Web-Slinging 101

Published June 1, 2007

The life of Spider-Man is fraught with danger at every turn as he defends New York from both common scum and malevolent super-villains. So as you take the reins of everyone's favorite friendly neighborhood spider-man in Spider-Man 3™, you might want to consider the following tips for Web-Slinging 101.

The proportional strength of a spider comes in handy.

Swing Rapidly
Speed is of the essence in this game as you track down fast-moving cars from behind, rush to save civilians and race after super-villains. In order to maximize your web-swinging ability, use the Left Trigger near the bottom of your swing to increase your momentum.

More importantly though, let go of the Right Trigger once you're parallel to the ground beneath you, and immediately send out another web. You'll lose massive amounts of speed if you let your swing carry you too far.

Come Back Later
For all of its adherence to the film, Spider-Man 3 is still very much an open-ended game. There's no need to run straight through the storyline or even dedicate yourself all at once to the eradication of any of the three gangs, let alone the other side mission chains.

If you find yourself frustrated with a particularly difficult mission, chances are you simply haven't upgraded enough abilities to tackle the challenge correctly. Try moving on to any of the dozens of other missions and challenges, and try again later.

Swing with speed.

Gun Trouble
Early on in your Spider-Man career, you learn how to activate your spider reflexes with LB to avoid an enemy blow. This same technique also applies to gunshots. When you see the red icon above an enemy's head, you know they're about to shoot. Simply hold down LB and Spider-Man will deftly dodge the bullet.

What's more, it's not necessary to tap LB with perfect timing. Hold it down if you think a gunshot is coming, and provided you have enough spider reflex juice (the blue meter), you'll dodge incoming attacks just fine.

Fling Away
When surrounded by a large group of enemies, the easiest solution is to toss them away with the flick of a web. Instead of comboing up with a series of punches and kicks, hit them with a web line (hold B) and hold the thumbstick to the left or right. This will start swinging the enemy around. Simply point them in the direction of the nearest ledge or drop-off and let them fly, fly away.

Stay Alert
While Spider-Man is very much the superhero from the outset, you'll find his powers evolve and improve the more you play. And it's easy to miss that you've unlocked a new ability when you're in the midst of combat. Do yourself a favor and check the in-game menu from time to time to see what new abilities you may have acquired.

Blending in for a strike.

The Doors
Searching for an entrance to a building can be occasionally frustrating. Don't over-think the problem though. If the objective is inside, check all the doors in the area. Chances are one may be unlocked, and you just have to press against it to gain entry.

Float Like a Butterfly
From mini-bosses to super-villains, Spider-Man's tougher foes require a more careful strategy than straight-ahead attack combinations. A decent strategy is to wait for them to attack you, then use LB to activate your spider reflexes and dodge. Tap X to employ a counterattack. Afterward, hit them with a couple quick attacks and jump back before they can retaliate. If you stand your ground, enemies will ignore your combination, and tag you for a chunk of damage.

Sensing Direction
It's a good bet that any time Peter Parker wonders aloud where to head next, it's time to activate your spider-senses (click down on the right thumbstick). If there's a nearby clue like a secret door, useable item such as a power switch, or even enemy tracks, your spider-sense will pick it up and highlight the object.

With these beginning web-slinging tips, you should be well equipped to fight crime in the world of Spider-Man 3. Good luck!

Article by Ryan Treit