Preview: 'Spider-Man: Edge of Time'

The decision to focus on two heroes instead of four might sound like a reserved return for Spider-Man, but that doesn't make his next console release any less anticipated. Developer Beenox turned the often ill-fated franchise around with last year's Shattered Dimensions, thanks to some innovative ideas and unique presentation in delivering four different Spider-Man stories. Instead of multiple characters spread across disconnected dimensions, Edge of Time now focuses on just two - the present-day Amazing Spider-Man and the futuristic Spider-Man 2099 - who happen to share the same connected timeline following the untimely death of Peter Parker.

The core concept for the game has choices and actions in one time period impacting the other, and how Beenox has managed this is by setting the game in a single location, a towering skyscraper that both characters occupy in their respective timezones, allowing changes to occur around the player in real-time. Despite being set in one building, a variety of locations will be available, such as leisure complexes, laboratories and experimental rainforests lurking within certain floors. It's also a move that shifts it in line with the critically-acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, which certainly benefited from having a campaign grounded in a single complex.

Our hands-off demo starts shortly into the campaign, with Amazing Spider-Man reeling after an explosion in an office-like environment. Leaping over rubble and up some stairs, he's contacted by the Spider-Man 2099 through telephony, asking him for help. On-screen the conversation is displayed with a picture-in-picture image, with the futuristic character appearing in the lower right corner while the action continues on the main screen. Soon that viewpoint expands to engulf the entire screen, showing him battling a towering robot, which Amazing can do something about.

Still in control of the present day Amazing Spider-Man, he has a limited amount of time to help his future counterpart by dismantling a prototype version of the boss encounter. Suspended from the ceiling and surrounded by scaffolding in a vast and open hall, a dose of speedy platforming sees Amazing go from limb to limb, requiring the player to hammer the B button to destroy each one. In the future, the respective limb flashes white and stylistically fades out of existence. With the robot destroyed, the game seamlessly switches to 2099's period, with the building fitted out in futuristic neon colours and dark, brooding metallic corridors.

While they control largely the same, Spider-Man 2099 will have a few different abilities at his disposal. One shown is a Ghost Decoy move, creating a shadow-like effect that can distract enemies in combat. It's also used for one of many puzzle situations in the demo, where missiles launching from the side walls can be directed towards doorways that can be blown open. An important distinction in combat is that 2099 is more of a melee fighter, opting for close-up attacks with claws, whereas Amazing uses his web-slinging prowess for long-ranged attacks, and while 2099 can avoid being hit through cloning, Amazing can zip between and around foes at dazzling speeds. While we obviously didn't have a feel for combat in the hands-off preview, it certainly looked fluid, fast-paced and fleshed out, with plenty of options at hand.

Beenox was keen to point out that its level designs will focus on the unique aspects of Spider-Man, with situations that only the web-slinging superhero can solve. One example saw a connected room seemingly inaccessible, until he climbed underneath a long ledge and through a small alcove to the other side. As well as dramatic set-pieces like the robot boss battle, the cause and effect gameplay will also impact general progression, with walls and crates appearing and disappearing as the characters progress through the building. While specifics weren't mentioned, it appears that most changes and jumps between the characters are scripted and not decided by the player.

With various moving platform and missile turret areas done with, the demo concluded with Spider-Man 2099 making use of his wing suit to free-fall down a lengthy shaft. When we say lengthy, we really mean it; the segment was a good few minutes long, with walkways and obstacles rising into the screen at an impressive rate and the shaft worming left and right. Speedy reflexes look to be essential here, and while it appeared basic in its nature, it was one of the most demanding and visually impressive parts of the demo. After falling too far into the shaft, Spider-Man 2099 then has to wall-climb back up to where he needs to be, which is where the demo ended.

Another important part of the demo to point out was the interplay between both characters. There was a persistent back-and-forth between the two, asking them to hurry along or boasting about their respective powers, with some enjoyable voice work alongside it. No villains have been confirmed at this point, but it's promised that plenty of cameos would occur throughout the campaign. With Spider-Man 2099 creator Peter David performing writing duties, the story is set to be one of the most anticipated areas of the game, especially since it's so integral to the game's progression and time-shifting gameplay. Hopefully Beenox can use the unique cause-and-effect mechanics to create some interesting results.

Spider-Man: Edge of Time will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC later this year.