Marvel's Spider-Man 2 was already one of the most anticipated games of the year, and the recent footage shown at the PlayStation showcase only confirms it. Seeing Peter Parker don the iconic symbiote suit is a fascinating turn of events, and having him team up with Miles Morales to fight off longtime villains Lizard and Kraven the Hunter are things that will be pleasing to any existing fan of the wall-crawler. After the 2018 outing gave players perhaps the best Spidey experience to date, it was followed up by a fantastic side story that fleshed Miles out wonderfully, so when the pair make their exclusive debut on PS5 this fall, the stars are aligned for it to be something really special.
The aforementioned Miles Morales-centric game was a good reintroduction to the fluid combat and lovable characters, but it had limitations that felt all the more noticeable. Miles' abilities were different, but the overall combat loop was similar to what came before, and while Manhattan was treated to a snowy makeover to illustrate it was the holiday season, the lack of new areas to explore was something that was expected, but somewhat disappointing nonetheless. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 seems to correct this issue, with story beats taking place in Queens and on the East River, which could show that all the numbered sequel has to do to improve on the last is give gamers more of the Big Apple to bite into.
New York is More than Just Manhattan
Spider-Man undoubtedly works best on a narrative level when he's around the iconic landmarks throughout New York City. Excursions elsewhere can be interesting, but he's always a fish out of water, and when he's back in his home city, it simply feels right. However, while tourists and outsiders may think that it's all skyscrapers and flashing lights, the reality of New York is a lot more grounded. Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island each have their own vibe that could provoke interesting twists or engaging gameplay moments.
The story potential in Queens, for example, is elevated specifically because it's away from the towering buildings of downtown Manhattan, and seeing trouble arise in what looks like a residential neighborhood could give what's happening more emotional weight as the fight Spider-Man faces is so close to home for a lot of people in the area. Breaking into the different boroughs, then, could be a real narrative advantage.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Needs to Expand Outward
Peter Parker is famously from Queens, and the Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales experience showed him moving to Harlem from his native Brooklyn. The open-world city in Marvel's Spider-Man is gorgeous and even better to traverse through, but the Insomniac-developed game didn't use the full scope of the Big Apple to its advantage. This is understandable given the volume of things to do in its open world, but the sequel had to change its setting somewhat, and the nearly 13-minute showcase seemed to do just that, with Kraven the Hunter's goons wreaking havoc on a neighborhood in Queens.
Having New York expand outward to include different boroughs not only gives Peter and Miles more room to maneuver, but it can also show the cultural differences between places, making the world feel even more diverse. Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or The Continent in The Witcher 3 are excellent because each settlement feels different from the last. New York being a real city means there are long-existing expectations to live up to, but it also means there's more information to help inspire its quality. Spider-Man 2 could instantly show that it's not just a re-skin of what has become before by giving players more to see, and ensuring that New York City is more thoroughly represented this time.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launches in Fall 2023 for PlayStation 5.
