Typically, films and T.V. offer gateways into franchises, those who got into the Game of Thrones books from the hit series, those who came back to Marvel, after their cinematic onslaught on popular culture. Even Twisted Metal, the nostalgic curiosity of yesteryear, got a second chance from the T.V. adaptation. In 1997, due to be released with the film, the video game developers behind Twisted Metal got pushed in a whole new direction of gameplay, as they tried to capture the essence and spirit of Spawn: The Eternal.

Spawn: The Eternal sees you playing Al Simmons, an undead mercenary tricked by the lord of Hell into doing his bidding. Serving a limited time as an unholy agent in the battle between good and evil. Spawn: The Eternal takes Spawn on a journey through time, from contemporary New York streets to the towns of Medieval Europe and the dawn of primitive man. As you fight foes, explore, and just generally strike the balance in-between the forces of Heaven, Hell, and anyone who opposes Spawn.

Being made by the fine folks who brought you Twisted Metal, a non-car-combat game from a car-combat company might seem a bit peculiar, but the results manage to work well, especially on a console they were familiar with. Considering how evocative of the alternative 90s style that Spawn serves as a mascot of, they make for fine bedfellows for this property. Gameplay consists of navigating almost labyrinthian levels in an early 3.D. There are buttons to press, keys to grab and the like. Upon encountering a foe, the perspective switches to a sideways view of the two, complete with health bars and the like. It feels similar to Wargods and other 3.D. fighters from around the same era.

Like a lot of comic properties from the late 90s, Spawn gets a lot of points for its aesthetics and looks. Its introductory area, New York, almost looks disease ridden, which the proto-3D graphics help communicate the darkness that is ever present wherever Spawn goes. As was the fashion of the time, this game takes Spawn through the years, across different periods in an almost Diakatana fashion, but the game itself is a touchstone of late 90s style and technology. You can hear the late 90s music scene lend itself to the combat songs that switch between genres that were popular in the late 90s, songs you’d imagine coming from the radio, or a mix C.D. burned by a friend.

Spawn: The Eternal makes sense, right around the time when fans were reacquainted with the Hollywood film. A trusted developer who has had experience on the system works well in a new direction, lending their comic-book sensibility to this existing comic book property. If you wanted to put the smackdown on some goons or navigate a nightmarish depiction of late 90s New York, Spawn: The Eternal will satisfy if you’ve got a minute.

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