In Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the game tells players to “Be Greater. Together.” Instead of just 1 Spider-Man, there are 2 Spider-Men. The PlayStation 5 video game was released on October 20, 2023, and is the third installment of Spider-Man games, following the events of the spin-off game Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020).
In this installment, lead characters Peter Parker and Miles Morales join together to combat multiple villains around an expanded New York City map with the inclusion of Queens and Brooklyn, adding five new districts in total. Villains within the video game include the Lizard, Sandman, Kraven the Hunter, and what Insomniac calls an “original take” on the Venom.
One highly notable difference is the ability to change between both characters. Players may choose when to switch whenever they like as there will be missions limited to a character that will be crucial towards the storyline. This option was not the case in previous games because there was only one lead character in them.
I used this feature particularly when there is a side quest that involves silently combating a group of people. Because Miles Morales can camouflage himself, this is super helpful for that particular situation.
Due to the expansive map, two different options of traveling are introduced: Web Wings and a modified Fast Travel. Web Wings is a feature both Spider-Men have that allows players to fly through New York City, making it a faster alternative to web swinging. Fast Travel is like teleportation where players can choose a point on the map and instantly be transported to that position.
Out of the two travel options, I love the new web wings because of how fun it is to fly through the map and get to locations faster than regular web swinging.
Both Spider-Men also have upgraded abilities — Parker with spider arms in combat and Morales with new lightning energy in addition to his venom powers. Both abilities are helpful when in combat with a group as it goes for multiple people, not just one.
These features are just the major and anticipated ones. The game does not disappoint — it is truly immersive down to the sounds, feelings and sights of the game. With the PlayStation’s DualSense controller, it adds to the gaming experience especially with its adaptive triggers that you can feel when you swing around the map. The gameplay is an experience that fits perfectly with the PlayStation 5.
Overall, Spider-Man 2 is one of the best games I’ve ever played and is the best game in the Spider-Man series. The game is most definitely worth the $70 price tag. While full gameplay is only estimated for around 35 hours, it packs a full experience that makes it worth it. I give Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 a 10/10.
