Product ReviewsMaximum Carnage (Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 1994)

Spider-Man Venom:Maximum Carnage SNES

Spider-Man and Venom:Maximum Carnage is a scrolling fighting game for the Super NES and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis,developed by Software Creations and published by LJN (a subsidiary of Acclaim) in 1994.<br>
The game,based on a sprawling comic book story arc of the same name,featured numerous heroes,including Spider-Man,Venom,and their allies from the Marvel Comics fictional universe like Captain America,Black Cat,Iron Fist,Cloak and Dagger,Deathlok,Morbius the Living Vampire,and Firestar,all teaming up to battle an onslaught of villains led by Carnage,including Shriek,Doppelganger,Demogoblin,and Carrion.

Maximum Carnage is notable as one of the first video games to be directly based on a comic book story,rather than simply using comics characters in a standard video game "action/adventure" plot.Many of the game's cut scenes feature semi-animated versions of art taken directly from the comics.It was also notable as being the first Spider-Man video game to receive a teen rating(That being the Genesis version in particular;the SNES re-release version had a rating of K-A.

The game received mixed reviews from critics and gamers,with many reviewers commenting on its repetitive,generic gameplay,Although this can be considered LJN's best video game,due to the fact that most LJN games were labeled unplayable by most gamers.

The game featured a colored cartridge.Both the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo versions were red.They were later released in the normal catridge colors(black for Genesis, gray for SNES).

The game was followed up by a sequel called Spider-Man & Venom:Separation Anxiety.

The game's soundtrack was provided by American rock group Green Jellÿ.The title screen theme song appears as the first track on the band's 1994 album 333 as "Carnage Rules." However,due to the state of video game music technology at that time the soundtrack was not recorded music,but a computerized rendition of the songs.
Personally I think that was the way to go as Green Jellys' ACTUAL vocals SUCK.This game has some of the BEST music I've ever heard for a game.

Gameplay
In this single-player side-scrolling beat'em up(with a format similar to Final Fight,and Streets of Rage)the player controls Spider-Man(but in some levels have the option to play as Venom)through various levels in an effort to stop the supervillain Carnage and his gang,as well as hundreds of criminals they inspire in their wake,from taking over the city.
The two 16-bit versions are virtually identical,aside from the quality of the sound and music.

Spider-Man's wallcrawling plays an important part in the game.It can be used to find secret items,temporarily escape from difficult enemies and is even the basis for the second level.

The other Marvel heroes can be summoned by collecting appropriate items hidden within certain levels.Their effects vary greatly,and some of them have different effects depending on who the player is.Of note is the rarity and set locations of the power-ups necessary to summon aid,and that each character has a unique set of music to accompany their appearance.

Now personally,I LOVE this game.It's fun and the controls(SNES version) are easy and you have multiple moves to choose from.
It hard and very challenging,but fun.And personally,I think it has some of the BEST music I've ever heard for a videogame.
The only complaint I have is that MOST of the writing in the cutscenes is VERY HARD to read.

This game's AWESOME!!!Read full review...

Great product! Sorry for late review...

I apologize for this late review, but I had to wait for the right time to test out this cartridge and I must say that I am very pleased! It arrived a day early, just an old school tv to test this game & it was amazing to see the title come to life! One of my favorite childhood games, graphics are nice-looking & for a reasonable price! Some of these “gems” are to hard come around, especially at a affordable price! Made the right choice this time. Thank you!!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: 4themkids

Great game

Get this if you want a good beat em up challenge - not your typical crummy LJN game. In fact, it's really good.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: geetsmholly

awesome game of the year

world best game review of year

one of the awesome game of the year fun to play if your inrested in this game i got say well u just can't get enough of this & take my word for it this game is awesome to play if your gamer & u don't what to play this is it i recommend on this game it so worth playing 10 out 10 perfect
plus beleave gamers i got the worlds greatest to the worst & take from me i just love even the world dumdest game could be awesome on my book to graphic well don't see the problem with but all i can is a job well done sound hmmmm i hear just it perfecly the music i think i love videogame music i just can't get enough of it & the gameplay well as u see its like i all ready knew how to play when i got it at the store ready if u don't beleave what i say then take look at the game 4 yourself if u don't like it then don't play it plus the video game company work hard everyday to make it just the way we want game to be made u did me proud game comanys u win my vote

Graphic 10/10
Gameplay 10/10
Sound 10/10
Music 10/10

In other just an awesome game of the year 0_0 ;D :/Read full review...

Maximum is at maximum difficulty

This game is very fun.It is a beat um up based off the arcade version.Its exactly like an arcade game which makes it good and bad at the same time.The bad would be that you cannot save the game so no matter how far you are in the game and you die start over.Their are continues which you can recive through every level but must play game repeatedly to use them wisely.The only other bad thing about the game is their is no option of 2-player.Think about it a game with Spiderman and Venom as playable characters but a friend cannot play along.The game is good but not excellent.Fantastic graphics satisfying gameplay and arcade quality.Read full review...

A good value for the price

I forgot just how fun this game was until I pulled it out of my collection and started playing it. It still amazes me how good the graphics were back then. The game plays well with lots of action. You have a cast of super heroes at your side to assist you with defeating evil. I bought this game because I loved it as a kid. My only complaint is the game gives you one continue up front but there are other ways to earn them. I think its a good value for the priceRead full review...

Awesome!

Love this game as a kid and it still holds up! Thank you!!!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: awesomebrad-vin...

Spiderman

Thanks so much for this awesome game

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: fonewearl63

Great game

Great game. One of the beat for the original snes.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: patgizz

Cartridge was clean

Started up first try ran a cue tip through it no dirt all in all I'm satisfied with the purchase

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: thesuperbeastom...