Ultimate Spider-Man adopts a cel-shaded look inspired by Bendis' comics. Colourful New York, fluid web-swinging and tasty dialogue. A stylish, pleasant adaptation.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player12+
Description
A Treyarch and Activision action-adventure released in 2005, an open-world action game based on the Ultimate Spider-Man comic book. The player alternates between Peter Parker and Venom in 3D New York, with cel-shaded aesthetics faithful to Mark Bagley's comic style. Signature web-swinging mechanics, aerial combat and narrative missions following the Hobgoblin arc. Very faithful to the comic, successful cel-shaded homage.
Ultimate Spider-Man review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Drawn in bold inked lines and vivid flat colours, New York takes on the look of a comic page in motion. The cel-shading, the strong outlines and the panels that burst in transpose the spirit of the page beautifully. This graphic faithfulness to the Marvel comic makes it one of the most stylish adaptations of its time.
The Western release of Ultimate Spider-Man, Treyarch's open-world action game with cel-shaded visuals faithful to Bendis's comic, alternating between Spider-Man and Venom in a comic-book New York. Still common, its desirability rests on this singular art direction, hailed as one of the best superhero adaptations, rather than scarcity. A piece valued by superhero-game fans on the console.
Is Ultimate Spider-Man still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2005 on PS2, Treyarch's project adapts the comic of the same name with a cel shaded art direction that wonderfully renders the comic's line work, a striking visual success. The movement through the city, built on web swinging, gives an exhilarating sense of freedom, and the alternation between Spider-Man and Venom varies the approaches. The story faithful to the original work and the spirited tone carry the adventure. The repetitiveness of the side missions and a somewhat thin content make themselves felt. A polished adaptation of the web slinger, recommended for fans of the arachnid and of stylised open world play.
