Let’s find out together, in this dedicated review, whether and how much Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 convinced us, the sequel to the franchise introduced in 2018 by Insomniac Games which will arrive on October 20th exclusively for PlayStation 5
With great power comes great responsibility.
Let’s start this review of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with a more than used, almost overused quote. A quote which, however, goes a long way towards reflecting the feeling with which we approached playing this highly anticipated sequel to a first chapter dated 2018 and its “half-sequel standalone spin-off” dedicated to Miles Morales, released in 2020. Great responsibilities because they we had really appreciated both of them and, above all, great responsibilities because Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 represents the new flagship title from the Sony brand: a completely single-player third-person action game based on a famous franchise and with a stellar budget. We haven’t had this feeling in our hands since God of War Ragnarok.
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Great responsibilities also for our two protagonists: the two Spider-Mans, Peter Parker and Miles Morales. At this juncture, without making too many spoilers about the narrative (which will really reserve many surprises for fans of the franchise), they will find themselves facing two particularly difficult and harmful villains for the city of New York and who we have come to know quite well through the different trailers presented by Sony over the months: Kraven is, nientemeno, Venom. We don’t want to tell you how the two narrative threads will intertwine, but above all who the Venom of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 really is.
Suffice it to say that New York will be hit hard again and it will be up to Miles and Peter to remedy the damage and face two of the most powerful threats the city’s history has ever seen. To accompany them, emotionally and (unfortunately) also practically, Mary Jane Watson, Peter’s long-time girlfriend and wannabe investigative journalist, will also return. Other secondary characters that we have been able to appreciate in previous chapters also return, such as Miles’ mother, Rio, and his best friend Ganke, but not only that. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be the fair for fans of Spider-Man’s historical villains: we assure you that you will see some beautiful ones.
Hero | Review Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Not just fanservice though: the narrative sector in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 takes a decidedly interesting turn and turns, from the first hours of the game which closely follows the mood of the first chapter, towards a darker and deeper maturity. It is still a video game dedicated to a fairly classic Superhero, so don’t expect deep disquisitions on the nature of mana and the depth of being, but we were still able to appreciate a greater complexity given to the main characters, decidedly more multifaceted and mature than the first chapter (and, in part, also to Miles Morales).
The entire architecture of the game has also changed profoundly, which although it will be deeply familiar to those who have played and completed the first chapter, has nevertheless been expanded and enriched with many new mechanics. Starting, for example, from the progression of the character, or perhaps it would be better to say the characters. In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 you will find three skill trees, which you will have to unlock using the Skill Points obtainable by leveling up: one dedicated to Peter, one to Miles and one shared between the two Spider-Mans. And if the latter unlocks generic skills that help improve the two from every point of view (offensive, defensive and movement), the two specific trees have the function of enhancing the Techniques that we will unlock during the adventure.
This is My Time | Review Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The Techniques are active skills, selectable by pressing L1 and the front reference button, which cause significant damage to enemies and which will be specific (and therefore not interchangeable) to Miles or Peter. The two will instead share i Gadgetwhich have separate upgrades and are especially useful against large groups of opponents. However, the differentiation in the skill trees and techniques that can be used by each of the protagonists does not appear to be so marked as to give a sense of alienationin the transition (obligatory for the narrative in some situations, free in the exploration of New Work) from Miles to Peter or vice versa and everything is always fluid and without any particular edges.
Even the costumes will not only be aesthetic and will have a specific enhancement tree, which will improve the various statistics (Energy, Damage, Concentration and Mobility). Both Gadgets and Costumes can be upgraded by spending tokens of various types, which you will accumulate during the adventure by completing the various missions, together with experience points. The addition that we appreciated most, in terms of exploration, is that of the Spider Web Wings, which allow you to glide above the skyscrapers of New York (enjoying spectacular views, let’s face it) rather quickly and without necessarily having to dangle from a palace to another.
Legend Has It | Review Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
In terms of combat, except for the techniques, Miles and Peter are perfectly comparable to everything we already know about Marvel’s Spider-Man. All the feats with the cobwebs, the aerial combat and the final moves therefore return, without any particular innovations from this point of view. The stealth sections also return, enhanced by the possibility for both Spider-Mans to launch a web cable from one wall to another, thus creating a previously non-existent passage. Unfortunately, I’m still coming back the much-hated sections with Mary Jane, this time armed with a stun gun (at least that one)which dilute too much a narrative that alone will take you about twenty hours.
To this number of hours you will have to add those necessary to complete all the secondary tasks that you will gradually unlock and which, unlike the first chapter, this time are decidedly more diversified and fun. On your map of New York you will gradually see more and more symbols appear of collectibles to collect, companies to help, photos to take and so on, in a potpourri of more or less rapid and more or less compelling secondary missionswhich however will lead you to unlock many costumes (there are hundreds of them, divided between the two Spider-Mans, which also differ in colour) and dozens and dozens of Easter Eggs, which will surely please fans of the franchise.
Legends are Made | Review Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Finally: the technical and graphic side. We played Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, completing it 100% ahead of the review, in Performance mode. This means that, at a clear compromise regarding the resolution, the frame rate remained more or less stable throughout the thirty-plus hours spent as Peter and Miles. Leaving aside some small glitches in lighting and interpenetration of NPCs, which will certainly already be resolved with the day one patch, and an unexpected crash in the final stages of the game (holy be the autosave), we did not encounter any particular software problems.
What made us turn up our noses is, predictably (we had already noticed it considering all the trailers shown so far) the lack of generational leap on a graphic level. As long as you play and explore New York, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is really enjoyable to look at, thanks also and above all to spectacular lighting supported by Ray Tracing, available in both Performance and Quality modes. However, as soon as we move on to the game videos, the world collapses: the character models have not been improved in any way compared to those used in Miles Morales three years ago, the facial animations are too old-fashioned, in general, the rendering it’s not the best. And in an exclusive title for the new generation, perhaps we wanted a little something more.
A real shame, because as with the first chapter, the settings of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are really well created, with several exciting sights and a New York that is certainly more alive than in the past, although you shouldn’t expect miracles. The uploads are truly new generation, instantaneous both in rapid travel and in the passages between the two protagonists. The soundtrack is excellent, with several songs that will remain stuck in your head for a long time, as is the Italian dubbing which, despite a few flaws, is still very convincing and spot on in every moment, even in the most tragic ones.
All eyes on me
So what to say at the end of the review of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2? That you should simply take it for what it actually is: the sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man. The improvements on the gameplay side are there, as is the pad-in-hand fun that we had already experienced with the first chapter in 2018 and even more so with Miles two years later. The variety of situations, the deeper and at times darker narrative, clash with a lack of step forward from a graphic point of view which, however, let’s face it, we didn’t expect that much. If you liked the previous two chapters, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a must-buy: it will not disappoint you in any way. But we believe in 3, eh.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be available from October 20th exclusively on PlayStation 5. Let us know if you will purchase it below in the comments and continue to follow us here, on techgameworld.com, for all the news, guides and reviews on gaming and tech themes ! And if you are interested in game keys at advantageous prices, we recommend you take a look at the InstantGaming catalogue!
Points in favor
- Renewed and always addictive gameplay
- New York enlarged and full of things to do…
- Deeper, more mature narrative
- Everything we liked about Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018
- Aesthetically impactful…
Points against
- …but it’s still New York
- … but that graphic leap towards the “new generation” is missing