While swinging around the city at night, Spidey encounters Doctor Octopus stealing a precious ruby from the New York Cultural Museum, but is unable to prevent him from getting away with the gem. Unfortunately, Spidey also forgets to complete his homework assignment on the landmarks of New York for his professor at college. As he attempts to find out more info about the history of New York at Empire State University's library, Spidey once again runs into Doc Ock, who this time manages to steal a quartz crystal from the science lab. As the Doctor continues his crime spree by robbing a diamond exchange, Spidey traces him to his under- ground layer in the sewer system, hoping to find out Ock's plan. There, he finds that Doc Ock has connected all the stolen crystals to his tentacles, enhancing their powers. The ruby is used to power a laser at the end of one arm, the quartz is used as a sonic paralyzer at the end of another, and the diamonds as an invulnerable saw on a third arm. Doctor Octopus captures Spidey and keeps him imprisoned, while he begins his plan to steal all the oil from the ships in the harbor. Spidey manages to escape from Octopus' lair, and then has to stop him from stealing all the oil in New York.