Sawbuck Gamer

Photos Of Spiderman

Seeking Spidey

Photos Of Spiderman is a deadpan take on Where’s Waldo.

By Matt Kodner • July 30, 2012

Sawbuck Gamer is our daily review of a free or cheap ($10 or less) game.

Photos Of Spiderman
Creator: Cardboard Robots
Platforms: Browser
Price: Free

Throughout comics, TV shows, and movie appearances alike, J. Jonah Jameson has rarely changed. He is and will always be the cigar-chomping tabloid editor hell-bent on smearing Spider-Man. JJJ’s character is taken to a pixelated extreme when he opens the new parody Photos Of Spiderman [sic] by shouting, “Get Me Photos! Get Me Photos!” ad nauseam. The only way to progress is to snap a candid shot of a small Spider-Man icon, which happens to be politely waving to you in the corner. You’ve got your picture, and the game starts.

The joke lands and the gags keep coming. You simply have to locate Spidey among a packed crowd of civilians and Spider-Man look-alikes. In later levels, it often becomes an intense race against the clock to find him, but the stakes remain hilariously low. While civilians idly wave, villains occasionally appear—and pose zero threat. If you care to, you can photograph the villain for a single-point bonus. Photos is adamant about maintaining the mundanity of its premise.

The game’s unpretentious humor and sharp eye for detail elevate it beyond its Where’s Waldo trappings. When you reach your limit and fail your assignment, JJJ reappears. His fist is still banging down on the table, cigar still in mouth, and he’s as pissed-off as he was before you got him his precious photos. He shouts, “You’re Fired! You’re Fired!” ad nauseam. J. Jonah Jameson. J. Jonah Jameson never changes.

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