Geek Review: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

As the iconic theme goes, “Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can,” and Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 certainly lives up to that end of the complex web in every way, and then some. 

Since starting the series back in 2018 and following it up with Miles’ adventure, it has been abundantly clear that the developers have been learning from each outing, and subsequently refining and improving their superhero formula for the next. The result here is a shining beacon of near-perfection, a must-play for anyone who enjoys video games, or just superheroes in general that brings over 25+ hours of fun. 

Like an epic comic book crossover event that gathers an all-star cast, this juggernaut of a sequel delivers excellent narrative arcs for both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, keeps the action fast and intense, and showcases New York City, along with the web slinger’s rogues gallery in a flattering yet threatening light. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call this a perfect sequel.

It is an amazing feat to tell a well-constructed story from just one perspective, but with both Peter and Miles sharing the webbing on this one, it is a testament to the studio’s quality and craft that both Spideys experience distinct yet captivating developments throughout the entirety of the game. 

Peter has to juggle between new work commitments, getting over the loss of Aunt May, his relationship with Mary Jane Watson, and the return of Harry Osborn. On the other webbed hand, Miles has his upcoming college admissions to worry about, a budding romance with the returning Hailey, and growing up in general with Ganke and his mom, Rio, by his side. And, of course, the consistency in which New York endures grave danger from supervillains run amok. 

It is rare to be part of an escapade that is engaging throughout, allowing characters to grow both within and outside of their masks, and balancing the need for danger and reflection alike. The plot ebbs and flows between highs and lows, never losing sight of its objective of drawing players into its midst, capping things off with a bang, and setting the stage for an even brighter future to come.

Before jumping into costumed shenanigans, it is well worth noting that although the human stories and gameplay sections weren’t favourites of many in the previous games, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 makes these sequences a welcomed break rather than an unwanted diversion. Humanising the cast through snippets, be it in stealth action sections or everyday life, draws the players further into this world, subconsciously upping the stakes and making you care even more about the extended Spider-family.

That said, the bulk of the game will be spent in the guise of either Peter or Miles in their superhero threads, and what a ball of a time that turns out to be. With a New York City that is twice as large, the urban playground offers plenty of opportunities for players to enjoy the manoeuvrability, combat prowess, and cunning stealth possessed by both webheads. 

There’s nothing quite like taking in the majesty of the city while you are navigating its communities at high speed, helped by the addition of the excellent new Web Wings. With wind tunnels aplenty, getting from one end to another becomes even more fun while using this new tool. Even with the impressive instantaneous fast travel across the world, sometimes, there’s no beating good old swinging and, now, gliding.

That increased speed and control come in handy when situations that require speedy attention arise. Be it pivotal story missions, spontaneous crimes, or any other side diversions that endeavour to show off different sides of the city and its people, each offers a solid experience of being a superhero in this particular slice of the universe.

Criminals are not shy about taking advantage of the citizens, and neither should players when it comes to enacting payback. Both Peter and Miles have an extensive selection of abilities and gadgets at their disposal when it comes to combat, allowing a distinct flow when using either Spider-Man. 

The former is more refined and uses his Spider-Arms to achieve crowd control and focused damage, while the latter fights more like a brawler, helped by his bioelectrical Venom powers. The overwhelming numbers make it easy for the heroes to show their moves both offensively and defensively, building up Focus that can be used for spectacular finishers or to heal up, while showstopping abilities thin the herd.

Either way, players have all sorts of options to disable enemies or use the environment to their advantage when outnumbered, where a seasoned player can easily string together impressive combos and moves, like a majestic movie sequence unfolding through the powers of your actions. That’s before all that crowd-pleasing Symbiote powers even come into play with all it’s gooey impact and spectacle. 

Then there are the gadgets and tools that can be further upgraded just like the heroes’ skills for increased utility. Think ricochet webs, concussive blasts, and even web grabbers that collect foes like a strategically spun web setting them up for an AoE blast of justice, all working to help our heroes to come out on top. 

With swelling enemy numbers that come in all sorts of varieties, both ranged and melee, players will have to learn to fight smartly. Button-mashing doesn’t cut it here; learning how to isolate threats, parry and dodge attacks, and make full use of gadgets and abilities will demonstrate just how hard it is to be Spider-Man, and how utterly satisfying it can be when everything falls into place.

Thankfully, it’s not always going to be an all-out melee in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, with the game also retaining its penchant for stealth challenges. While the general gist remains the same, where players are tasked to take down enemy encampments without getting detected, several new additions help to freshen up things.

Having been here before, the enemy is now elevating their defensive game in preparation. Patrolling Talon Drones means the skies are not that friendly until they are taken out, increased verticality sees level design that incorporates multiple floors, side objectives, and enemy makeup, while evildoers will start to group up once the numbers get too thin, forcing players to pivot and adjust their approach if they do not wish to engage in a frontal assault.

