Summary
ThoughSpider-Manhas had plenty of amazing movie and comic covers, this also applies to his games. Ever since the first game was released for the Atario 2600 in 1982, theSpider-Manfranchise has been dropping games at a steady rate for fans to enjoy, and while each title features its own unique gameplay, story, and cast of characters before players even get into all this, they are greeted by the front cover.
While not all developers will feel the need to get too creative with their cover art, when it comes toSpider-Man, there’s so much potential there to create a genuinely captivating and memorable piece of artwork. It’s therefore no surprise that there have been plenty of jaw-dropping game covers featuring Spidey, but when looking at overall design and uniqueness, there are definitely a few that stand out from the rest.
The cover of the latestSpider-Mangame may not be quite as flashy as some others, but its simplicity is what makes it so recognizable. Seeing Peter and Miles working together makes for an awesome visual, but the addition of the Symbiote webs andlightning powerprovides an insight into the unique abilities that these two heroes will be utilizing for their journeys.
Having a plain red background works to draw players' eyes to the suits, which have been crafted with an incredible level of detail. It’s also just a nice way to feed into the Marvel brand as a whole, and more specifically, its red aesthetic.
There’s something so charming about the 1990s design of Spider-Man. Despite thisPS1 gamecoming out in 2000, the cover harkens back to the legendary animated series, depicting Spider-Man climbing up a skyscraper with an incredible shot of the bustling city streets behind him, creating an amazing sense of scale.
Another standout feature of this cover is the Spider-Man font, which again references the style seen in the animated series. Clearly, this cover is a special treat for those 90s Spider-Man fans who can’t get enough of the striking art style that the period was known for.
As the name implies,Shattered Dimensionsis a game that features Spider-Men from all kinds ofweird and whacky dimensionscoming together to stop a common enemy. It therefore only makes sense that the four main Spider-Men would be shown off on the front cover, but thanks to the color contrast between their suits, it looks extremely vibrant and colorful.
Additionally, this cover also manages to subtly say a little about each iteration of the hero, such as how Spider-Man 2099 is deadly serious when looking at the screen to emphasize his no-nonsense persona. It’s hard not to love a cover that features four Spider-Men for the price of one.
Web of Shadowsfeatures a very creative cover that includes two extra fan-favorite characters, including a surprising cameo from Wolverine. At the center of the cover is Spider-Man with a mean look in his eyes and his two fists raised; both of which show Venom and Wolverine on either side to give players an idea of what sorts of heroes and villains they can expect to run into during a playthrough.
That’s not all though, as Peter’s forearms depicttwo sides of Manhattan, one with the sky gleaming down on the city, and the other where it has become a dark and dreary area covered in Symbiote webs. It’s a stunning cover that is packed full of small details to help elevate it from a visual perspective.
Released alongsidethe movie of the same name,The Amazing Spider-Man 2introduces players to the experience with an eye-catching cover that puts everyone’s favorite neighborhood hero on center stage. Having Peter hang upside down is a subtle but clever way to showcase his quirky personality, considering no other Marvel hero would be able to pull this off and manage to look this cool in the process.
What really helps to elevate the design of this cover, though, is the bright sunlight showering Spider-Man from behind, almost presenting the hero as some kind of messiah who’s come to rescue the people of his city from danger. Of course, it’s also hard to ignore the giant web that Peter has constructed around himself, which manages to look both eerie and badass at the same time.
ThoughSpider-Man Friend or Foetakes inspiration from the Sam Raimi films, it is also its own story which is completely unrelated to the narrative of those movies. However, one common theme that is shared between them is the art style, which is perfectly represented on this cover, where Spider-Man’s gorgeous suit can be seen up close and personal as he swings across the city.
He’s certainly not alone though, as beside him can be seenVenom, Doctor Octopus, and the Green Goblin, making for a rather unusual but epic shot of the longtime enemies all working together as one unit. It feels as though the designers at Artificial Mind tried to cram as much into this cover as possible without it looking too over-the-top, and it’s fair to say that they succeeded in this department.
There’s so much to admire about the front cover ofUltimate Spider-Man. Since this image uses a comic-book art style rather than trying to be realistic, it granted the designers the opportunity to get creative with Spider-Man’s suit, allowing him to invoke expressions much easier without even needing to show his face.
Behind the dazzling suit design can be seen a menacingdepiction of Venom, whose arm is reaching out for Peter around the side of the page. Having this depiction of Venom be so vague and hard to see is intentional since it keeps players in suspense as they wonder what he will truly look like in-game, while also representing the subtle influence he will have over Peter’s mind and actions.
When creating a cover for aSpider-Manmovie, comic, or game, most designers will either decide to depict Spidey in a hopeful and charismatic pose or will instead make him appear a little more moody and stoic.Edge of Times’scover opts for the latter, and with the incredible attention to detail, darker aesthetic, and the reflection of O’Hara in Spider-Man’s eye, it results in a jaw-dropping piece of artwork that is hard to look away from.
It’s also a nice touch to include two sides of the city to represent the two timelines that are featured within the story, one belonging to Peter, and the other toMiguel O’Hara. Seeing Spider-Man’s suit slightly ripped and torn up also goes a long way in establishing the more mature and serious tone of this specific entry.
