Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage
Developer:
PAL:
- Software Creations
- Acclaim Entertainment
- John Pickford
- Mark Flitman
- Green Jelly
- Chris Jojo
- Super Nes
PAL:
- 1994
- Beat 'em up
- Single-player
https://www.pricecharting.com/game/pal-super-nintendo/spiderman-maximum-carnage
🎮🎮🎮
Only one maniacal madman can force Spider-Man to unite with his sinister, arch-nemesis Venom: 'CARNAGE'! His deadly rampage is tearing New York City apart! Only web-slinging maneuvers, crushing combat moves and Super Hero' allies can save the city from total obliteration. It's maximum mayhem! It's Maximum Carnage! Paint the town red!
Spider-man Maximum Carnage is a 1994 side scrolling beat 'em up game set in the Marvel comic universe. The player assumes control of our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and Venom as they team up against Carnage.
The game has several levels that are littered with bad guys that you are required to beat your way through. Each level has a start and end point and may contain simple enemies, traps, hidden areas, pick ups and boss villains.
Some levels are dedicated to Spider-Man and others to Venom which is why the player can choose which fighter to use at the beginning of those. Spidey is faster and weaker while Venom is slower and stronger.
Other hero's can aid you on your battle if you find their tokens hidden in the levels and activate them. The chosen hero will appear, activate an ability or attack and then vanish resuming gameplay. These tokens are hidden among other pick ups such as health, extra lives, continues and more.
Once you make it to the final battle and defeat Carnage you finish the story and complete the game.
Default layout:
D-Pad: Move player or menu selection
L: Switch hero token (press L+R together to use selected hero token)
R: Switch hero token (press L+R together to use selected hero token)
D-Pad: Move player or menu selection
L: Switch hero token (press L+R together to use selected hero token)
R: Switch hero token (press L+R together to use selected hero token)
X: Web jump (hold to swing and use direction 'up' to go vertical)
Y: Attack
B: Jump
A: Special attack
Select: N/A
Y: Attack
B: Jump
A: Special attack
Select: N/A
Start: Pause/Confirm menu options
Spider-Man Maximum Carnage Introduction Video
Spider-Man Maximum Carnage 'Spidey' Gameplay Sample
Spider-Man Maximum Carnage 'Venom' Gameplay Sample
Story and Gameplay - 2 point
Spider-Man Maximum Carnage is a 1994 LJN beat 'em up game released to the Super Nintendo and Sega consoles of that time. The NTSC version of the game came as a red cased version, which represents painting the town red as Carnage lets loose in New York.
The game is set in the Spideyverse and features a comic book narrative at various points throughout the game that pull together nicely and create one amazing story of two enemies joining forces to defeat the bigger threat 'Carnage'. The story not only involves Spider, Venom and Carnage, it also features other comic book favorites for both the good and bad guys.
The story sections are well designed and create a comic book feel as the action happens. They are a little messy in some sections due, however the color, sounds, animation and overall graphic design is great and it helps elevate this game to a higher standard.
The gameplay consists mainly of side scrolling beat 'em up action, however it does have other sections that play differently and help tell the story with better detail. This bash fest of a game has multiple levels, bosses, pick ups and even player made choices that change the path of the game. It packs in around 1-2 hours of fighting from start to finish and that's based on decisions made in game.
Spider-Man and Venom both step it up with this basher game and are equipped with both and advanced moves that use 100 % of the controller layout. Most of the action relies on the basic punch combo like other games, however this title also allows you to use your super powers in a variety of ways based on what you combine with the special attack button. Spidey and Venom have similar moves based around that button which is a repetitious in the end however it adds to the arsenal of attacks which gives this game more than other beat 'em ups.
This game features a lot of other super hero's and villains along the way that will interact with the player in various ways. The hero's are used as super attacks and come in the form of tokens hidden among the levels. You get one use per token, however they are quite powerful and can help the you in a tight spot. The villains wait for you at certain points of the game with the intention to stop you, they are stronger than normal enemies and also pack a few moves in.
