Spider-Man

«Spider-Man» — это интерактивная текстовая приключенческая игра (interactive fiction), выпущенная в 1984 году британской компанией Adventure International (UK) Ltd. для платформы ZX Spectrum. Игра была частью амбициозной серии из 12 игр, лицензированных у Marvel Comics, в которую также входили приключения про Капитана Америку, Халка и Невероятного Халка. Это классический представитель жанра текстовых квестов, где игрок управляет действиями персонажа, вводя текстовые команды. Игровой процесс сосредоточен на решении головоломок и исследовании окружающего мира.

История или сюжет игры

Сюжет игры не является прямой адаптацией конкретного комикса, а представляет собой оригинальную историю. Человек-паук оказывается в ловушке в загадочном здании, которое, как выясняется, является штаб-квартирой злодейской организации «Паучий синдикат» (The Spider-Syndicate) во главе с Мадам Паук (Madame Web). Цель игрока — выбраться из здания, победить множество суперзлодеев, которые охраняют его, и в конечном итоге остановить планы Мадам Паук.

Игра начинается с того, что Питер Паркер (в костюме Человека-паука) оказывается в комнате с запертой дверью и таинственной коробкой, украшенной рубинами. С этого момента игрок должен использовать интеллект и способности героя, чтобы продвигаться вперёд, сталкиваясь с такими противниками, как Электро (Electro), Песочный человек (Sandman), Доктор Осьминог (Doctor Octopus) и другими.

Управление

Управление осуществляется исключительно путём ввода текстовых команд с клавиатуры. Игра обрабатывает команды в формате «[глагол] [существительное]» (например, OPEN DOOR, EXAMINE BOX, PUT ON SUIT). Одной из ключевых особенностей игры, которую рекламировали в то время, была продвинутая парсерная система (обработчик текста), позволяющая использовать более сложные и естественные конструкции, включая связывание команд и ввод полных предложений (например, OPEN THE BOX AND TAKE THE KEY, THEN UNLOCK THE DOOR). Словарный запас игры достаточно обширен, что поощряет эксперименты.

Игровой процесс и особенности

Текстовый интерфейс: Экран разделён на текстовую область, где выводятся описания локаций и событий, и строку для ввода команд.

Инвентарь: У игрока есть ограниченный инвентарь для хранения предметов. Команда INVENTORY (или I) показывает собранные предметы.

Способности Человека-паука: Игрок может использовать уникальные способности героя, такие как паутина (например, SHOOT WEB), чтобы преодолевать препятствия или обездвиживать врагов. Костюм Человека-паука также является ключевым предметом, который нужно надеть в начале игры.

Головоломки: Продвижение требует решения логических головоломок, часто связанных с правильным использованием предметов и взаимодействием с персонажами.

Рекомендации и советы

Внимательно читайте описания: Многие подсказки для решения головоломок скрыты в детальных описаниях комнат и предметов. Команда EXAMINE — ваш лучший друг.

Сохраняйтесь часто: Текстовые квесты печально известны возможностью попасть в безвыходную ситуацию (dead end) или умереть от неожиданной угрозы. Регулярно используйте сохранения (на эмуляторах или с помощью команды SAVE на оригинальном железе, если она поддерживалась).

Экспериментируйте с командами: Не ограничивайтесь простыми командами. Пытайтесь взаимодействовать с несколькими объектами, использовать предлоги (ON, UNDER, WITH).

Помните о силе паутины: Если застряли, подумайте, как может помочь паутина — для атаки, создания моста или активации объекта на расстоянии.

Интересные факты об игре

Часть серии Marvel: Это была одна из первых крупных лицензий Marvel в мире компьютерных игр. Серия от Adventure International должна была включать 12 игр, но, по некоторым данным, не все из них были выпущены из-за закрытия компании.

Продвинутый парсер: Для своего времени игра хвасталась более сложной системой понимания естественного языка по сравнению со многими другими текстовыми адвенчурами, что было важным маркетинговым моментом.

Критика: Обзоры того времени (например, из журналов Crash и Sinclair User) хвалили игру за хорошее лицензирование и увлекательный сюжет, но критиковали за иногда нелогичные головоломки и определённую линейность, несмотря на нелинейную структуру здания.

Карта Spider-Man

Карта Spider-Man

Карта Spider-Man

Карта Spider-Man

Играйте в Spider-Man онлайн. Эта игра-текстовое приключение, опубликованная в Великобритании в 1984 году командой Adventure International, которую написали Brian Howarth, Teoman Irmak и Scott Adams.

A classic interactive text adventure game that puts the player in the shoes of a famous superhero. Instead of dynamic action, the focus is on intelligence, logic, and the ability to interact with the world through text commands. You’ll solve puzzles, explore locations, and use your web to escape the Spider-Syndicate’s trap and defeat enemies like Doctor Octopus and Electro.

