Are Superheroe Games Fun?
Growing up with three amazing brothers who were obsessed with DC Comics and Batman while I was obsessed with Japanese manga and anime was definitely quite a ride. By the time they were playing “The Adventures of Batman and Robin” and “Spider-Man” on the SNES, I was enjoying my first playthrough of Final Fantasy VI. While I did play these games, my younger self wasn’t as fascinated. Even as video games evolved, I still couldn’t find much enjoyment in games like Batman: Arkham Knight and Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4) and skipped them altogether. Recently, however, I wanted to go back and try Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on the PS5 to review it for Ermis Gaming, especially that I never finished the first game in full, so, is it this game that finally sparked my interest in superhero video games?
Not One Spidey, But Two
I like Spider-Man, to be frank, he is my favorite Marvel superhero when it comes to the Marvel Universe movies that everyone are obsessed about recently, Parker and Morales both do blend together very well, the dialog often made me laugh and giggle about how witty it is.
The story delves into themes such as addiction, anger, and the weight of responsibility. Spider-Man 2 explores how a desperate desire to “heal the world” can lead to darkness. And honestly, I found the story’s focus on the bond between Peter, Miles, and a returning Harry Osborn to be far more captivating than the threat of Kraven himself. This central trio provides the game with its most powerful emotional moments, especially as the symbiote begins to corrupt Peter later on in the game, these moment were real and believable.
However, compared to the first game’s shocking finale, this installment falls short of delivering that same gut-punching “big twist.” The resolution to Kraven’s story felt a bit abrupt, and his motivations, while clear, were less compelling than Doc Ock’s tragic fall. The villain’s motives seemed somewhat disconnected from the deeply personal struggles of the heroes. I believe the game could have utilized Kraven more effectively instead of having him become a secondary threat once Venom truly emerges.
Furthermore, some side characterization felt a bit thin. While the dynamic between Peter and Miles is the undeniable heart of the story, some supporting characters don’t contribute as significantly to the plot’s progression. Unlike in the original, MJ’s missions, while improved, can still feel like they break the incredible pacing of being Spider-Man. Although her role is important to the narrative, her gameplay segments don’t seem to significantly impact the overall experience. Nevertheless, the main characters are memorable and their journey leaves a lasting impression.
A Concrete Jungle Gym
The Spider-Man series owes its popularity to one key feature: its traversal. The web-swinging is a system where your moment-to-moment travel through the city is the core reward. You will spend most of your time must simply getting from point A to B while looking t alarms which tell you that you are needed somewhere near, but the game makes that journey the absolute best part. During your downtime from the story missions or even searching for side quests to do, you will find yourself effortlessly zip, swing, and soar between skyscrapers in the smoothest way ever provided in an open world game.
The system is built on three pillars: swinging, zipping, and gliding. The Web Wings are a game-changer, allowing you to glide through the air at incredible speeds, using wind tunnels to maintain your momentum. This, combined with the new Slingshot mechanic, makes traversing an absolute joy. I found myself often not feeling bored going into lengths to collect stuff or do side quests because going from one place to another was really fun. When you nail a perfect line, slingshotting into a high-speed glide through traffic, it’s really pure bliss. The only downside is that the fast-travel system, while technically impressive with its instant loading, feels almost blasphemous to use. Why would you ever want to skip the best part of the game, honestly? But hey, it is still useful and a flex for Sony to show the PS5 powers.
The traversal system is indeed the highlight of the game. It’s addictive and fun, with a feeling of speed and freedom that is unmatched. However, because it’s so refined, it can make other aspects of the open-world design feel dated by comparison. The filler content can make clearing the map feel like a checklist, especially when completing the last few districts. Nonetheless, the traversal remains the game’s standout feature, providing exhilarating fun from the first swing to the last.