The player can also access a power move, which is a powerful attack that usually one hit kills enemies or deals massive damage to stronger enemies. These attacks are made available based on your fighting accuracy. This rewards the player for fighting with skill, precision and accuracy. Taking damage, timing out or using the attack clears your bar and you then start rebuilding as you continue to attack.
This game features a lot of other super hero's and villains along the way that will interact with the player in various ways. The hero's are used as super attacks and come in the form of tokens hidden among the levels. You get one use per token, however they are quite powerful and can help the you in a tight spot. The villains wait for you at certain points of the game with the intention to stop you, they are stronger than normal enemies and also pack a few moves in.
The player can also access a power move, which is a powerful attack that usually one hit kills enemies or deals massive damage to stronger enemies. These attacks are made available based on your fighting accuracy. This rewards the player for fighting with skill, precision and accuracy. Taking damage, timing out or using the attack clears your bar and you then start rebuilding as you continue to attack.
Design and Difficulty - 2 points
Spider-Man Maximum Carnage is a great concept for a game, as it puts two regular rivals together in a unusual team as they face the bigger problem. This makes for a game packed full of story, action and excitement made by LJN.
Graphically the game looks fantastic and runs just as well. It's smooth edges scroll nicely in both directions and even with a handful of enemies on screen, it runs at a constant rate. Character designs of all sprites, big and small, are nice and neat with a sprinkling of color. Enemies come in all forms but are very repetitious and just change the color of their clothing.
The animations for this game are really smooth and look great. The amount of attacks, maneuvers and abilities you have all look pretty amazing and I commend the animation team because it would not of been an easy task.
The music for this action packed title is hard, fast and heavy and composed by Green Jelly. The moment the game starts, crunching guitar riffs and a heavy sound appear and create an head banging, fist throwing environment. There is some re use of tracks through out the game, however the quality of each track makes up for this.
Don't expect to finish this game straight away because it packs a punch and will fight back. It's quite difficult throughout the game and it only gets harder as you progress because each level crams more enemies and boss fights. It takes quite awhile to get your head around the actions and attacks but once you familiarize yourself with those it get's slightly easier.
The hardest thing about this title is that you get limited continues and those are only obtained by locating them as you play. Think of them as rewards for searching each level top to bottom and trying moves on certain objects. Some hidden areas are found by jumping certain environmental elements or using a move. It's quite difficult to locate them all but if you take it slow and look around, they can be found.
Graphically the game looks fantastic and runs just as well. It's smooth edges scroll nicely in both directions and even with a handful of enemies on screen, it runs at a constant rate. Character designs of all sprites, big and small, are nice and neat with a sprinkling of color. Enemies come in all forms but are very repetitious and just change the color of their clothing.
The animations for this game are really smooth and look great. The amount of attacks, maneuvers and abilities you have all look pretty amazing and I commend the animation team because it would not of been an easy task.
The music for this action packed title is hard, fast and heavy and composed by Green Jelly. The moment the game starts, crunching guitar riffs and a heavy sound appear and create an head banging, fist throwing environment. There is some re use of tracks through out the game, however the quality of each track makes up for this.
Don't expect to finish this game straight away because it packs a punch and will fight back. It's quite difficult throughout the game and it only gets harder as you progress because each level crams more enemies and boss fights. It takes quite awhile to get your head around the actions and attacks but once you familiarize yourself with those it get's slightly easier.
The hardest thing about this title is that you get limited continues and those are only obtained by locating them as you play. Think of them as rewards for searching each level top to bottom and trying moves on certain objects. Some hidden areas are found by jumping certain environmental elements or using a move. It's quite difficult to locate them all but if you take it slow and look around, they can be found.
Fun and Summary - 👍 +1
Spider-Man Maximum Carnage is a fun beat 'em up game and it goes a little beyond others on the console. The fun is in the story and trying to survive the waves of enemies as the attack in small groups by using your special powers and abilities. It's not just another beat 'em up that uses two buttons, you are required to use every possible button if you want to survive.
Most gamers out there say LJN has made some really bad games in the past and that is true because they were mainly based on shows or movies that we loved. That led to more money being spent on the rights and not the game, however this title feels like it may be one of the better games produced by them and has a fighting chance to be one of the better beat 'em ups on the console.
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