. Make sure you’ve purchased the Grapple move, then head on to the “sports arena” (what, is “Madison Square Garden” copyrighted?).

As the first challenge begins, Beck (after taunting the webslinger) releases a batch of hardened criminals. The challenge? Toss more of them into a pit than Beck. You only score if you throw the crook into the pit that’s lit green. At first, you may find yourself driven to near madness by trying to web-line each crook and swing him into the right pit while Beck just scoops the escapees up and drops them in with the help of a jet-pack. And that’s because you’re doing it wrong. Instead of swinging them into the pit, you want to use that Grapple move you just purchased. Target your escapee, press Y and B together, and you’ll reel the crook in like a wide-mouthed bass. The move ends with Spider-Man holding the criminal up with one hand; from there, just find the green pit and press B to toss the poor guy in like a sack of spuds.

Beck vs. Spider-Man, to the bitter end!

Spider-Mario
Once the round-up is completed, you’ll be well prepared to use your webbing and grapples in street fights. Naturally, that means part two is all about platforming. Platforming! Aaaargh! Wait, don’t panic. If you panic, you’ll just get shot. Slow and steady (and, okay, occasional panic) will win this race. Your goal is to move through a wacky obstacle course, hitting a series of switches in order, as Beck takes potshots at you with a powerful laser beam that can knock you out in just a few hits. The trick is not to rush.

First, hit sprint (pull the left trigger) and bolt for the first switch. The barriers will drop as you run past them, but keep up your speed and Beck won’t be able to get off that first shot. After you hit the first switch (press X) just stay there and wait for that platform to take you to the next path and the next switch. (Yes, Beck has apparently mastered anti-gravity, but he’s still got a bug in his hiney about Spider-Man’s powers. Go figure.)

The path to switch one: start on the left.

Switch two is a little trickier, but it’s still not too hard if you’re patient (and if, back in its heyday, you played a lot of a certain platformer starring an Italian plumber). The moving panels have a pattern that you can discern fairly easily. Make your way to the next switch, hit it, and wait for the switch platform to move on to yet another challenging path.

The road to switch three is the first really difficult part, because the blocks that make up the “floor” of your path will flip in mid-air and drop you into Beck’s little blue death ray. Your first impulse will be to go slow, like last time, but you don’t actually need to. Don’t wall cling; instead, wait for your floating platform to slide into place, then drop off the wall and sprint straight for the switch, finishing with a charged jump. If you’re quick and lucky you’ll make it. Once you get to the switch, hit it, and once again wait for the switch platform to take you to the next row of platform-y goodness.

Ride each switch to the next challenge.

The next switch, your fourth, requires a little rhythm and a bit of practice, but here’s some good news—get past this one, and the next time you reload (assuming you have to, spider-stud) you can do it from the fourth switch. To get to switch four you’ll need to wall crawl, since this bridge has no floor—not even one that’s dropping out from under you. Instead, alternating sets of blocks flip every few seconds. You’ll have to make your way along by holding down the sprint trigger at all times. The trick is to move off of a block that’s about to flip and onto one that just flipped, and repeat about a half dozen times (that’s where the rhythm part comes in).

To get to the fifth switch you’ll be wall crawling again, but the tile-block-wall-thingies will be moving in an alternating up-and-down pattern. That’s relatively simple to figure out.

The sixth and last switch, though, can make a grown Spider-Man cry. This switch is mounted on a rotating “treadmill” of platforms that are just like the switch platforms, but they move around in an oval shape which will eventually carry you around to face Beck’s laser. You could just charge a super spider jump if you have good aim, and you’ll probably make it to the last switch, but if you’ve already taken a cannon hit this can be risky (and remember, the point is to impress the crowd as well as beat the challenge). If you miss the platform and hit the floor, charge another jump quickly and try to cling to the underside of one of the platforms, staying behind cover. Remember to press the white button to move the in-game camera behind Spider-Man’s head if you get disoriented.

Beck, wearing his big cheater rocket pack.

Once you’re past that most challenging puzzle, Beck will be beaten and you’ll get a funny, ego-boosting Spider-Man cut-scene. Enjoy; you’ve earned it, but don’t rest on your spider-laurels. After all, the mysterious Beck isn’t even a real super-villain, yet …

By Danny Chihdo