A Friendly Neighborhood Watch
The other aspect of Spider-Man 2’s gameplay is what you’ll do between main story missions. You’ll patrol New York’s boroughs, stopping random crimes and completing side activities to clear the map. New York is a massive playground, and as part of Insomniac’s formula, it’s known for being filled with icons and collectibles. I was hoping for more improvements in Spider-Man 2 to the open-world formula to make the side content more diverse and meaningful, but unfortunately, for those who don’t enjoy clearing checklists, this part of the game may not be appealing. The main activities involve chasing drones, beating up thugs, and finding collectibles.
After each major story beat, the world changes and introduces new activities, such as clearing out Hunter Bases, destroying Symbiote Nests, or pursuing more narrative-driven side stories. However, overall, the experience remains similar to any other open-world game. By the time you reach the final few districts, the repetitive nature of the activities can feel tedious, especially since you spend a significant portion of the game on this segment.
If you’re coming to this game after playing titles with more dynamic open worlds, you may find yourself appreciating their deep and emergent side content more. However, it’s important to note that Spider-Man 2 is a superhero action game first and foremost, so some design limitations in its open world are understandable.
Symbiotic Symphony of Destruction
Spider-Man 2 evolves the series’ combat, taking it to a new dimension. For those new to the series, it features a fluid, fast-paced “flow” combat system where you dodge, parry, and use gadgets to control large crowds of enemies. Each Spider-Man has a set of special abilities that can be used to deal massive damage or control the battlefield. Exposing an enemy’s weakness with a web-pull or launch grants you an opportunity for aerial combos. If you manage to build up your meter, you can unleash a “Finisher” to instantly take down an enemy.
The combat is straightforward yet fun, as battles are fast-paced and typically finish within a couple of minutes, sometimes even faster. This time around, Spider-Man 2 introduces a character swap feature. In the open world, you can switch between Peter and Miles with the press of a button. Later in the game, Peter unlocks his brutal Symbiote powers, while Miles evolves his bio-electric Venom powers. The new parry system adds a fantastic layer of risk and reward, allowing you to counter previously unblockable attacks.
Spider-Man 2 feels perfectly balanced. The added enemy variety and the new parry system make combat more engaging than before, forcing you to use your full toolkit. The balanced difficulty allows you to feel powerful without the game being drastically hard, which is a welcome improvement. Also, let me say, the raw, furious animation of Peter’s symbiote attacks is a brilliant idea; it’s an aesthetic choice that fits the theme so well.
A True Next-Gen Spectacle
If there’s one thing that sticks in people’s minds when you talk about Spider-Man 2, it’s how spectacular the game looks and feels. The graphical fidelity is unmatched on consoles, making a flight through the city a lesson in creating a visually stunning world. Combined with an epic, cinematic score, these are two of the best aspects Spider-Man 2 offers. Given that the first game was already a graphical showcase, the improvements in Spider-Man 2 are truly astonishing. The only downside is that the open-world activity design hasn’t seen a significant upgrade from what we had in the first game, which is somewhat disappointing for a full sequel. Nonetheless, the game’s visual and auditory elements shine, leaving a lasting impression on players.
Spider-Man 2 retains everything that made the original iteration very enjotable, while improving on it in almost every way. It features a very solid theme, presented through addictive gameplay interwoven with a compelling character-driven story. However, it lacks innovation in its open-world design, which can become very boring as you continue to play. In all honesty, this entry is a must-buy for PS5 owners. And if you are new to the series, you can absolutely start here, though playing the first two games will undoubtedly provide the best context for its fantastic story.
- An exhilarating traversal system that is the best in its class, making travel the best part of the game.
- A captivating and emotional main story that masterfully explores the weight of the mask and the corrupting nature of power.
- A faster, deeper, and more spectacular combat system with meaningful new abilities for both heroes.
- A true PS5 showcase with breathtaking graphics and seamless, instantaneous loading that immerses you in the world.
- Open-world side activities quickly become repetitive, feeling more like a checklist than engaging content.
- The primary villain’s motivations and impact fall short, feeling secondary to the heroes’ personal stories.
- Mandatory missions for non-superpowered characters can feel jarring and interrupt the game’s fantastic pacing.
- The game’s open-world design plays it safe, lacking the innovation seen in its traversal and combat systems.
