Of course, he turns to good and uses his incredible powers (a huge cape, vicious swirling chains and any gun he can get his hands on) to take on evil...in all forms. Apparently, however, when Spawn came to video games in the past, developers never took the opportunity to use these powers to their fullest, leaving Spawn to actually beat up his enemies like a common street thug. This would explain why the SNES Spawn game by Acclaim, the Game Boy Color Spawn game by Konami, and the Playstation Spawn game by Sony were all particularly weak when they hit the market- this is not what fans have been waiting for.
Alas, Capcom is a company that's finally gotten the Spawn license right, and the end result is a frantic shooter that's as dark and entertaining as the comic books and the HBO animated series. In the Demon's Hand is a different game than what you might expect from a company that specializes in survival horror games and fighting extravaganzas- it's an all-out third-person shooter where up to four players can take on each other in gunplay-fueled combat. It does have its slight problems, but that doesn't stop the game from being a blast for you and your friends. Check out the breakdown below...
Visuals:: Capcom seems to have the Naomi hardware down pat. They were just "tinkering" with it with their fighting game Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, but Spawn takes full advantage of the hardware, making Spawn a beautifully smooth effort. The game runs at a rock solid 60 frames per second in the main modes (a bit slower in multiplayer mode, but we'll get to that), and features a terrific set of animation for each of the game's characters (there's over 30 in all, but we'll get to that as well). The levels vary in design, from simple to complex, but each one seems built right for the game, allowing for good ambush spots and strategy-building between seamless room arrivals and departures. Weapon attacks look equally impressive, such as heavy gunfire and detailed explosions when you drop a grenade/bomb (and Spawn can actually use his cape for a special attack- LOVE IT!). The hellish atmosphere itself fits the Spawn mood, with darkened skies and apocalypse-digested streets and other areas to run through. The only major problem with the game's graphics would have to be the camera, which at times drifts off to the point that you can lose a crucial kill due to misconcentration. You have a button set aside to center the camera on your pad (and put the game into a sort of first-person perspective), but still, this is a problem that could've been rectified with a few tweaks. It hasn't been improved for the US version at all. Overall, though, good show, with only some slight distractions.
Audio:: Surprisingly, the music is pretty good, focusing on a good set of moody tunes to keep the action going. It's certainly a nice change of pace from Capcom's usual music selections...I mean, SINGING in Marvel Vs. Capcom 2? Heh. The sound effects are very good as well, with varied weapon effects and other small things to round out the experience nicely. No complaints here.
Gameplay/Control:: The game STILL lacks analog control, which kind of hurts the overall product because of preciseness. Still, the digital pad works just fine, allowing gamers to pinpoint their chosen warrior for just the right attack. Targeting comes easy, but that can work against you as well, since an enemy can walk right up and begin wailing on you before you know it. Once you lock on an enemy, they have a green sphere surrounding them. But if you're locked, yep, you get a huge red beacon on you and you must dodge the shots to shake it off. The game's control, for the most part, is very good, with different attacks at your arsenal (you can either blast opponents with some good long-range gun and grenade/bomb attacks or go up close for a few well-timed punches) and the ability to run and jump to escape traps or further your character into a level. In the middle of each level, you can also find secret areas and collect these cool little orbs for weapon build-up, and, trust me, in the later levels, you'll need them. This is a game that offers a hefty challenge as you go further into it, but that's a good thing. You can build your strengths for future multiplayer battles. The control works for the most part here, but would analog control have been that bad?
Extras:: What would a game like Spawn: In the Demon's Hand be without any sort of multiplayer options? Hmmm, perhaps like the Playstation game? Fortunately, Capcom delivers the goods in this department, with the ability to take on three other people in a battle royal or in a two-versus-two cooperation effort that depends on team effort. The multiplayer matches are a load of fun, even if they move slower than the one-player mode. That's expected, due to the more hectic action on-screen. The single player's boss mode allows you to build up your skills, as mentioned above, and, as you defeat the game each time through, you can unlock new characters for play and check out some excellent artwork buried deep within it. The lack of Internet play, however, is terrible...a game like this would have thrived as great competition for Quake III Arena if Capcom had just implemented it. Sigh...maybe for the sequel...
Overall:: Despite the fact that the game lacks analog control, the camera isn't really fully modified, and the option of Internet play just ain't there, Spawn: In the Demon's Hand is still a pleasant (if dark) surprise from Capcom. There's lots of good-to-go action here that's easy to get into, and the graphics, for the most part, represent the way a Spawn game should really be. Add to that some awesome multiplayer options and you've got another can't-miss game for your collection. I'm just glad to see that Spawn's been done justice and not reduced to the likes of a would-be boxer, like in the Playstation edition. God, I hope I never play that again...
Score:: 7.5/10
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