Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (8-bit)

For the Mega Drive version, see Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin. For the Mega-CD version, see Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (Mega-CD).

n/a

Master System Game Gear
Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin
System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sega Flying Edge
Developer: Sega of America Technopop B.I.T.S.
Licensor: Marvel Entertainment Group
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1991-08 7065 EU 1991-08 7065 UK 1991-10 £29.9929.99 7065 AU 199x MX 199x BR 1991-11 025290 US 1992-06 $34.9534.95 T-81028 EU 1992-06 T-81028-50 UK 1992-04 £29.9929.99 T-81028-50

Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin, commonly referred to as just Spider-Man, is a platform video game based on the Marvel comic book series Spider-Man, released for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear in 1991 and 1992 respectively.

Story

Introduction

The infamous criminal known as the Kingpin has planted a bomb in New York City, blaming Spider-Man for it. Now Spider-Man must defeat many of his old supervillain foes, who have been hired by the Kingpin, while also avoiding the police, in an attempt to stop the bomb within 24 hours, to save New York and prove his innocence.

Gameplay

Peter Parker's apartment

The game is an action platformer played as the superhero Spider-Man, who fights criminals and negotiates obstacles while searching for the keys necessary to defuse the bomb, within a time limit of 24 hours. Spider-Man moves with or and crouches with . He jumps with and jumps down from platforms with +. He can grab certain walls and other surfaces in the background by holding in midair and climb them using the D-Pad. While in midair, Spider-Man can shoot a web line and swing from it with +, +, or +. He can jump off the web line while swinging for extra distance. Spider-Man punches with and kicks with while crouching or jumping. He fires a web shot with + or +, which stuns enemies for a few seconds.

Spider-Man has 24 hours to collect the five keys needed to disarm the bomb. The timer ticks down while the player plays the game, at a rate of about a minute per second. Keys are dropped by bosses when they are defeated. In most stages, Spider-Man must defeat every enemy (not counting animals) for the boss to appear. Spider-Man's spider senses alert the player when a boss is coming.

Spider-Man has a life meter that diminishes as he takes damage from foes. The life meter turns red when it is low. If he runs out of life or if time runs out, the game ends. Below the life meter are squares that represent Spider-Man's web cartridges, and below the web cartridges are smaller squares that represent how much webbing remains in the current cartridge. Using a web ability costs a small amount of webbing. Spider-Man cannot use a web ability if he does not have any webbing left. Spider-Man can buy more web cartridges with money earned from taking pictures of enemies.

While in a stage, the player can invoke an options menu by pressing + in the Master System version or  START  in the Game Gear version (which also pauses the game). This menu shows the number of keys collected and the player's score. From this menu, the player can select a camera, for taking pictures of enemies, or toggle the music and the story screens. After defeating Doctor Octopus, Dr. Strange appears to assist Spider-Man and gives him a special amulet that allows him to return to his apartment at any time to heal. However, resting costs time.

Options

The options menu is opened by pressing + in the Master System version or  START  in the Game Gear version. The player can use and to change the option and to select it.

	Returns to the game.
	Takes a picture of the enemies on screen. Pictures are exchanged for web cartridges at the end of the stage. Peter Parker can only sell one photograph of each supervillain.
	Toggles the music.
	Toggles the story screens in between stages.
	Returns to Peter Parker's apartment to replenish life. This costs time (with more life costing more time) and starts Spider-Man back at the beginning of the stage when he leaves.

