Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Review: A Thrilling Feat In Gaming

Written By Sam Burley · October 22, 2023

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PS5 Review: A Soaring Achievement in Gaming

“Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” for PS5 not only met but also surpassed my high expectations, firmly placing itself as a favorite in my gaming collection. This sequel is a triumph in interactive storytelling, combining stunning visuals with compelling gameplay to create a superhero experience that is both profound and exhilarating. The game’s narrative is a standout, offering a deeper and more personal story than its predecessor. It delves into the lives of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, exploring their struggles and triumphs with a depth that adds layers to their characters. The storytelling is immersive, making me feel truly connected to their journey and invested in their outcomes​​​​.

Storytelling Excellence

The narrative of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is a testament to the game’s storytelling excellence. Focusing on both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, the game delves deeper into their lives, offering a rich exploration of their personal and superhero identities. This sequel stands out for its mature approach to storytelling, tackling complex emotional themes that resonate with players on a personal level.

Both Peter and Miles are portrayed as characters with depth and complexity. They’re older now, facing not just the physical threats of their superhero lives but also the internal struggles that come with their responsibilities. This dual focus on their personal and superhero lives makes the game’s narrative more immersive and engaging. The game does an excellent job of balancing their individual stories, providing each character with a distinct journey while intertwining their paths in a meaningful way.

The emotional depth in their narratives is one of the game’s strongest points. Peter’s struggles with the symbiote, which amplifies the darker aspects of his personality, are explored in a way that adds layers to his character. Similarly, Miles’ storyline is deeply personal, focusing on his single-minded hatred for Martin Li, the man responsible for his father’s death. These storylines provide a window into the characters’ inner turmoil, making their journeys both captivating and relatable.

Furthermore, the game’s exploration of the duality of Peter and Miles’ lives, as ordinary people and as superheroes, is handled with nuance and sensitivity. The narrative seamlessly blends high-stakes superhero action with quieter, more introspective moments, allowing players to fully understand and empathize with the characters. This duality adds a level of realism to the game, grounding the fantastical elements in a relatable human experience​​.

Enhanced Gameplay and Mechanics

The gameplay and mechanics of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” represent a significant enhancement from its predecessors, refining the already acclaimed formula to new heights. The traversal mechanics through New York City are a standout feature, providing a sense of freedom and fluidity that is unparalleled in the gaming world. The swinging mechanics are particularly noteworthy for their natural and effortless feel, making the simple act of moving through the city an absolute joy.

Both Peter Parker and Miles Morales have unique abilities and skill sets, which adds a fresh and diverse layer to the gameplay experience. Peter’s use of the Venom black suit introduces new combat strategies, allowing for a more aggressive and powerful style of fighting. This suit not only changes the visual aesthetic but also brings new abilities and tactics to the gameplay, offering players a different approach to combat situations.

Miles, on the other hand, continues to harness his bioelectric powers, which are further developed and expanded in this sequel. His abilities offer a different style of combat, focused on agility and energy-based attacks. The unique skill trees for both characters allow for a personalized gameplay experience, letting players tailor their abilities to suit their play style.

The combat in “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is another area where the game shines. The sequences are fluid and dynamic, with a satisfying level of impact in each encounter. The game introduces new combat elements and enemy types, which require players to adapt their strategies and make full use of the characters’ abilities. This evolution in combat mechanics keeps the gameplay feeling fresh and exciting, even for those familiar with the series.

Adding to the gameplay experience of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” the new flying feature is a thrilling addition that brings a whole new dimension of fun to the game. This feature, which allows players to soar above New York City, adds an exhilarating sense of freedom and exploration. The sensation of flying through the city’s skyscrapers, diving down into the bustling streets, and then shooting back up into the skyline is not just visually stunning, but also incredibly satisfying from a gameplay perspective.

The mechanics of flying are smooth and intuitive, making it easy for players to pick up and enjoy. This feature complements the web-swinging mechanics beautifully, offering players more options in how they navigate the city. It’s particularly enjoyable to switch between swinging and flying, creating a seamless and dynamic experience that keeps the traversal fresh and exciting.

Moreover, the flying feature opens up new possibilities for exploring the game world. It allows players to reach new heights and vantage points, providing a unique perspective of the beautifully rendered New York City. This not only adds to the game’s visual appeal but also enhances the exploration aspect, encouraging players to discover hidden corners of the city from an aerial viewpoint.

Peter, Harry, and The Symbiote

In “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” one of the most compelling narrative aspects is Peter Parker’s relationship with Harry Osborn. This relationship adds a significant layer of emotional depth to the game, as it explores the complex dynamics between these long-time friends. Peter’s connection with Harry is tested and evolves throughout the game, offering players a more nuanced look into their friendship. This storyline is particularly poignant, given Harry’s transformation and the moral dilemmas it presents to Peter.

