Random Video Game Review - Spider-Man 2

 

Not to be confused with arguably one of the greatest superhero films ever made by one Sam Raimi. It's been a little while since many of us swung around New York. But after two highly successful games, we now have the third game in this series of PlayStation exclusive Marvel games (although the first two are on PC nowadays too) and it feels good to be back. Not only do we have new enemies to contend with, but New York is bigger, and we can swap between two older and hopefully maturer Spider-People. So let's see what awaits us in the series that is quickly becoming Insomniac's next biggest franchise after Ratchet & Clank:

10 months following the events of Miles Morales, Peter Parker (reprised by Yuri Lowenthal) has become a physics teacher and happens to be teaching a class that includes Miles Morales (reprised by Nadji Jeter). As the lesson begins, Sandman (voiced by Leandro Cano) attacks the city and the two Spider-Men go about trying to stop him. This however costs Peter his job, but things soon become better when he and MJ (reprised by Laura Bailey) reunite with Harry Osborn (this time, voiced by Graham Phillips) who has somehow recovered from his terminal illness and is ready to "heal the world" with his start-up which Peter considers joining. At the same time, Miles is going over his college application and struggling just as a new threat arrives in New York with the intent to go on a "hunt". Much of the gameplay is very similar to the first game in terms of getting around the now much bigger New York, which now includes Brooklyn and Queens in addition to Manhattan from the previous games. While you mainly play as Parker and Morales and be able to switch between the two depending on the missions, there will be occasions where if the story allows, you can also control MJ and other characters much like in the previous games. Fight enemies, gain new abilities and spider suits and take on a number of missions that will either need both or one or the other Spider person and this applies to both main and side missions. Crimes happening as well of course, and collectibles too. As well as the usual from the previous games, you can now traverse the world using Web Wings which, if you gain wind, will help you get to places much faster than in the previous games. 

There is a lot that comes from the previous games and much of that is built upon like how any sequel should be made and even though I haven't completed it yet at the time I post this review, I am enjoying it so far. The scale of the boss battles is much more intense than before (especially Sandman who, judging by scale alone, is probably the best opening boss I have ever fought in video games), the presentation on the PS5 is very good as to be expected and overall, it's as fun as the previous games and less of a challenge to get to places too. Good work Insomniac! 9/10