Supervillains

	Dr. Octopus
	Real Name: Otto Octavius
	This brilliant scientist once experimented with a harness equipped with sentient tentacle like arms that can help him with his experiments. A freak lab accident fused the harness to his body and turned him into an insane criminal. While these tentacle arms make Dr. Octopus a formidable opponent already, his greatest weapon is his twisted intelligence. In-game, Dr. Octopus attacks with his arms from long range and occasionally lifts himself up with his arms. Arms can hit Spider-Man and the impact can send him far away.
	The Lizard
	Real Name: Kurt Connors
	Once a talented professor at the Empire State University, Dr. Connors lost his right arm in an accident. Fascinated with the reptiles' ability to grow back lost limbs, Connors injected himself with a experimental serum that contained a lizard's DNA. While it worked, it also turned Connors into a violent and viscous human-lizard hybrid with superhuman abilities. Connors occasionally turns into the Lizard when he is under pressure and wreaks havoc in the city. The Lizard usually attacks Spider-Man with fast and hard to counter sudden attacks. He has no projectile attack, but he is also very hard to contain in a corner.
	Electro
	Real Name: Max Dillon
	Formerly an electrician, Dillon once hit by a lightning while working on a electric mast. Instead of frying him, this gave him ability to control electricity at will. Using his new found powers for profit, Electro turned to a life of crime and became one of the recurring villains of Spider-Man. Electro fires small bolts of electricity and jumps around, making him harder to hit. Touching him damages Spider-Man.
	Sandman
	Real Name: William Baker
	A typical street criminal from New York, Baker hid himself in a nuclear test site in a desert while escaping from authorities. A detonated nuclear weapon caused his molecules to fuse with sand, allowing him to shape his body as he wants, such as enlarging his fists or allowing him to escape by turning into a mass of mobile sand. His only weakness is water. Sandman is indestructible in combat, and the only way to stop him is to lure him to fire hydrants. He can be killed with a single blow if timed right.
	Hobgoblin
	Real Name: Unknown
	Hobgoblin is a notorious terrorist and mercenary, offering his services to the highest bidder. After being thwarted by Spider-Man multiple times, Hobgoblin became one of his sworn enemies. Almost nothing is known about him, but he is believed to have come across the equipment used by Green Goblin, one of the Spider-Man's oldest foes, and modified them for his personal use. In addition to his insanity, Hobgoblin uses a terrifying costume that hides his true identity and a small, mountable jet for movement. His primary weapons are hand grenades shaped like Halloween pumpkins. Hobgoblin flies around the screen and attacks Spider-Man with pumpkin bombs. Because he can fly, he is much harder to hit than other bosses.
	Venom
	Real Name: Eddie Brock
	Years ago, Spider-Man found himself in a separate dimension with other super heroes and villains and fought against a powerful entity known as "The Beyonder." Spider-Man managed to come back wearing a black and white costume after his original costume was damaged during battle. The costume was capable of removing itself in a liquid fashion and could mimic any other clothing with just Spider-Man's thoughts. A few months later, Spider-Man found out that the costume was actually not some sort of a high-tech piece of clothing but rather a living organism, a symbiotic creature. With the help of Fantastic Four, Spider-Man managed to get rid of the creature. Angry over its abandonment, the Symbiote managed to escape and fused itself with Eddie Brock, a journalist who also hated Spider-Man, to become Venom. Though later depicted as a violent vigilante rather than a supervillain, Venom used to be the one of the most relentless enemies of the wall crawler. Venom uses the same moves the Spider-Man uses (which means he can stun Spider-Man with web shots). On Nightmare difficulty level, Venom randomly attacks Spider-Man in some stages.
	The Kingpin
	Real Name: Wilson Fisk
	Wilson Fisk is the owner of the Fisk Enterprises, a massive and powerful conglomerate. Even though he markets himself as a humble businessman, Fisk is actually "The Kingpin", ruler of the New York's criminal world. Kingpin is a shrewd and merciless mob boss, capable of destroying his enemies before they even become a threat. Even though he never gets his hands dirty, thanks to the army of loyal henchmen he employs, he should not be underestimated. His criminal mind is one of a kind and he is no pushover in close combat either, thanks to his martial arts training (including but not limited to, Sumo wrestling) and his large body which consists mostly of muscles. He has been a consant threat to not only Spider-Man but also other heroes/vigilantes like Daredevil and The Punisher. Kingpin will the final boss players will face. He has a large health bar and his attacks can cause serious damage while also pushing Spider-Man to the opposite side of the screen. He is also surprisingly fast despite his large bulk. Using copious amount of webs to immobilize him will be only way to stop him.

Stages

	Daily Bugle
	Map: 1️⃣
	With the police hot on his tail, Spider-Man must enter the Daily Bugle building from top floor and, as Peter Parker, find out why everyone is after him.
	Warehouse
	Map: 1️⃣  Boss: Dr. Octopus
	Spider-Man investigates a nearby warehouse and searches for clues. He fights against club carrying thugs and guard dogs. There is a mid-boss against a thug operating a forklift, followed by a fight with Dr. Octopus, who has the first key. Dr. Strange meets with Spider-Man after completing this stage.
	Sewers
	Map: 1️⃣  Boss: The Lizard
	Spider-Man's old friend Dr. Connors has transformed into the Lizard again and fled to the sewers. Spider-Man fights mutated sewer thugs and rats. He navigates deadly traps and pitfalls to acquire the Lizard's key. The stage has two levels, with the key in the second.
	Power Station
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣  Boss: Electro
	Spider-Man confronts Electro in his domain, evading lightning bolts, bats, and gun-toting thugs. There are three switches that must be flipped off (by punching them), otherwise Spider-Man is pummeled with lightning bolts. Like the previous stage, there are two levels, with the key in the second.
	Central Park
	Map: 1️⃣  Boss: Sandman
	Spider-Man must defeat muggers, evade mutated giant bats, and look for Sandman, who can only be defeated by luring him to the fire hydrants. The key is obtained after Sandman is knocked out.
	Streets of New York
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣  Bosses: Hobgoblin and Venom
	Criminals are wreaking havoc in the streets. Spider-Man has to face two of his sworn enemies: Hobgoblin and Venom. There are two levels, each featuring a boss fight. Venom shows up without the need to defeat all the lesser thugs, and both keys are acquired after defeating the bosses.
	Underground
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣  Boss: The Kingpin
	Spider-Man must defeat the previous supervillains (depending on the level of difficulty), who have returned for a rematch, stop the bomb by punching the keys in the right order, and finally capture the Kingpin. This stage has two levels. The player does not get the best ending if the Kingpin is allowed to escape.