The game skillfully navigates the emotional turmoil and conflicts arising from Harry’s situation, forcing Peter to grapple with difficult choices and their implications for both his and Harry’s futures. This relationship goes beyond the typical superhero narrative, delving into themes of friendship, loyalty, and the gray areas of moral choices. It provides a stark contrast to the high-flying action of the game, grounding the superhero elements in a relatable human story.

Another highlight of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is the implementation of the symbiote, which brings a new and exciting element to the gameplay. The symbiote suit offers players a different combat experience, with enhanced powers and abilities that are both visually spectacular and immensely fun to use. The suit’s mechanics allow for more aggressive and powerful combat strategies, giving players the chance to explore a darker, more ruthless side of Spider-Man.

The symbiote’s influence on gameplay extends beyond just combat. It affects the narrative and Peter’s interactions with other characters, adding a layer of complexity to his character. The game does an excellent job of portraying the symbiote’s impact on Peter, both physically and emotionally, adding to the immersive experience of the game.

Kraven the Hunter: A Formidable Presence in Spider-Man’s World

In “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” for PS5, Kraven the Hunter emerges as a standout villain, greatly enhancing the game’s narrative and overall experience. His introduction to the PS5 version brings a fresh and exciting challenge to Spider-Man’s world. The storyline showcases Kraven as a character with a significant role, contributing to the game’s complex and engaging plot. His hunt in New York City, especially his pursuit of major characters like Spider-Man, adds depth and intensity to the game’s narrative.

Kraven is not only a formidable opponent for Spider-Man but also a character with intriguing motivations. His obsession and meticulous approach to hunting add a layer of suspense and thrill to the game. This portrayal of Kraven makes every encounter with him on-screen a captivating and memorable experience. His character is brought to life with excellent voice work, adding to his imposing presence in the game.

My only critique regarding Kraven in “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is a desire to see more of his character. While he stands as a captivating villain, his presence in the game left me longing for a deeper exploration of his backstory and motives. Despite this, his contribution to the storyline and the unique challenges he presents solidify his status as one of the most intriguing antagonists in the game. His engaging character adds a significant layer of complexity and excitement to “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” making every encounter with him memorable and impactful.

Dynamic Side Stories: Enhancing the Spider-Man Experience

Another aspect of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” that stands out is the inclusion and execution of side stories. These side missions are not just mere distractions or fillers; they are well-integrated into the main narrative, adding depth and variety to the gaming experience.

The side missions in “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” are thoughtfully crafted, each with its unique storyline that often intersects with the main plot. These stories allow players to explore different aspects of New York City, delve into the lives of its residents, and confront a variety of challenges and villains. This approach makes the world of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” feel alive and dynamic, as players get to experience the city beyond the main storyline.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of these side missions is their diversity. They range from solving crimes and stopping random street crimes to more personal quests that involve helping the city’s inhabitants with their problems. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging, offering a welcome break from the main storyline’s intensity.

Furthermore, the side missions contribute to character development, especially for Peter and Miles. Through these missions, players get to see different facets of their personalities and superhero personas. It provides a more comprehensive view of their characters, making them more relatable and fleshed out.

Technological Marvel

On a technical level, “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” showcases the capabilities of the PS5, making it a technological marvel in the realm of gaming. The game’s smooth performance is one of its most impressive feats, offering players the option to choose between performance and fidelity modes. This flexibility ensures that whether players prioritize frame rate or visual detail, the game delivers an optimized experience tailored to individual preferences.

The utilization of the PS5’s SSD (Solid State Drive) is another area where the game shines. It enables incredibly fast load times, which significantly enhances the gaming experience by allowing for seamless transitions between fast-paced action sequences and the more tranquil moments of exploration and narrative. This technical prowess ensures that players remain immersed in the game’s world without the disruption of lengthy loading screens.

One of the standout features of “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is the implementation of the PS5’s DualSense controller capabilities. The adaptive triggers and haptic feedback bring a new level of immersion to the gameplay. For instance, the tactile sensation of web-swinging through New York City is made more realistic through the adaptive triggers, which provide varying levels of resistance based on the in-game action. Similarly, the haptic feedback adds a layer of sensory immersion, allowing players to feel the nuances of different textures and surfaces as Spider-Man navigates the city.

A New Benchmark in Superhero Gaming

Overall, “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is a masterpiece that sets a new benchmark for superhero video games. Its blend of captivating storytelling, refined gameplay, and technological prowess makes it an essential play for any PS5 owner. The game not only lives up to the excitement and hype but surpasses it, offering a gaming experience that is both profound and endlessly entertaining. As someone eagerly awaiting a DLC, I can confidently say that “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is a perfect game and a monumental achievement in the gaming world.