Key Features:
Authentic Comic Book Atmosphere: An original story featuring iconic Marvel characters.
Deep Text Gameplay: An advanced command input system that understands complex sentences.
Classic Challenge: Puzzles that require attention and creative thinking, typical of the golden era of text adventures.

Questprobe 2: Spider-Man

by Adventure International

Instructions

So – there is more to come. In fact, the complete storyline spreads across the entire series of 12 comic-strip adventures, all involving different Marvel characters, and each story launches you into a separate and complete QUESTPROBE computer game. So, without further ado, let’s get straight to this story’s adventure.

What is an adventure?

If you have never played an adventure game before then you are in for a real treat. Adventuring permits the player to move at will within the game environment, and to examine objects for clues that will help reach the objective of the game. For example, an adventure might start thus:

I’M IN A ROOM. VISIBLE OBJECTS ARE A RUBY-ENCRUSTED BOX AND A CLOSED DOOR. TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

You may want to start by entering a direction (North, South, up, down etc.) to see if you can leave the room. Chances are, though, that you will have to find a way to get through the door. So, let’s try something simple. You type:

OPEN THE DOO

But the computer answers in no uncertain terms:

SORRY, IT’S LOCKED. WHAT SHALL I DO?

Since the ruby encrusted box appears to be the only other object in the room, let’s take a closer look. You type:

TAKE THE RUBY-ENCRUSTED BOX

However, the computer responds with:

SORRY, I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND

Don’t despair, Pilgrim. The nature of adventuring is such that the computer will generally not understand adjectives, so we must simplify our command. Try again, and type:

TAKE THE BOX

This time the computer says:

O.K.

By saying O.K. the computer is telling you that it has understood your command and the box has now been taken. To check this you can type:

INVENTORY

The computer now responds with:

I AM CARRYING: A RUBY-ENCRUSTED BOX

Now let’s take a look inside:

OPEN THE BOX

O.K.

EXAMINE THE BOX

O.K. THERE IS A KEY AND A RARE POSTAGE STAMP.

TAKE THE KEY

Then:

UNLOCK THE DOOR

Computer responds:

O.K. THE DOOR OPENS

At last we are out and the first obstacle has been successfully overcome. You are on your way.

Some useful new features

There are several new features which have been introduced in Spider-Man to help you interact more easily with your computer.

1. Stringing together of more than one command using ‘Then’ or a comma (,), eg.

GET THE BOX, OPEN THE BOX THEN TAKE THE KEY

2. The use of full full sentences, eg.

GO ALL THE WAY UP.

TAKE THE GEM FROM THE AQUARIUM.

TALK TO MADAME WEB.

3. The ability to take or drop more than one object at a time, eg.

TAKE EVERYTHING

DROP THE GEMS

DROP ALL

Some helpful words

Although, the vocabulary accepted by your computer is extensive, you may find the words listed below to be of some use as you set about your adventure. Remember these are just a few of the many words available.

CLIMB	MOVE	TALK	TAKE	PUSH	DROP   EXAMINE
GO	ENTER	READ	LEAVE	QUIT	SAVE   LOOK
OPEN	TURN	PULL	RAISE	DIG	LISTEN JUMP

Finally, the computer can understand much more than you may think, so experiment.

One letter commands

You may use the following single keys to perform a variety of tasks and to expedite playing time. Type the letter for the function you want then hit return.

C – turn on/off lower case (Apple only)

V – turn on/off optional Vortrax speech unit (or printer output on Apple or Atari only)

Z – turn on/off graphics mode (Graphic disk versions only)

ENTER – review text window (Graphic disk versions only)

N,S,E,W,U,D – go north, south, east, west, up or down

O – output to printer (Atari only)

A – Atari character set (Atari only)

B – script-style character set (Atari only)

L – look

I – take inventory of items carried

Descriptions of marvel characters you may meet

Spider-Man – Friend.

Real name: Peter Parker.

Occupation: Freelance photographer, adventurer.

Identity: Secret.

Base of operations: New York City.

Origin: Parker was bitten by a massively irradiated spider and as a result, soon found that he had gained the abilities of a spider and hugely increased strength. Using his new-found powers, Parker started a short-lived show-business career that was soon given up in favour of crime-fighting. Peter Parker now works for the Daily Bugle as a freelance photographer, mainly selling photographs of Spider-Man in action.

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 165 lbs.

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Brown

Powers: Spider-Man possesses superhuman strength, reflexes and equilibrium, the ability to cling to almost any kind of surface, and a subconscious danger sense (Spider-sense). He can lift up to 10 tons, and his reflexes are on average 15 times faster than a normal man.

Weapons: Spider-Man has developed a spider-like web-spinning device and a silk-like compound that mimics a spider’s natural abilities.

Madame Web – Friend.

