'Fable II' and 'LittleBigPlanet': Two Different and Very Engaging Worlds

SPIDER-MAN: WEB OF SHADOWS
(Disney, PC, PS2, Xbox 360, PS3; Everyone)

Even the most die-hard Spidey fan has to admit that his videogame fortunes peaked with the Spider-Man 2 movie tie-in on the last generation of consoles. Ever since that 2004 release, we've gotten watered-down versions of the same web-swinging-and-punching action. Well, those long-suffering gamers can rejoice that Shaba Studios has done a great job of revamping the franchise's logistical core in the various iterations of its Web of Shadows titles.

Spinning off from the Marvel Comics source material, the game pits Spider-Man against alien symbiote life-forms that corrupt their host organisms as they spread throughout NYC. (Just like the one that Spidey wore as his black costume and that now endows super-villain Venom.) During the game, our hero will utilize both sets of suits — and must struggle not only against hordes of bad guys, but also against the influence of the symbiote. How you respond to a series of scenarios will present different sets of allies — and outcomes. About those allies: lotsa Marvel Universe guest stars show up, from Moon Knight to Electro to Black Widow. You can even call on them to help you bust heads — though some might object to your amoral Spider-Man and refuse to come out and play. (And other can succumb to the symbiotes too; so watch your back.)

The new animation and combat system is fluid and responsive, letting you chain together web-shooting, aerial combat, and super-strength fisticuffs with impressive results. The aerial sequences in particular make for dizzyingly spectacular fights where any inkling of spatial awareness goes out the window. Unfortunately, the story in Web of Shadows isn't quite as agile as its protagonist. The sense of a growing threat swells nicely, but too many repetitive side quests dampen the urgency. The good Spidey/bad Spidey mechanic feels clunkily implemented, too. Still, the ability to steer Peter Parker to one of multiple endings and the shiny new combat engine makes WoS fun to play and worth the cost of all that web-fluid. — EN

WHAT WE LIKE:
• Guest appearances will tickle hardcore comic-book fans
• The script and written dialogue is hilarious and showcases the pun-making Spidey we know and love

WHAT WE DON'T LIKE:
• The voice acting — especially for Spidey — is woefully inconsistent and sometimes downright bad.
• The camera often has a hard time tracking the fast-moving action

GRADE: B+

WII MUSIC
(Nintendo, Wii; Everyone)

Perhaps the best thing about Wii Music is that its instruments exist only in a virtual world. Which means — unlike other rhythm games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero — you don't have to buy (and store) a set of plastic peripherals to start jamming. Using the Wii remote (and, sometimes, the Nunchuk) to mime the physical act of tapping, strumming, bowing, or pressing keys; you can ''play'' some 60-odd instruments. It's essentially a gestural form of karaoke — and it slyly addictive. What's even more rewarding is that in most of the modes, there's no way to ''fail'' a performance, as can in the other rhythm-based titles. (Also helping you: a metronome that keeps time, the ability to choose a particular musical style, and the option of using helpful note guides.) This decision encourages creativity and improvisation, but makes for a Byzantine progression structure that seems designed to force you to play the game's various modes. The lack of feedback of this ''everyone's a winner'' philosophy can be frustrating. For example, while conducting portions of classical standards like Ode to Joy and Carmen in the Mii Maestro mini-game, you don't really know how your interpretation measures up until you finish. It's fun but puzzling, especially if aren't already familiar with the songs.

In the game's Jam Mode, new songs and stages are unlocked only after you create a video of a favorite performance. Thus, the key to accessing the full song list and feature set in Wii Music is validating your own creativity. Sure, increasing the self-confidence of players is an admirable goal. But when the reward is a weird mishmash of public domain, cheesy pop, and Nintendo franchise tunes, you might wonder why the heck you were trying to nail a free jazz version of the Super Mario theme.

Nintendo bigwig Shigeru Miyamoto has said Wii Music is more like a toy than game. With its focus on imagination and making your own fun, it's hard to disagree. The only problem is that, like a toy, you'll want to toss it aside once your curiosity is sated. — Evan Narcisse

WHAT WE LIKE:
• This hybrid of music performance and music appreciation doesn't punish the rhythmically challenged

WHAT WE DON'T LIKE:
• The laggy response and inconsistent feedback
• What? Nintendo's not making enough money to license more songs?

GRADE: B-