Insomniac Games really did it. They actually made a sequel that feels like a sequel. Honestly, looking back at the launch of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, it’s wild to see how much they crammed into one single map. It wasn't just a "more of the same" situation. It was a "let's take everything that worked in 2018 and the Miles Morales spin-off and crank the dial until it snaps" situation. You’ve got two Spider-Men, a map that doubled in size, and a version of Venom that actually feels scary for once.
But here is the thing.
People love to talk about the graphics or the haptic feedback on the PS5 DualSense. Those are great, sure. But the real heart of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is the movement. If you’ve played it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The Web Wings changed the entire flow of the game. Suddenly, you weren’t just swinging; you were gliding through wind tunnels at speeds that would make a fighter jet nervous. It fundamentally changed how New York City feels as a digital playground.
The Dual-Protagonist Gamble
Having Peter Parker and Miles Morales share the spotlight was a massive risk. Usually, when games try to do the "multiple protagonist" thing, one character ends up feeling like a backup singer. Insomniac dodged that bullet by giving them distinct mechanical identities. Peter is the heavy hitter, especially once the Symbiote suit enters the picture. Miles is the crowd control king with his bio-electricity.
Switching between them is nearly instant. That’s the power of the SSD. You press a button, the camera zooms out, pans across the city, and boom—you're the other guy. It feels like magic. Or just really good engineering.
However, there’s a narrative tension there. Peter’s struggle with the black suit is the emotional anchor of the game. It’s dark. It’s mean. Seeing Yuri Lowenthal—who voices Peter—go from "friendly neighborhood hero" to "I will break your ribs" is a masterclass in voice acting. It makes Miles’s storyline feel a little less urgent by comparison, even with the whole Mr. Negative subplot. It’s a delicate balance that mostly works, even if Peter’s spiral into jerk-hood steals the show.
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Why Kraven the Hunter Actually Matters
Most people expected Venom to be the only big bad. Then Kraven showed up.
Kraven isn't just a guy in a lion vest here. He’s a tactical nightmare. His Great Hunt provides the mechanical excuse for the map to be littered with high-tech bases and bird-drones. It gives the game a sense of scale that the previous entries lacked. You aren't just fighting street thugs anymore; you're fighting a private army that has specifically studied how to kill you.
The introduction of the "Parry" mechanic was clearly a response to Kraven’s tougher units. In the first game, you could just dodge everything. Now? If you don't time that L1 button press, you’re going to get flattened. It adds a layer of "souls-lite" precision to a combat system that was starting to feel a bit too much like a button-masher.
The Symbiote of it All
Let’s talk about the suit. The Symbiote.
When Peter gets the black suit, the gameplay shifts. It’s not just a skin. You get these visceral, oily tendril attacks that clear out entire rooms. It’s satisfying in a way that’s almost uncomfortable. You feel the power trip that Peter is going through. Insomniac used the PS5’s hardware to make the Symbiote feel alive—the way it ripples and reacts to light is stunning.
But there’s a trade-off. Some fans felt the third act rushed through the Venom transformation. It’s a valid critique. One minute you're dealing with a personal drama, the next, the entire city is covered in black goo. It’s high-octane, sure, but it loses some of that intimate, "neighborhood" feel that made the first game so special. Tony Todd’s performance as Venom is legendary, though. His voice has a weight to it that makes the boss fights feel genuinely high-stakes.
The Map: Queens and Brooklyn
Expanding into the boroughs was the right move. Manhattan was getting a bit crowded. Adding Queens and Brooklyn didn't just add landmass; it changed the architecture. In Manhattan, you have skyscrapers to swing from. In Queens? It’s residential. Lower buildings. More trees.
This is where the Web Wings become essential. You can’t swing if there are no tall buildings, so you glide. It forces you to interact with the environment differently. You start looking for rooftop vents to give you a boost. You look for the bridges. The traversal becomes a puzzle rather than just holding a trigger.
Technical Wizardry and the "Ray Tracing" Standard
If you want to show someone what a PS5 can do, you show them this game. Period.
Insomniac made the bold choice to have ray tracing on by default in every mode. Usually, you have to choose between "pretty" and "smooth." Here, you get both. The reflections in the glass skyscrapers as you zip past them are mind-blowing. It’s one of those things you don't notice until you stop and look, and then you can’t un-see it.
The fast travel system is the real MVP, though. You pick a spot on the map, hold a button for one second, and you are there. No loading screen. No "Spider-Man on the subway" cutscene (though we miss those). It’s the kind of technical feat that makes other open-world games feel ancient.
What’s Missing?
No game is perfect. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is incredible, but the "side content" can still feel a bit repetitive. The Hunter Blinds and Symbiote Nests are fun for the first five times, but by the twentieth? You’re just going through the motions to get the Platinum trophy.
The "MJ Missions" returned, and while they are much improved—she basically becomes a super-spy with a stun gun—they still feel like speed bumps to some players who just want to be Spider-Man. They are better integrated into the story this time, but they still divide the fanbase.
Actionable Tips for New and Returning Players
If you're just starting out or jumping back in for a New Game+ run, here is how to actually master the game:
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- Master the Slingshot: Don't just swing. Use the Slingshot Move (hold X and Circle) from rooftops to gain massive initial velocity. It’s the fastest way to start a traversal chain.
- Mix Your Gadgets: Don't hoard your gadgets. Use the Web Grabber to pull enemies together, then hit them with a Miles "Chain Lightning" or a Peter "Symbiote Strike." The synergy is where the high damage numbers live.
- Air Combat is King: You are much safer in the air than on the ground. Use the "Swing Kick" to launch enemies and keep them there. Most of Kraven's heavy hitters have no way to defend themselves once they are airborne.
- Don't Ignore the Settings: Go into the shortcuts menu. You can map things like "Game Speed" to the D-pad. Slowing down time to 30% or 50% makes for some incredible photo mode opportunities and helps with the trickier parry timings.
- Focus on Suit Tech First: Before you buy every cosmetic suit, max out your Health and Damage in the Suit Tech tree. The late-game enemies hit like trucks, and you’ll want that extra health bar.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a rare example of a sequel that understands its own identity. It knows it’s a power fantasy, but it’s not afraid to make its heroes vulnerable. Whether you’re gliding over the East River or sobbing during the final emotional beats, it’s an experience that defines this console generation. It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s got a whole lot of heart. Just watch out for the guys with the mechanical dogs. They're the worst.