Real name: Cassandra Webb.

Occupation: Professional medium.

Identity: Publicly known.

Base of operations: New York City.

Origin: Cassandra Webb has been blind since birth but discovered at an early age that she possessed clairvoyant abilities. She became a professional medium later in life but was stricken by a disease of the nervous system which left her totally dependent upon a large spider-web like life support system equipped with robot arms that take the place of her useless limbs.

Height: 5’6″

Weight: 110 lbs

Eyes: Pale grey

Hair: Black and silver

Powers: Madame Web possesses a number of psychic sensory powers. With great concentration she is able to scan peoples’ thoughts or project her own thoughts into the minds of others. She also has the ability, to a limited extent, to predict future events.

Electro – Foe.

Real name: Maxwell Dillon.

Occupation: Professional criminal.

Identity: Publicly known.

Base of operations: Mobile.

Origin: While working for an electrical power company, Dillon was struck by lightning which caused a mutagenic change in his nervous system. This resulted in him becoming a human electrical capacitor.

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 165 lbs

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Red-brown

Powers: Electro has the ability to generate electrostatic energy (up to 1,000 volts per minute) and is able to store up to 100,000 volts at any time. This can be discharged at a controlled rate, with anything from one volt, to the full 100,000 being released at a time (capable of killing a man at a range of ten feet). He can release a bolt of lightning which can travel up to 100 feet at a speed of 1,100 feet per second. Electro is also capable of travelling at great speed along electrical power lines simply by creating imbalances in his magnetic field, and he can manipulate certain electronic devices to a limited extent.

Sandman – Foe.

Real name: William Baker.

Occupation: Former professional criminal.

Identity: Publicly known.

Base of operations: Mobile.

Origin: Baker was on the run from the police after escaping from prison in New York. He sheltered in a nuclear testing site where he was exposed to a massive dose of radiation. This caused his body to take on the properties of animated sand.

Height: 6’1″

Eyes: Brown

Weight: 450 lbs

Hair: Brown

Powers: Sandman can convert all or part of his body to sand, compact his body to make it as hard as sandstone or loosen it to make him invulnerable to physical attack.

Mysterio – Foe.

Real name: Quentin Beck.

Occupation: Former Hollywood special effects designer, now professional criminal.

Identity: Known to the police, secret to the public.

Base of operations: Mobile.

Origin: Beck was an extremely accomplished stunt man and special effects designer before he set himself the task of killing Spider-Man and taking his place, but as Mysterio, he was defeated and ended up in prison.

Height: 5’11”

Eyes: Blue

Weight: 175 lbs

Hair: Black

Powers: Mysterio is a skilled fighter and athlete, a master hypnotist and illusionist. He wears a ‘fishbowl’ type helmet with an oxygen supply; carries portable projectors for the creation of large-scale illusions, and has canisters attached to his back which emit a thick gas which not only obscures vision but also acts against Spider-Man’s spider-sense.

Ringmaster – Foe.

Real name: Maynard Tiboldt.

Occupation: Circus ringmaster and professional criminal.

Identity: Publicly known.

Base of operations: Mobile.

Origin: Born into a circus family in Austria, Tiboldt became the master of his own circus after the second world war and came to America. However he soon discovered that his small circus could not make profits while in competition with huge American circus troupes, so he turned to crime. He now runs an outfit called the ‘Circus of Crime’ which travels across America hypnotising and robbing its audiences.

Height: 6’1″

Eyes: Green

Weight: 190 lbs

Hair: Grey-black

Powers: Ringmaster has some skill in acrobatics and hand-to-hand combat but his main skills lie in hypnosis through the ‘nullatron’ device, concealed in his top hat. The hat is also equipped with projectors which transmit bright lights through a spinning disc mounted on the front. These lights can daze and disorient potential victims, making them less able to resist his mind-control.

Doctor Octopus – Foe.

Real name: Otto Octavius.

Occupation: Ex-atomic research consultant, criminal mastermind.

Identity: Publicly known.

Base of operations: New York City.

Origin: Octavius constructed a chest harness with four tentacle-like arms to enable him to manipulate radioactive substances at a safe distance. In a freak accident the harness became bonded to his skin and nervous system due to exposure to radiation.

Height: 5’9″

Eyes: Brown

Weight: 245 lbs

Hair: Brown

Powers: Dr.Octopus can mentally control his four electronically powered telescopic limbs to great effect. Each tentacle is five inches in diameter, can be extended from a length of six feet up to a maximum of twenty-four feet. The arms each end in three pincers capable of gripping with a force of up to 175 pounds per square inch, and rotating a full 360 degrees in a screwdriver-like fashion. Each tentacle can lift 3 tons and travel at speeds of up to 90 feet per second. By spinning his arms like a giant fan Dr Octopus can create a wind of up to 50 miles per hour. The limbs can be separated from their harness and controlled by Octopus at distances up to 900 miles.

