Marvels SpiderMan 2 Is Simply Fantastic: Review
From Iron Man to X-Men to the original Spider-Man movies starring Tobey Maguire, the superhero trilogy has long had a checkered past. The show often gives us two strong outings with our hero, but making a masterful third outing is rarely easy.
Then you play Marvel's Spider-Man 2. You will immediately forget all the problems of the trilogy. Insomniac Games' third Spider-Man video game for PlayStation platforms is an epic conclusion to the story that began with Spider-Man (on Playstation 4) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales (on Playstation 5). This story is backed by great gameplay that will keep your attention after defeating the final boss.
The first two Spider-Man games were fantastic. In the original game released in 2018, Peter Parker's Spider-Man took center stage, defeating everyone from Wilson Fisk to Dr. Octopus who revealed his knowledge. Miles Morales took a step up in his title game after dealing with the loss of his best friend, Finn.
Spider-Man 2 takes place several years after the events of both games, and is Insomniac's boldest and most ambitious story yet. You will play as Peter and Miles at different points and the story should revolve around both of them. This story focuses on the ideas of isolation and loneliness and does so from a new perspective of the two characters.
In film and television, Parker's Spider-Man has always been portrayed as a high school or college student, but Insomniac decided to explore a more mature Peter in this game: he's not only Miles' crime-fighting mentor, but also a school teacher. a craftsman who borrows stories from illustrations presented years before the arc. An older Peter balances life with Mary Jane Watson and Miles' mentor, a change that is also subtly necessary to make Peter and Miles feel like outsiders in the narrative.
It all sets the stage for a great story with new enemies Kraven the Hunter and Venom. In particular, the Venom arc is particularly satisfying; Insomniac works hard to tell an exciting story. This hard work is also evident in the game; The actions of each of Spidey's characters are perfectly executed, but the other, more diverse gameplay elements are spoiled. Many of them (like riding a bike with an old friend) are simple, but Insomniac cleverly balances how much you play and how much you see in the story scene to keep things interesting and engaging.
Meanwhile, New York is coming alive in a new way, making it a more desirable destination for web athletes. It's much bigger than New York, including Brooklyn and Queens, so there's a lot to explore. The new neighborhoods also bring different nuances, especially in Queens, which has fewer tall buildings, which subtly changes the way Peter and Miles travel as Spidey.
New York also feels more active than the great game worlds of the previous two games. Basically, if you're not following the story, you'll be fighting petty crimes and doing other things like in the last two games. But Insomniac improves this experience by making it more special. Often it's not just about beating up a group of people to solve a crime; Instead, you'll beat up those people, then fix a leak in a tanker, and then take an injured person to the hospital. These small details prevent things from becoming mundane.
Insomniac is also adding new gadgets for each Spider-Man. Instead of moving around the game world with a belt, you now have a wingsuit to glide around. (The game also fixes the problem of Spidey not being able to swim in previous games, which is a smart move.) The wingsuit is pretty fun, but it's a weird glitch for Spidey; Everything you do with him is forced and completely unnecessary for your playstyle. I was in a wingsuit most of the time and my mind wanted to find a way to balance. This is the essence of Spider-Man, not a glider from another game.
Combat has also improved. There's a new dodge button, which requires critical timing but is key against certain enemies, and each Spider now has a range of cooldown moves linked to bumpers and arrows. When you add it all up, you'll never get punched or kicked again. Instead, you're constantly looking for something to throw at your enemies or an opportunity to use one of your spider devices. It's a fun fast-paced combat game, although many of the early encounters feel too easy. However, it makes controlling Spider-Man a lot more fun.
It is a pity that it is governed so correctly. Miles has a unique ability to manipulate electricity, and Peter has a new pair of Doc Ock-esque arms from his suit, so you can expect the two characters to have different ways of fighting. At first it seems like it could happen. But as the game progresses, the differences between the two characters seem minimal. It's a great fight, but the two Spider-Men are more or less in control.
However, it's a small comment on one of the biggest gaming events you'll experience this year, ending a magical arc for two Spider-Men. Here's how to create a superhero trilogy, whether it's a video game, a movie, or something else.
In the end, all I hope for is more from this franchise.
5 out of 5 stars
PlayStation 5 review
Available on PlayStation 5
