Highlights
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 introduces fall damage as an optional feature, making web swinging more challenging and realistic.
- The inclusion of fall damage feels unexpected, as it is the first game in the Insomniac Spidey series and one of the first Spider-Man games overall to feature it.
- While the lack of fall damage in the previous games didn't bother players due to the enjoyable traversal system, its addition in Spider-Man 2 seems like a sudden change in approach.
One of the best things that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has done is give players the feeling of actually web swinging through the streets of New York City. Just like with the past two games, the traversal system that Insomniac Games developed is a joy to move around with. Many fans of the character may just find themselves swinging for hours instead of playing the story, and some may constantly come back just to experience the thrills again. But if they are not careful this time around, then their web swinging days could quickly come to an end.
Unlike the past two games, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has actually made web swinging a bit harder for those that want an extra challenge. Players can turn on fall damage to make their Spidey adventures a bit more realistic this time around. While that can lead to some pretty funny moments, it also feels like it comes at a strange time. This is not only the first of the three Insomniac Spidey games to include it, but it is also one of the first Spider-Man games in general to feature it, which makes its inclusion feel like it came out of nowhere.
Spider-Man 2's Fall Damage Feels Very Unexpected
By default, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has fall damage turned off. This means that the web swinging will feel and work very much like the first two games with a few new additions that really help make it even more enjoyable. If players miss a swing or come crashing down, then they will just land without a care in the world. However, those that are looking to inject a bit more realism in their superhero adventure can turn on fall damage for a more demanding experience.
With fall damage on, Marvel's Spider-Man 2's web-swinging becomes far more dangerous, Now, players cannot simply land on a whim, nor can they miss their swing. If they do, then Spider-Man will quickly meet the pavement with a thud. Depending upon how far he falls, he will either come out of it with a few scrapes or he will die the second he hits the ground. While that can lead to some very funny scenarios, the feature also feels like an odd addition after all these years.
Neither Marvel's Spider-Man nor Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales included this feature, and it didn't seem like Insomniac Games was interested in adding it. Even though its omission meant the game was a bit more unrealistic, many players hardly noticed it because the traversal system was just so much fun. The studio was able to capture the feeling of being Spider-Man almost exactly, and the lack of fall damage just added to that. It may have actually worked for some players as it felt like he was simply doing superhero landings, which is why it seems strange that the studio would suddenly change its approach.
It would be one thing if Marvel's Spider-Man did not feature fall damage, players got angry about its omission, and so Insomniac Games ended up adding it in the next title. But that did not happen, and the feature did not crop up in the next title either. Instead, it took until the third game to add it into the mix as an optional feature. While its addition is not a bad thing since it can be fun to mess around with, that does not make the timing any less weird. Now that it's here, it will be interesting to see how the studio chooses to approach it in the future.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is available now on PS5