Lizard – Foe.

Real name: Dr.Curtis Conners.

Occupation: Research biologist.

Identity: Secret.

Base of operations: New York City and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Origin: Conners was an army surgeon until his arm was amputated following a wound in the Korean war. He turned to the study of reptiles and became a leading authority. He discovered the chemical that allows reptiles to regenerate, and when he applied it to himself he found that not only was his arm regenerated but his whole body took the form of a reptilian-humanoid.

Height: 5’11”

Eyes: Blue

Weight: 175 lbs

Hair: Brown

Powers: The Lizard can lift up to 12 tons, jump over 18 feet, and run at 45 miles per hour. His reactions are about twice the speed of a normal man, and his 6’6″ tail can be moved at a speed of 100 feet per second.

Hydro-Man – Foe.

Real name: Morrie Bench.

A man who can transform all or part of his body into water.

Chief Examiner -?

The mysterious overseer of the QUESTPROBE Series, as yet very little is known about him.

Saving your adventure for later play

An adventure will often last longer than the time available in a single sitting. You may save the game you are playing and return later to take up where you left off. To save a game in progress, type SAVE GAME at any time; you can save to tape or to disk.

To load a saved game simply answer YES to the question WANT TO LOAD A PREVIOUSLY SAVED GAME? at the start of the adventure.

To end a game in progress, type QUIT. If you intend to continue the game at a later date be sure to save the game before using this command.

Another Fine Product transcribed by: Jim Grimwood, Weardale, England

Spider-Man is an interactive fiction adventure game released in 1984 by Adventure International (UK) Ltd. for the ZX Spectrum. The game was part of an ambitious series of 12 games licensed from Marvel Comics, which also included adventures featuring Captain America, the Hulk, and the Incredible Hulk. It is a classic example of the text adventure genre, where the player controls the character’s actions by entering text commands. Gameplay focuses on solving puzzles and exploring the environment.

Game Story

The game’s plot is not a direct adaptation of a specific comic book, but rather an original story. Spider-Man finds himself trapped in a mysterious building, which turns out to be the headquarters of the villainous organization “The Spider-Syndicate,” led by Madame Web. The player’s goal is to escape the building, defeat the numerous supervillains guarding it, and ultimately stop Madame Spider’s plans.

The game begins with Peter Parker (in the Spider-Man suit) finding himself in a room with a locked door and a mysterious box adorned with rubies. From this point on, the player must use their wits and abilities to progress, facing enemies such as Electro, Sandman, Doctor Octopus, and others.

Controls

Controls are performed exclusively by entering text commands on the keyboard. The game processes commands in the format “[verb] [noun]” (e.g., OPEN DOOR, EXAMINE BOX, PUT ON SUIT). One of the game’s key features, advertised at the time, was an advanced parser system (text processor), allowing for more complex and natural constructions, including chaining commands and entering full sentences (e.g., OPEN THE BOX AND TAKE THE KEY, THEN UNLOCK THE DOOR). The game’s vocabulary is quite extensive, encouraging experimentation.

Gameplay and Features

Text Interface: The screen is divided into a text area, where descriptions of locations and events are displayed, and a command line.

Inventory: The player has a limited inventory for storing items. The INVENTORY (or I) command displays collected items.

Spider-Man Abilities: The player can use Spider-Man’s unique abilities, such as webs (e.g., SHOOT WEB), to overcome obstacles or immobilize enemies. The Spider-Man suit is also a key item that must be equipped at the beginning of the game.

Puzzles: Progression requires solving logic puzzles, often involving the proper use of items and interactions with characters.

Tips and Hints

Read descriptions carefully: Many clues for solving puzzles are hidden in detailed descriptions of rooms and objects. The EXAMINE command is your best friend.

Save often: Text adventures are notorious for the possibility of getting into a dead end or dying from an unexpected threat. Use saves regularly (on emulators or using the SAVE command on original hardware, if supported).

Experiment with commands: Don’t limit yourself to simple commands. Try interacting with multiple objects, using prepositions (ON, UNDER, WITH).

Remember the power of webs: If you get stuck, consider how webs can help—for attacking, creating a bridge, or activating an object from a distance.

Interesting facts about the game

Part of the Marvel series: This was one of Marvel’s first major licenses in the world of computer games. The series, from Adventure International, was supposed to include 12 games, but according to some sources, not all of them were released due to the company’s closure.

Advanced parser: For its time, the game boasted a more sophisticated natural language understanding system than many other text adventures, which was an important marketing point.

Criticism: Reviews at the time (such as those from Crash and Sinclair User magazines) praised the game for its good licensing and engaging storyline, but criticized it for its sometimes illogical puzzles and a certain linearity, despite the non-linear structure of the game.