Bring on the Bad Guys!
Warning: This article manages to avoid spoiling theSpider-Man 2 movie, but it sure as heck will ruin the surprise for some villains and allies featured in the video game.
Most Spider-Man fans have a favorite villain. Sometimes it’s the bad guy from your first Spider-Man comic or the villain whose powers you’d most like to have. For me, it’s a little bit of both—first villain plus wicked powers—with a love of a goofy costume thrown in for good measure. Yes, I’m here admitting in front of y’all that my favorite Spider-Man villain is … Shocker.
Shocker? Yeah, Shocker! He’s the sort of self-made, simple bad guy that you don’t run into so much anymore. And, I have a feeling I’m not alone in my admiration. Somebody at Treyarch must feel the same way because the Quilted One is making his second appearance on Xbox® in Spider-Man® 2. He’ll escape when you face Quentin Beck in the sports arena. That goob Beck has rented out a bunch of crooks for his little “test” of Spider-Man’s powers, and when no one is looking, Shocker (sans costume) sneaks away.
You’ll face Shocker more than once, but the last fight is the one that will make you wish you’d never met the guy. Shocker uses his sonic gauntlets and a special chamber to charge up a shield that makes him invincible (much like Doc Ock will do later on). Fortunately, you’ll have Black Cat’s help. She’ll disable his shield for short periods (with your help—make sure you linger at the switch that’s opposite hers to pull this trick off as fast as you can), but this probably won’t be enough to get him. You’ll have to hold out until later, when Black Cat can permanently disable the shield. Once she manages that, go to town!
The Black Cat almost gets away.
Kitty with a Grapple-Gun
The ample presence of Black Cat is felt once more in Spider-Man 2, as the character leads our hero on many a merry chase over, around, and under the rooftops of the virtual city. Technically, she’s not a villain (as far as you know, she’s just a cagey thief who may or may not be returning the loot to the cops), but she surely can be a challenge. Better yet, she’ll lead you toother challenges, like that shocking fellow I mentioned earlier. You can practice your chase skills by hitting as many challenge tokens as you can handle. And, when the time comes to chase the kitty’s tail, don’t use your lock-on to keep her in your sights. It’ll just keep you from seeing where you’re really swinging, and you’ll lose her. Instead, just follow that white arrow over your head and make sure the distance meter keeps the spider and cat icons near each other.
By the way, don’t ever skip Black Cat’s cut scenes …
By the Horns
It probably kind of sucks to be Rhino. Sure, you’re incredibly strong and tough, but that Rhino suit is part of your body. Ouch! How do you ever visit the little Rhino’s room?
Dodge Rhino’s attacks to make him vulnerable.
More importantly, how do you beat someone whose skin is made of a metal rhinoceros? It’s not easy, even for Spider-Man. If you try to web the Rhino up, he’ll just turn the tables, grab the web, and swing you around until you make painful contact with the ground. Try to hit him, and he’ll laugh it off (in a voice that sounds an awful lot like Bender from Futurama, thanks to guest star John DiMaggio). Instead, you’ve got to get ready to dodge at just the right moment. Learn to recognize Rhino’s two attacks: the charge and the spin. At the beginning of the charge, Rhino will crouch and swing his horns up twice, and then he’ll head straight for you. Hit B right after your head flashes, and even though it will look like Rhino made contact, you won’t take damage. He, however, will be dizzified (as evidenced by the spirals around his head). Close in and get in as many punches as you can while Rhino’s dazed, but don’t stay too long, or you’ll learn that this Rhino’s horn is no aphrodisiac.
Your very own Rhino punching bag!
The second attack, the swing, requires a little more dodging. You have to avoid every swing of the large radioactive tank that Rhino is stealing. Once you’ve dodged all the swings, though, Rhino will get dizzy again, and you can once more start pounding him with your fists. Once his health is down to zero, you’re rewarded with a cut scene and a webbed up Rhino that (if you’re feeling vindictive) you can use as a punching bag for as long as you like.
By Ben Barker
