Spawn: Armageddon

Spawn: Armageddon
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)	Point of View
Publisher(s)	Namco, Electronic Arts
Designer(s)	Todd McFarlane
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2 GameCube Xbox
Release date(s)	NA: November 21, 2003 EU: March 12, 2004 JP: June 3, 2004 (PS2)
Genre(s)	Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s)	Single-player

Spawn: Armageddon is a video game released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube video game consoles. It is inspired by Spawn issues 1-99, and Todd McFarlane directed the game's production.

Gameplay

This gameplay focuses on fast and stylish combat (similar to the Devil May Cry and God of War series) gaining high breakable items, Souls, Technique points, comic covers, Time and Ranks. Spawn's main weapon is the Agony Axe (formed by his cape), which can cut through any demon. He is also armed with his trademark chains, which attack with great accuracy and speed. Spawn also finds firearms to use on stronger demons. He is also capable of using various hellish powers, particularly the necroplasm. The game features upgrades; Spawn must collect demon souls in order to buy ammunition, upgrade his weapons and increase his maximum health or necroplasm bar.^[1]

Plot

The game starts off with Spawn on a decrepit rooftop above Des Plaines's forgotten chapel in Des Plaines, IL. He then receives flashbacks of his former life, and his betrayal by Jason Wynn. Suddenly, a brilliant green flash of light tears through the city, signaling the demon's war against the angels in battle known as Armageddon. Knocked off the rooftops, Spawn takes to the street not only to answer the call but maybe even to get revenge.

Various characters from the Spawn comic book are featured in the game:

• Spawn — the main character of the game. Once the assassin, Al Simmons, who was murdered and sold his soul to the Devil, Malebolgia in order to see his beloved wife again. Spawn must find out the cause of the green beam. As he is searching for answers he is caught up in a war between Heaven and Hell.
• Violator — also known as the Clown. Despite his appearance, he is not a human being but a demon. He believes himself to be the perfect demon to lead the armies of Hell, but Lady Satana prefers someone with a soul of Sigilkind — namely, Spawn. Violator's jealousy has brought both the two together on many occasions.
• Mammon — one of Spawn's guides and his mentor. His motives are unclear to Spawn, who isn't sure whether he can wholly trust this suave character. However, Mammon is extremely knowledgeable and Spawn can take advantage of that.
• Cy Gor — an escaped experiment. Cy Gor is a cyborg gorilla, an experimental creature by Jason Wynn. Apparently freed by the green beam, Cy Gor now roams the city, destroying anything that tries to stop him. It is up to Spawn to stop this raging beast.
• Malebolgia — the one who made a deal with Al Simmons so he could see his beloved wife again. He and his sister, Goddess are preparing their war known as Armageddon by using both good and evil souls on Gazer itself. He also sent the Violator to Gazer to bring Spawn into the path of darkness.
• Goddess — the one who caused that green beam as signal for the army of souls and angels to attack Malebolgia and his forces of Hell itself. She allows the Star Hive to watch Spawn himself. She and her brother Malebolgia have begun their war now.

Marilyn Manson's song "Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth" from his 2003 album The Golden Age of Grotesque is used for the intro video and credits.^[2]

Reception

Reception

Review scores Publication Score GC PS2 Xbox EGM 4.83/10[3] 4.83/10[3] 4.83/10[3] Game Informer N/A 6.5/10[4] 6.5/10[5] GamePro N/A [6] [6] GameSpot 5.6/10[7] 5.6/10[7] 5.8/10[8] GameSpy [9] [10] [11] GameZone 7/10[12] 7.5/10[13] 7.8/10[14] IGN 7.4/10[15] 7.7/10[16] 7.7/10[17] Nintendo Power 3.5/5[18] N/A N/A OPM (US) N/A [19] N/A OXM (US) N/A N/A 6.5/10[20] Aggregate score Metacritic 61/100[21] 56/100[22] 57/100[23]

The game received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.^[21][23][22] The action was criticized for being basic and repetitive, and the combos described as "lame."^[8][24][25]

References

1. Farkas, Bart (2003). Spawn(R) Official Strategy Guide. Brady Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7440-0325-3.
2. Trauman, Steve (November 15, 2003). "Marilyn Manson gets into the videogame game". Billboard. 115 (46): 59. ISSN 0006-2510.
3. EGM staff (January 2004). "Spawn: Armageddon". Electronic Gaming Monthly (174): 110.
4. Zoss, Jeremy (January 2004). "Spawn [Armageddon] (PS2)". Game Informer (129): 132. Archived from the original on January 14, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
5. "Spawn [Armageddon] (Xbox)". Game Informer (129): 151. January 2004.
6. Four-Eyed Dragon (November 25, 2003). "Spawn Armageddon (PS2, Xbox)". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
7. Navarro, Alex (November 25, 2003). "Spawn: Armageddon Review (GC, PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
8. Navarro, Alex (November 25, 2003). "Spawn: Armageddon Review (Xbox)". GameSpot.
9. Baker, Tariq (December 8, 2003). "GameSpy: Spawn: Armageddon (GCN)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 3, 2005. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
10. Baker, Tariq (December 8, 2003). "GameSpy: Spawn: Armageddon (PS2)". GameSpy. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
11. Baker, Tariq (December 8, 2003). "GameSpy: Spawn: Armageddon (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
12. Hopper, Steven (December 28, 2003). "Spane: Armageddon - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
13. Bedigian, Louis (December 18, 2003). "Spawn: Armageddon - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
14. Lafferty, Michael (November 24, 2003). "Spawn: Armageddon - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
15. Dunham, Jeremy (November 21, 2003). "Spawn: Armageddon (GCN)". IGN. Archived from the original on April 10, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
16. Dunham, Jeremy (November 21, 2003). "Spawn: Armageddon (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
17. Dunham, Jeremy (November 21, 2003). "Spawn [Armageddon] Review (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
18. "Spawn: Armageddon". Nintendo Power. 176: 151. February 2004.
19. Nguyen, Thierry (January 2004). "Spawn: Armageddon". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Archived from the original on March 29, 2004. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
20. "Spawn: Armageddon". Official Xbox Magazine: 82. January 2004.
21. "Spawn: Armageddon for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
22. "Spawn: Armageddon for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
23. "Spawn: Armageddon for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
24. Faiz, Ahmad (March 25, 2004). "Playing spawn from hell". New Straits Times – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
25. Szadkowski, Joseph (December 27, 2003). "A Violent, Evocative Romp from Brain Behind Spawn". The Washington Times – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .

External links

• Spawn: Armageddon
• Spawn: Armageddon at MobyGames