Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 review (PS5)

Sony’s big exclusive for this season, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, swings onto the scene with the confidence of a seasoned developer at the top of their game. Insomniac’s mastery of how to create a great Spider-Man game shines through every part of this sequel, making it a must-have for PlayStation 5 owners.

The narrative thrusts Peter Parker and Miles Morales back into the limelight, grappling not only with their Spider-Man abilities but also with the challenges of everyday life. This time, they face the formidable Kraven the Hunter as an antagonist, a ruthless bad guy determined to challenge New York’s heroes. Venom also features, which is hardly a spoiler considering the promo material, and is an integral part of the story.

Controlling both Peter and Miles in this game brings a dynamic twist to the gameplay. Peter and Miles may share a combat style and gadget set, but their inherent and character-specific powers set them apart. In addition to having two characters, the progression of abilities also offers a satisfying sense of growth and variety, especially with Parker’s symbiote powers – which also brings an internal struggle for Peter.

Combat remains a high point in the sequel, seamlessly blending agility, gadgetry, and visceral takedowns. The boss fights are exhilarating cinematic highlights, even if a few more wouldn’t go amiss. If you spent time upgrading your character they shouldn’t be too challenging either, which keeps the experience and narrative flowing – and of course this ties in well with the sense of feeling like a powerful superhero.

Spider-Man 2’s open world features plenty of optional activities in addition to the story beats, and these provide a commendable mix of different tasks. And although there’s rarely a nice narrative payoff to completing them, there are always rewards involved and the diversity of missions keeps you engaged – though stealth-based tasks aren’t as engaging and fun as the more combat-centric ones.

Where Spider-Man 2 stumbles a little is in its treatment of villains. We would have loved seeing more of the go-to Spider-Man villains in the main story, for instance – though others will probably like that Insomniac steered away from the beaten path. In their storytelling, the opening hours are a little slow though, with extended flashbacks and sentimental moments that can disrupt the flow. While downtime is essential and these moments set the scene, it occasionally veers too much to cinematics, taking players out of the player-controlled action.

The traversal mechanics receive a welcome upgrade for the sequel, offering a seamless experience that showcases the power of the PlayStation 5. The DualSense’s adaptive triggers find meaningful integration as well, enhancing specific interactions. And utilizing the PS5’s power means that visually, Spider-Man 2 is a masterpiece. The rendition of New York is breathtaking, with day-to-night transitions adding depth to the cityscape. Insomniac continues to deliver a visually stunning and absorbing experience here, making the game as thrilling to watch as it is to play. Voice acting maintains at a really high standard, though the soundtrack doesn’t really stand out here.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 can be seen as a golden standard for AAA open-world games, where Insomniac doesn’t treat New York as a disposable backdrop, but rather a living, breathing entity intricately intertwined with the heroes. Ground-level heroism takes center stage, grounding the narrative in meaningful, human interactions rather than just going from action sequence to action sequence. The story excels in this, offering depth and emotional weight, with Kraven emerging as a formidable antagonist. The theme of redemption among villains adds a layer of nuance to the narrative as well, and it’s a familiar one in the Spider-Man universe that should resonate with fans.

Despite minor missteps in stealth sections and the early game pacing, Spider-Man 2 stands tall as a triumph in superhero gaming. Insomniac’s latest web-slinging adventure is a must-play for PS5 gamers this season.

Score: 9.1/10