I read separate and vague plot arcs of the comic in the 90's, so the Spidey cartoon was pretty much my one link to the story. When I began to get into the actual comics, and saw all the stuff that was different (lotsa Goblins, Madam Web not being very important to the plot, Peter's life being way shittier) I was surprised. I still remember that it had a very extensive story. A multidimensional war, Venom and Carnage's story, MJ and Pete getting married for him to find out she was a clone of a water dude... I just remember the plot being pretty detailed for the time, and there was some general continuity, instead of stuff just being in single arcs.