Spawn: In the Demon's Hand

Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (スポーン イン ザ デーモンズ ハンド, Supōn In za Dēmonzu Hando) is a 3D fighting game developed and published by Capcom for the Dreamcast and arcade. It is based on the comic book character Spawn created by Todd McFarlane and produced by Image Comics. A port was planned for the PlayStation 2 as a launch title but was later canceled.[2]

Spawn: In the Demon's Hand
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Dreamcast, arcade
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: January, 2000
  • NA: February 01, 2000
Dreamcast
  • JP: August 10, 2000
  • NA: October 18, 2000[1]
  • PAL: January 19, 2001
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega NAOMI

Storyline

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Al Simmons was a military operative who was murdered by his superior, Jason Wynn, then sent to Hell for his previous work as an assassin. Five years after his death, Simmons makes a deal with the demon Malebolgia to resurrect him from death as a hellspawn so that he could see his wife, Wanda, again. However, he soon finds out that his wife, in the five years that he was dead, had married his best friend, Terry Fitzgerald.[3]

Gameplay

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This game includes three modes:

  • Boss Rush Mode - The main mode of the game. Players must defeat bosses in each stage within the time limit to earn points.
  • Team Battle Mode - Players must defeat the opponent team to win.
  • Battle Royale - Players must defeat all enemies to win.

The game features thirty-seven playable characters overall, including eleven main playable characters from the arcade release as well as multiple hidden characters.

Reception

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The Dreamcast version received "mixed" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[4] It is judged as the best Spawn game, although it did not achieve high rates in GameSpot and IGN, especially due to camera and AI problems.[15][16][19] Greg Orlando of NextGen gave it a negative review, saying, "Lack of decorum allows us only to comment that this game would more aptly be subtitled 'From Capcom's Rectum.'"[18] In Japan, however, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40.[10] Vicious Sid of GamePro said of the game, "Though it had plenty of promise, Spawn is ruined by its awkward controls. Ultimately, only Spawn fans and Dreamcast action buffs should rent this hindered hell-raiser."[20][b]

Trivia

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The Dreamcast version cover art and the Japanese marquee for In the Demon's Hand is taken from Spawn #95. The marquee of the game is taken from the U.S. limited edition Spawn soundtrack.

Notes

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  1. ^ Three critics of GameFan gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 68, 79, and 77.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version two 4/5 scores for graphics and sound, 2.5/5 for control, and 3/5 for fun factor.

References

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  1. ^ "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand". Capcom. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand - PlayStation 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  3. ^ Szadkowski, Joseph (November 18, 2000). "Spawn Fights to Regain His Humanity after Death". The Washington Times. The Washington Times, LLC.
  4. ^ a b "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (DC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Spawn [In the Demon's Hand] (ARC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Zjaba, Tom. "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  7. ^ Torres, Ricardo (October 20, 2000). "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand Dreamcast Review". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on December 1, 2000. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  8. ^ Edge staff (October 2000). "Spawn [In the Demon's Hand] (DC; JP Import)" (PDF). Edge. No. 89. pp. 92–93. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Dudlak, Jonathan (November 2000). "Spawn [In the Demon's Hand] (DC)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 136. Ziff Davis. p. 248. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "ドリームキャスト - SPAWN -In the Damon's [sic] Hand-". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 51. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "Spawn: In The Demon's Hand (ARC)". Game Informer. No. 84. FuncoLand. April 2000.
  12. ^ "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (DC)". Game Informer. No. 91. FuncoLand. November 2000.
  13. ^ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury"; Van Stone, Matt "Kodomo" (December 2000). "Spawn [In the Demon's Hand] (DC)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 12. BPA International. p. 23. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  14. ^ Sparks, Shawn (October 2000). "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand Review (DC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Satterfield, Shane (September 7, 2000). "Spawn [In the Demon's Hand] Review (DC; JP Import)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Chau, Anthony (October 23, 2000). "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  17. ^ Williamson, Colin (August 15, 2000). "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (Import)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Orlando, Greg (December 2000). "Spawn: In the Demon's Hand (DC)". NextGen. No. 72. Imagine Media. p. 108. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  19. ^ Jones, Elton (September 6, 2012). "The 50 Best Sega Dreamcast Games". Complex Networks. BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  20. ^ Vicious Sid (December 2000). "Spawn [In the Demon's Hand] (DC)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 147. IDG. p. 148. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
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