I played 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2.' It's the closest you'll get to actually being Spider-Man, and I couldn't get enough of it.
Insomniac Games/Sony
- "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" picks up several years after the first game.
- Players can switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to defend New York.
- With a thrilling original story and innovative new gameplay, this is the game fans deserve.
It's been five years since "Marvel's Spider-Man" delivered a stunning story featuring Spider-Man/Peter Parker in his prime.
The emotional ending saw him battle his mentor-turned-enemy, Doc Ock, before losing Aunt May to a virus that had ravaged the city.
Insomniac Games, the developer of the series, then released a surprising followup in 2020, "Spider-Man: Miles Morales," putting audiences in the shoes of the younger Spidey.
But "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" has finally arrived — and it's the closest you'll ever get to actually being Spidey.
'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' delivers a dramatic, emotional story
Marvel/Insomniac Games/Sony
The game picks up with Peter and Miles both defending New York from supervillains, with players able to seamlessly switch between the web-slinging pair at will — making full use of their respective extra powers.
Peter might hog the spotlight at times because of his personal battle with the symbiote, but the sequel lovingly develops Miles' character as he confronts his own grief and resentment over the death of his father.
Some of the plot is similar to other stories we've seen before, but it pushes ahead in an original direction that feels like a love letter to over 60 years of Spider-Man storytelling, and the writers weave together story arcs in a clever way. The symbiote shenanigans in the "Spider-Man" comic books, for example, happened decades before Miles was introduced, and yet, the younger hero's character development and evolution are vital in the battle against Venom in the finale.
It's also hard not to get wrapped up in the emotional storytelling as Peter struggles to help everyone, including himself. Kraven the Hunter and his army of brawlers are a vicious threat for the first two acts, but it's Venom's introduction that changes the dynamic of the entire city.
Thankfully, the plot doesn't rush into sticking Peter in that iconic black suit, and instead lets the story develop naturally.
To say any more would get into spoiler territory, and the twists are worth keeping secret.
Venom's introduction gives Peter Parker some wild new abilities
Marvel/Insomniac Games/Sony
When players do get the chance to dish out a beating while sporting the alien costume, it's a big upgrade.
The new abilities the black suit unlocks are vital in taking down some of the hardest enemies in the game, especially when combined with the various Spider-gadgets in your arsenal.
Speaking of new skills, the web wings are a genius new addition that let Pete and Miles seamlessly switch from web-swinging to gliding between skyscrapers. It takes a little while to get used to the controls to stop the heroes from crashing into the New York skyline — but it quickly becomes second nature.
The wings make exploration of the huge map infinitely easier, and it's hard not to spend hours flying around to see what the city has to offer. There's something surprisingly relaxing about swooping through the air high above the East River, through the treetops of Central Park, or around the newly added areas of Queens and Brooklyn.
The other brilliant new mechanism that changes things up is the ability to shoot what seems like an unlimited amount of web lines to walk across, at any given moment. Making your own network of webs is particularly helpful in situations where gamers can choose to take out enemies using stealthier tactics.
Some of the side activities let 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' down
Marvel/Insomniac Games/Sony
The sequel does have one annoying weakness: dull side activities.
Insomniac has given fans an entire city as their playground with a variety of villains to fight, but there are several tedious mini-missions that involve watering plants, fixing damaged molecules, and shooting virtual pests with a drone.
Come on, Spidey has a wealth of colorful villains that he's fought over the years!
The rides in the Coney Island section of the map are named after some of the hero's wackier adversaries, and they would've been perfect fodder for simple side missions. But, no, Peter has to have green thumbs on his Spider-suit instead.
Thankfully, some of the larger side missions are absolutely worth your time in terms of villains and overall story, so maybe I'm slightly nitpicking here.
For the most part, Insomniac and Sony are pushing the boundaries of what a superhero game should do, and it's a testament to the jaw-dropping story that the duller mini-missions don't ruin the overall experience.
"Marvel's Spider-Man 2" might not be flawless, but it is exhilarating.
"Marvel's Spider-Man 2" is available on October 20, but you can pre-order now at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
Editor's note: Sony provided Insider with a copy of "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" for review.