Versions

While having inferior in-game graphics compared to its 16-bit counterpart, the 8-bit version has panel illustrations as cutscenes in between stages. This version of the game is infamous for its high difficulty, even on the easiest setting.

Two secret Easter eggs are found in the game. One is a Pac-Man type mini-game with Spider-Man characters and a secret room that allows Spider-Man to dress like Venom. Both can only be acquired while playing Nightmare difficulty.

Production credits

Master System version

Spiderman vs. The Kingpin a Sega of America Production

• Programming: Paul Hutchinson (Assisted by John Kennedy)
• Graphics: Whitney Caughlan, Alan Murphy, Paul Hutchinson
• Music and Sound: Paul Hutchinson
• Game Design: Christopher Erhardt
• Produced by: Ed Annunziata
• Tested by: Rich Fishman, Jeff Todd, Jim Goddard, Jim Gould, Casey Grimm, Bert Mauricio

Spiderman, Peter Parker, Dr. Octopus, The Lizard, Electro, Sandman, Hobgoblin, Venom, The Kingpin, Dr. Strange, Jonah Jameson, Mary Jane, Robbie Robertson and the distinctive likenesses thereof are Trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and are used with permission.

Spiderman © 1990 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.

All Rights Reserved

Source Codes © 1990 Sega of America, Inc.

This program is produced under license from the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.

Source:

In-game credits

Game Gear version

Spiderman vs. The Kingpin a Sega of America Production

• Programming: Paul Hutchinson
• Graphics: Whitney Caughlan, Alan Murphy, Paul Hutchinson
• Music and Sound: Paul Hutchinson
• Game Design: Christopher Erhardt
• Produced by: Stewart Kosoy
• Tested by: Rich Fishman, Bert Mauricio, Steve Patterson, Ben Szymkowiak, Michael Tyau

Spider-Man, Peter Parker, Dr. Octopus, The Lizard, Electro, Sandman, Hobgoblin, Venom, The Kingpin, Dr. Strange, Jonah Jameson, Mary Jane, Robbie Robertson and the distinctive likenesses thereof are Trademarks of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and are used with permission.

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (8-bit)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (8-bit)/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 58 Console XS (UK) PAL 80 Computer & Video Games (UK) 83 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 87 Game Mania (UK) 87 Game Power (IT) 81 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 80 Hobby Consolas (ES) 75 Joypad (FR) 92 Joystick (FR) 92 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 73 Mean Machines (UK) 87 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 87 Player One (FR) 90 Sega Power (UK) PAL 57 Sega Power (UK) PAL 25 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 80 Video Games (DE) 65

	77
Based on 18 reviews

Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (8-bit)

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU
Cover
Manual

Master System, EU (Marvel variant)
Cover

Master System, EU (Capcom variant)
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Hotline sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (NIAL sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, BR (newer)
Cover

Master System, MX

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Alaab Alcomputtar (SA) 90 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 52 Consoles + (FR) 65 Console XS (UK) PAL 92 Computer & Video Games (UK) 93 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 88 Game Mania (UK) 85 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 70 Game Zone (UK) PAL 90 Hobby Consolas (ES) 75 Joypad (FR) 84 Joystick (FR) PAL 88 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 48 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 63 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 86 Player One (FR) 78 Play Time (DE) 80 Power Unlimited (NL) 80 Sega Power (UK) PAL 84 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 92 Sega Force (SE) 75 Sega Force (UK) 91 Supersonic (FR) 85 User (GR) PAL 86 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U 70 Video Games (DE) 43

	79
Based on 28 reviews

Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (8-bit)

Game Gear, US
Cover
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Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 908ff25c MD5 fa10ee70e43385e88e5d1a008716668b SHA-1 02ebee891d88bacdadd37a3e75e05763b7ad3c9b	256kB		Cartridge (EU/US)
?	CRC32 2651024e MD5 13e2e27559b0ae898306506219dcc68b SHA-1 46b064b4b5a6444ce0e64e16a7e5cec2087fb4d3	256kB		Cartridge (US/EU)