The Amazing Spider-man was the first of the System 80 Series pinball games to be released by Gottlieb, and the second instalment from the licensing deal with Marvel Comics that had seen the Incredible Hulk put out with System 1 hardware a year earlier. Spider-man was always the quintessential Marvel Comics character, and although the successful Spider-man movies released in 2002 and 2004 have no doubt helped to raise interest, this Gottlieb game has long been a popular target for pinheads and collectors of Spidey memorabilia.

Ed Krinski put his vast experience (and the generous amount of playfield available) to good use, and designed a straightforward but flowing game that offers players plenty of nice shots and scoring potential. Gordon Morison received the credit for the artwork, however it was largely taken from Marvel's own style guides with no room for any of Morison's usual curvy eye-candy. (More on the characters featured on the game and the artwork sources can be found in the Art Gallery.)