The tie-in game for The Amazing Spider-Man does something that no game has ever done before: let you play as Stan Lee. And as you can see in this video, Lee has all of Spider-Man’s powers. I can’t decide if it’s awkward or awesome.
For a 90-year-old, Stan Lee is looking remarkably spry in this gameplay trailer. I can’t imagine how a spider-powered Stan Lee factors into the storyline of The Amazing Spider-Man, so I assume the footage in this trailer is part of some kind of special side or bonus mission. It’s clear that Lee is having a blast, voicing himself in the game.
But I still find it odd to see him crouching, twirling in the air, shooting webs, and taking down bad guys, all while never messing up his hair or even breaking a sweat. This sort of thing is obviously tongue-in-cheek, but the trailer plays it straight, which makes it feel kind of forced. If there are moments in the Stan Lee level where he stops to catch his breath and stretch his back, maybe send a little wink to the player, it would make the whole thing a little easier to swallow. As it is, it’s as if having Spider-Man’s co-creator as a playable character in the game is an end unto itself. It’s a joke in need of a punchline.
Anyway, I’m sure Marvel’s true believers will get a kick out of playing as the company’s chairman emeritus. What about you? Is the thought of playing as Stan Lee appealing?