There are still many windows of distractions to utilise and separate the enemy, but it is nice to see that things don’t get too formulaic after a while, with many potentially unpleasant surprises awaiting those who get too complacent. 

Conversely, either Spider-Man can count on the new Web Line tool to aid their progress beyond the aforementioned gadgets and Miles’ Camouflage ability. This handy new addition essentially creates a new platform for players to move across spaces, opening up new avenues to take down unsuspecting foes; all it requires is two connecting ends within reasonable distances. 

Without a doubt, the Web Line will become the go-to instrument for players during sections that require more subtlety. However, there can also be no denying that it is simply too overpowered, even with its restrictions. More often than not, good defensive positions are rendered moot because of how easy it is to get Spider-Man close to the enemy, and it doesn’t help that guards are initially too blasé about losing a colleague moments after turning their backs on them. The power fantasy is intoxicating, although a greater balance would have been more appreciated. 

The game also throws in some light puzzling sections, some more involved than others, that test other faculties of players. They are not usually too taxing as pleasant diversions and help to once again highlight just how brilliantly smart both Peter and Miles can be in their respective areas. 

By now, it should be pretty obvious that New York is full of things to do, and there are tangible, useful incentives for players to pursue them. 

Prowler Stashes offer a glimpse into Miles’ relationship with reformed criminal and uncle Aaron Davis, plus the allure of rare tech parts for upgrades. Mysterio’s Mysteriums are otherworldly paths to fantastical combat arenas that demand mastery of various skills, and the Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man requests are oftentimes quirky side missions that bring whimsy and even tears to the proceedings. Add to that a ton of collectibles and more, and players will always be kept busy, but, more importantly, entertained. Rather than busywork, it all feels organic, like what being Spider-Man is all about.

Once you have gotten the hang of all of that, there is the main storyline that ties everything together, and this is one hell of a ride from start to finish. Insomniac makes excellent use of familiar faces in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to draw a sharp contrast to the central villains this time around and helps to set the scene for the chaos about to break loose. While we will avoid venturing into spoiler territory, there is a need to discuss just how wonderful these characters truly are.

The obvert menace and singlemindedness of Kraven the Hunter are unlike anything our heroes have ever seen, with his brutal approach distilling down to everyone under his command. His no-holds-barred methods are designed to push players to their limits, where sacrifices are an indelible aspect of victory. 

Then we have everyone’s favourite sound-sensitive symbiote, Venom, who makes the grandest of entrances in the game, before ascending into its role as a malicious threat that needs to be dealt with immediately. While its ultimate goal is dominance, how it gets there through the use of the people closest to the protagonists is what sets this villain apart.

Both villains display a depth of character that isn’t always available for a tale of good versus evil, where players can bridge the gap in understanding their drive and motivations, and knowing just why the hard decisions need to be made without feeling like it’s out of their hands.

How Insomniac Games manages to tie ostensibly two halves of the game together in a way that makes perfect sense is pure storytelling and gameplay magic. Simultaneously ratcheting up the precariousness while imbuing the heroes with more power creates an adventure that constantly leaps off the screen and grabs players by the scruff of their necks, all for an unforgettable adventure where the good times never seemingly stop.

Perhaps the one hiccup that is slightly frustrating is the boss fights punctuating key story moments leading to the next big dilemma. While these combat sequences are crucial to moving the narrative along and are stirring and masterful encounters, they don’t all have to involve multiple phases that reduce otherwise interesting mechanics into repetitive work. For example, there are only so many times using steam vents to stun the Lizard can feel exciting, so maybe some curation would have helped in the long run.

And did we mention just how awesome the game looks and runs on the PlayStation 5 with the Samsung Neo QLED QN90C TV with ray tracing active in either graphical mode, the visuals are a joy to behold. New York shines both in the day and night, the improved expressiveness of the characters elevates performances even further, and the world just feels much more alive and real with the ray-traced reflections all around the city. Plus, the music and sound design do their part in amping up the intensity of situations when they matter the most and bringing to life the environments with specifically designed soundscapes that make 3D audio worth all the hassle.

With great power comes great responsibility, and it’s nigh impossible to argue that Insomniac Games has come up short in any area when it comes to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. A bigger world with tons of absorbing things to do, two distinct heroes that deliver with aplomb in storytelling, gameplay, and 60+ amazing suits, as well as villains that are nuanced with unparalleled menace, this tour de force of a game is what fans would only dare to hope for in their wildest dreams. Yet, here it is in the flesh, what a time to be a fan. 

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will launch on 20 October.