Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 by Insomniac Games will be available this Friday, October 20th, as another PlayStation 5 exclusive. This installment aims to surpass the achievements of its predecessors, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Does it possess the qualities to be a Game of the Year (GOTY) contender? After 24 hours of gameplay, we deliver our verdict.

Great Power of Two Implies Even More Responsibility

Explaining the plot of this installment without revealing spoilers or spoiling the surprises is complex. However, we can hint that the narrative further intertwines Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Additionally, we witness their deepening connections with Aaron Davis, Ganke Lee, Mary Jane, and Rio Morales, guiding both characters towards maturity.

The focal point of the story revolves around Harry Osborn and a series of events that tie into the narrative of previous games, including his illness, the imminent arrival of Venom, and Kraven the Hunter’s relentless pursuit. These elements, along with side missions, reintroduce us to familiar and new villains and characters, ensuring that fans will have plenty of reasons to smile.

Arachnid Evolution of Controls

The gameplay might appear conservative, but two components significantly alter the dynamics: the ability to glide through the air with both characters and the parry mechanism. The game is less forgiving, encouraging players to gradually master each character’s skill tree, which is separated into sections for Parker, Miles, and both characters together.

Once all moves are mastered, players will utilize trigger and button combinations to deploy gadgets, execute special moves, and, when the time comes, harness symbiote extensions. As mentioned earlier, the ability to ‘fly’ introduces a fresh dynamic to battles and chases, facilitating navigation through the city using air currents or the ventilation systems of certain buildings. The web, on the other hand, plays a different role, enabling stealthier movement from one point to another with the ability to create a network.

Rewards for Fans of Side Missions

In contrast to previous installments, side missions now carry significant weight, featuring stories that enrich the lore. Completing these missions not only advances the storyline but also unlocks various suits that pay homage to Spider-Man enthusiasts.

Graphics Pushing the Limits of the PS5

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 fully leverages the capabilities of Sony’s console. The SSD is maximized with instantaneous travel, allowing near-instantaneous transportation (provided at least half of the alternate missions in the desired area are completed). Additionally, a mission reminiscent of the start of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart adds depth.

The city appears more vibrant, boasting enhanced NPCs, textures, weather effects, ray tracing, and even rats. The game offers performance and fidelity modes. The former reaches 60 frames per second with lower-resolution ray tracing, reduced population density in some areas, and simplified character hair effects. The latter, the preferred mode, maintains 30 FPS with higher resolution, more ray tracing effects (water and windows), increased pedestrian and traffic density, and more realistic character hair details.

Spectacular Sounds of the Big Apple

The music and Latin dubbing are outstanding, but the audio effects stand out, particularly when experienced through a good surround sound system or compatible headphones. Contextual sound design is a highlight, with audio adapting to the environment. For instance, while walking through a kitchen, real-time audio changes are noticeable as you move away.

A notable addition is the content creator mode, which allows players to disable licensed music and podcasts by JJ and Danika Art, enhancing the experience. The DualSense controller plays a pivotal role in immersion, with sounds like wind and web-slinging being conveyed through it.

Not Everything is Perfect

The game exhibited some inconsistencies, such as characters floating, sub-missions failing to initiate, necessitating level restarts, and unexpected game closures. However, these issues did not significantly impact the overall experience. Given the title’s size, such glitches are expected, and we anticipate their resolution through updates.

Conclusion

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 rightfully deserves a place among the top games of 2023. It offers an exceptional, all-encompassing experience, making it a must-play for all PlayStation 5 owners. It’s worth noting that while playing the previous two games is not necessary, doing so will allow players to fully appreciate the significant changes introduced in this installment.

Rating: 9.5

By Vladimir Arteaga Figueroa for LOS40.