Sony’s Spider-Man 2 is a game that initially left me uncertain about the need for its creation. I couldn’t help but wonder if bypassing this iteration and diving straight into something more intriguing like Wolverine would have been a better choice. It felt like retreading familiar territory from the first Spider-Man/Miles Morales game, and I couldn’t envision how it could surpass that. However, eventually, it did just that, although I do wish it had done so earlier. Spider-Man 2 is a phenomenal game held back by its slow pace in the beginning and an unnecessary open world. Nevertheless, the captivating main storyline, top-notch voice acting, stunning visuals, and enjoyable combat make it a game worth loving – much of which you probably already loved about the original.
This expanded version of New York City introduces the unfortunate reality that Kraven has arrived in town, tirelessly hunting down current and former supervillains as he seeks the ultimate battle. However, his attention eventually turns to the Spider-Men after eliminating a few of their old enemies. While Kraven is decent enough, his extensive group of hunters occupies various parts of the city, orchestrating scenarios to capture both villains and heroes for Kraven’s insatiable appetite for violence. You’ll find yourself repeatedly asking, “Okay, but where’s Venom?”
And let me tell you, you’ll be waiting a long time for Venom. Obviously, you’re aware that Peter eventually gains symbiote powers, which is when the game transitions from being a bit dull to incredibly fun. And when Venom himself finally arrives (in a mind-blowing sequence that I won’t spoil), the game kicks into high gear and becomes extraordinary in its third act.
One aspect of Spider-Man 2 that falls short is its open world. The marketing showcased a dramatically expanded map with more boroughs, including Brooklyn, across the water. However, a larger city just means that everything feels more spread out. Unless you’re familiar with NYC and its landmarks, the rendered version of the city, while visually stunning, tends to blend together as you swiftly move through different locations. Moreover, due to its massive size, you’ll find yourself swinging through the city less and relying more on the new “spider wings” and their airflow wind tunnels to get around quickly. It’s fine, but it feels a bit odd to swing less than before.
Early on, you’ll be bombarded with “points of interest” and small minigames, which the game has expanded on from the previous installment. These include “science” games where you splice genes, decode molecules, and use bee drones to combat bad bees and increase the population of good bees. Miles tackles simple puzzles set up by his reformed uncle, Prowler, utilizing the PS5 pressure triggers. Additionally, there are rhythm matching beat segments. However, for the most part, it’s standard fare – similar crimes to last time, fighting arenas, and minibase takeovers.
The combat in Spider-Man 2 is incredibly enjoyable, just as it was in the previous game. You’ll mix powers with gadgets for both Miles and Peter, resulting in an exhilarating experience. However, here’s another issue – playing as both Peter and Miles leads to a lot of overlap. The only real difference between them is their special power moves, as they share all the same gadgets and general spider-abilities. Peter only breaks away from the “Miles is as powerful as Peter, but with bonus electricity and invisibility” problem when he obtains symbiote powers. Even then, the switching between the two characters can feel forced, particularly when it comes to specific mini-missions. That being said, I must admit that I especially enjoyed playing as Miles in this game. Unlike Peter, who primarily deals with symbiote-related matters, Miles embraces his role as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, engaging directly with his community in some of the game’s most memorable side missions. Plus, his bonus electro-zapping abilities add an extra layer of fun. Overall, all the characters are fantastic in their own way. One peculiar thing to note is that both Peter and Harry appear younger than Miles in these character models. Mary Jane resembles an Aunt May from the Spider-Man Homecoming era rather than Pete’s girlfriend (and yes, there are more stealthy segments featuring Mary Jane, which are improved compared to previous iterations).
The voice acting in Spider-Man 2 is truly outstanding, with Miles and Harry standing out among the cast. While we’ve witnessed Peter Parker’s struggles against the power of the symbiote in various forms throughout the years in comics, animated series, and movies, this game’s rendition may be the best I’ve seen. Even if the game’s twists aren’t particularly groundbreaking for anyone remotely familiar with Spider-Man (“this thing is…evil? And…alien??”), the execution is flawless.
Describing the sheer insanity that ensues during the Venom segment of the game without giving away spoilers is challenging. Suffice it to say that this portrayal of Venom is exceptional in every aspect – from the character itself to its truly horrifying effects on the city and its inhabitants. However, the presence of Kraven feels like an unnecessarily prolonged distraction from the true essence of the game. Nevertheless, there is plenty of uh, meat – pardon the pun – after this point, as Venom wreaks havoc throughout NYC.
While I understand the desire to make New York City larger in the game, I’m not convinced it added much value beyond a sense of bloat. Similarly, although it was necessary to have both Miles and Peter as the game’s stars, their strikingly similar skill sets made me wish that one of them had been replaced with a character like Black Cat, who possesses a vastly different set of abilities. But despite these criticisms, I gradually developed a deep appreciation for Spider-Man 2 as I progressed through the game. By the end, I can confidently say that the main series of missions leading to the game’s conclusion is nothing short of brilliant and incredibly memorable. It’s one of my favorite Spider-Man sequences in any medium. However, I do wish it didn’t take quite as long to reach that point and that the Kraven segments were as captivating.
For fans of the first game, Spider-Man, or action games in general, Spider-Man 2 is an easy recommendation. By the end, there are approximately five dozen teasers and Easter eggs, indicating that more content is likely on the horizon – whether that’s another game on the scale of Miles Morales or a sequel further down the line. However, for now, this game provides all the Spider-action you’ll need for quite some time. Score: 8.5/10.
A code was provided by PlayStation for the purpose of this review.
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