Spider-Man (Atari 2600, Parker Bros., 1982)

 

Maybe it's because the holidays are approaching, but suddenly the other day I started thinking about one of the most exciting moments of 1982, and that was this:

There was going to be a SPIDER-MAN VIDEO GAME, and I could play it at home.  And actually own it!

And own it I did (and do once again).  Now, first thing's first--this box art is completely awesome, and would make an incredible T-shirt:

There is only one tiny flaw:

Notice anything missing? YOU HAD ONE JOB, ARTIST.  Never mind, it really doesn't take away any of the enjoyment for me at all.

And so, for those of us who weren't there, how was the gameplay?

Are you expecting a joke here? Because the punchline is: it was mind-blowing.  No, not from the perspective of sitting comfortably in Current Year, where games are super-sophisticated (perhaps too much so), and where there have been like 200 Spider-Man games...but try to imagine a time when there hadn't yet even BEEN a Spider-Man video game, and you finally had the chance to go up against the Green Goblin (which was a masterstroke of a choice) and you will understand how gobsmacked all of us kids were.  Back then, it was about the sheer amazingness of being able to play it, and not so much about comparing it to anything.  The only thing we had to reference were actual arcade games, and everyone knew you couldn't do anything like that at home........yet.

But of course, early home video games were based on points, and involved doing the same thing over and over, due to the limitations and constraints of the technology...so let's take a look at the instruction book, which was where the plot was usually fleshed out!

And hey, we get some more incredible artwork too (I also like the full shot of the building...which should be the back of the T-shirt I have in mind, come to think of it).

Remember, too, that this entire game was programmed by one person, Laura Nikolich, which was also how it was done back then!