The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a superior title that brings the webslinger's skill set into the iOS universe. Swinging through New York City and taking out villains with special fight combos makes for a great adventure, and Gameloft has crafted a diverse experience which should keep gamers glued to their devices.

With New York as his playground, Spider-Man is consistently on the go and busting crime as much as possible. If you're a gamer who craves consistent action, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 won't leave you stranded. As you navigate around the Big Apple, a map located on the left side of your device guides you through the city, with the red dots signifying solo goals to accomplish. Each finished task generates currency which is then used to purchase various power-ups and skill upgrades.

The blue dots on your map relate to the main missions that you must undertake. Most of your blue missions will give you clues that lead up to an eventual boss encounter. Electro is the first boss you'll face in the app, with the Green Goblin, Kraven the Hunter, and Venom showing up down the road.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Gameloft
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Kudos to Gameloft for creating a control mechanic that perfectly works with the gameplay. Most of Spidey's actions are tap based, so performing special combos during combat simply requires the touch of a web, punch or a stun button that's located on the right hand side of your device. Changing your viewpoint, whether you're jumping from building to building or running down a street, requires the simple slide of a finger on your screen.

When I'm tired of fighting or simply want to amble through the metropolis, I'll have Spidey websling from one skyscraper to the next. The visual rendering of New York is absolutely eye catching and compelling, and I spent a huge portion of my gameplay simply wandering around town. During these flighty moments, you will tap the web/jump icon and also use an invisible d-pad on the lower left side of the screen to guide the wandering webslinger.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Gameloft
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Even though the app costs $4.99, it's definitely a bargain. Although there are in-app purchases available, the initial download fee gets you a ton of gameplay, and since upgrades and items can be unlocked or purchased by earning in game currency, your wallet doesn't need to take a further hit.

My only complaint is that even though there are a variety of missions to be had, certain minor tasks did get on my nerves several hours into gameplay. Even though they're simple missions, taking injured civilians to the hospital or signing autographs grows wearisome. Pummeling gangsters into submission, however, never gets old.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Gameloft
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Spider-Man is also known for his dry wit and sarcasm, and a little bit more variety with Peter Parker's dialogue would have been welcome. Hearing Parker say that he needs to clean his Spidey suit from a long day's of work is funny the first time, but hearing it several more times within a half hour also placed me at wit's end.

These minor flaws are overshadowed by the app's grand visual design. Every single second I spent on the app passed the eye test, as Gameloft perfectly incorporates Spider-Man and New York's symbiotic connection. The app is beautiful to behold, whether it's fighting Electro on a darkened rooftop or just falling from the sky with a defeated mobster.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Gameloft
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Although I'm also a mobile gamer, this visually rich title should be enjoyed on iPads. Coupled with varied and exciting gameplay, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a first rate experience that should please most Spidey fans.

This review was completed with a purchased download of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 for iOS.

App Store Link: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 for iPhone & iPad | By Gameloft | Price: $4.99 | Version: 1.0.0 | 689 MB | Rating 9+

8.5 out of 10 arcade sushi rating

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