Similarly to its predecessor, Spider-Man 3 is a third person action-adventure video game, set in an open world based on Manhattan. Players take on the role of Spider-Man and complete missions—linear scenarios with set objectives—to progress through the story. Missions are structured in a non-linear manner like in the Grand Theft Auto series, meaning that the game features multiple storylines which can be played in any order the player desires. Once the player has completed a number of missions from each storyline, they unlock a main story missions, related to the plot of the film. In addition to the story missions, the game also features side missions, such as races, combat tours and disarming bombs, as well as random attacks in the streets by the city’s gangs, which the player can choose to stop. If a number of gang attacks in a specific district are thwarted, then the gang loses control of that district and attacks will no longer occur there. This crime wave mechanic is also influenced by the story missions and combat tours involving each gang.
Players can web swing, crawl walls, and fight enemies using a variety of combos. The game introduces quick-time events and collectibles, which are scattered throughout the city, including the subaway (which is now accessible while free roaming). It also features the symbiote black suit, which is automatically unlocked after a number of story missions and introduces a “rage” mechanic, that is charged up by attacking enemies and allows the player to deal extra damage. Unlike in other versions of the game, once unlocked, the black suit in unremovable, and the player returns to Spider-Man’s traditional red and blue costume only near the end of the story.
The game also features an upgrade system where upgrades are unlocked automatically as the player progresses in the story. In the Collectors Edition of the PlayStation 3 version, the New Goblin is a playable character, similarly to the Green Goblin in the first game (the New Goblin is also briefly playable in the final mission of the game across all three version). The New Goblin is also available as downloadable content for both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. He can be selected from the game’s menu, much like the player can select from regular Spider-Man and black suited Spider-Man once they completed the story with the former. If choosing to play as black suited Spider-Man, then the game starts from the beginning, but all upgrades are unlocked, therefore this essentially serves as a New Game Plus. If choosing to play as the New Goblin, then none of the story missions are available, but the player can still free roam through the game’s map and complete side missions. On PC, the New Goblin is playable only through mods. Peter Parker in his civilan outfit is also playable on PC through mods, and through a glitch that prevents progression in certain story missions across all three versions.
