Highlights
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 features extensive improvements, making it a phenomenal game with better webswinging, complex combat, and fun gameplay for both Peter and Miles.
- However, the game lacks content that truly challenges players, as most missions and activities are easily cleared, except for big battles in bases, which are not replayable.
- The raised combo limit in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is currently pointless, as reaching a combo of over 1,000 is impossible through legitimate means. However, it could be a hint at potential post-launch content, as perhaps Insomniac will add some endgame activities where huge combos are possible.
The list of worthwhile improvements Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 made to Insomniac’s formula is extensive, and the changes result in a phenomenal title that is sure to be a game of the year contender for many. Web Wings and faster traversal speed make webswinging feel better than ever, while parries make combat more complex and the Symbiote allows Peter to feel just as fun as Miles Morales to play. Even MJ’s missions have been improved, with the journalist getting training from Silver Sable to wield a weapon that lets her take out enemies. However, while nearly all the changes make the gameplay better, the raised combo limit is sadly pointless.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 may feature excellent combat that allows players to feel powerful regardless of which character they are playing as, but it lacks content that really pushes them to their limits. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Mysteriums are fun and have a great payoff, but most players will not struggle to clear them. Bases are the one area where players can really get into lengthy fights, but since Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 activities are not replayable, they will run out of these big battles fast. Hopefully, Insomniac Games gives players a way to make use of the extended combo meter post-launch.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Missed an Opportunity To Include One of The Original's Most Charming Features
Though Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a phenomenal experience that outdoes the first two games in several ways, it forgets one charming detail.
Why Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 Doesn’t Need Such a Big Combo Limit
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Players Have Nowhere To Reach Huge Combos Legitimately
Recently, a player discovered that the combo limit in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will go over 1,000, which theoretically allows players to reach a 9,999 combo. However, this was only discovered because of a bug, as players cannot come close to a 1,000+ combo through legitimate means. Recently, a Reddit user managed to find an enemy in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 that would not die, and they kicked them up against a wall until they reached a combo that was greater than 1,000. While it is cool that Insomniac Games extended the combo limit, it is odd that it bothered to do so since a combo that big is currently impossible.
The combo meter in the original Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales stopped at 999. Still, this was not a big deal, as reaching such a number was borderline impossible, meaning a combo meter that goes beyond 1,000 was not needed.
Possible Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Content That Could Justify The Counter
Though this is purely hopeful speculation, perhaps Insomniac Games extended the combo meter because it has plans to add content to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 that allows players to reach 1,000+ combos. Not only would the side villain teasers for Chameleon and Carnage guarantee that the DLC had strong villains to offer, but it would be great to see Insomniac Games address the criticism of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 lacking tough battles via some post-launch content. Proper endgame offerings could go a long way to making a DLC more appealing, as they would be a terrific way to add some content beyond whatever story missions and open world activities a hypothetical DLC would offer.
Whether as a free update alongside Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s planned New Game Plus mode, or as part of an expansion to the game, a challenge that tasks players with building the biggest combo possible could be a nice addition. Taskmaster could return to help such a mechanic make sense narratively, as well as introduce more stealth challenges. Beyond that, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could finally add a wave-based horde mode that allows players to fight endless groups of enemies. Kraven’s mercenaries, Symbiotes, random thugs - letting the two Spideys battle them for as long as players want could be a great way to make this combo increase worthwhile. Right now, it feels odd that the meter was expanded, but it could turn out to be Insomniac planning ahead for some heavily requested features.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
The sequel to 2018's Spider-Man and its Miles Morales spin-off, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a PS5 console exclusive. Insomniac's open-world game features Peter Parker and Miles Morales as dual protagonists, with the two heroes going up against the likes of Kraven, Venom, and Lizard.
