by Samuel Nichols, Contributing Writer
I am not a gamer. I spend too much time seeing movies, playing basketball, and working. Despite this, I own a PS5. But unless there’s a new superhero video game, it is basically an expensive Blu-ray player. Was that a waste of $600? I wasn’t sure until Spider-Man 2 came out. After two weeks of playing it, I can conclude the PS5 it’s the best $600 I’ve spent. (My parents bought me the game for my birthday, so I’m not saying $670.)
Spider-Man 2 is an incredible gameplay experience. It builds on everything the first two games do with the web-swinging and combat, and rips the notch up to 11. Is the fighting system still a low key ripoff of Batman: Arkham Asylum? Yes. But so are a lot of superhero games. The flow of the fists and feet is so simple that anyone can pick it up or pick right back up where they last played. There’s a new parry system to adapt into your fighting style as well, but once you master it, you have a new way to fight back against various enemies.
Story-wise, there is a lot going on that makes it a compelling tale… for only one of the Spider-Men. Peter Parker really has a lot going on for him. With Aunt May gone and his old boss, Doc Ock, out of business and in prison, Peter is a little low on money. Now, he and Mary Jane Watson are still together, and she is supportive, but he still feels the pressure of balancing his relationship, money problems, and being Spider-Man. But with his best friend Harry Osborn coming back into town, he has that bright spot as a reminder of the time he had with his best friend.
There really is a ton for the writers and gamers to sink their teeth into in regards to Peter’s story. Yet, disappointingly, Miles’ plot comes up short in a lot of ways. While he is still an inspirational figure, his plot mainly focuses on his vendetta against the still-at-large Mr. Negative, his father’s killer. While that part of the story is interesting, he often feels sidelined next to the main parts of the story, including the villains like Kraven and Venom.
Speaking of Kraven, he is a strong villain after Doc Ock in the 2018 PS4 game. He’s dangerous, inspired, and has an army full of lackeys to do his bidding. He’s also a massive cheeseball of masculine energy that Andrew Tate would be frightened of. Against the goofball Spider-Man, he’s a good foil.
Venom, on the other hand, is also terrifying, but he’s a little undercooked. No doubt Tony Todd’s performance keeps the character afloat, and is one of the best parts of the game, but Venom’s motivations are a little underdone. While he’s bonded with Peter, who has an obvious negative impact on Venom’s mood and behavior. So when the two of them separate, Venom wants to do harm to Peter, but how he goes about it is a little out of left field, and a little too big for my liking of this street-level game.
But those are only a few small negatives on a very positive experience here in the world of the Spider-Men. The map remains largely the same, but the expansions bring something else, other than the concrete canyons of Manhattan. We get to see the neighborhood of Queens, the hip world of Brooklyn, and Astoria! I don’t have a great compliment for Astoria. It’s nice though! The inventive transversal system of web wings pairs well with the web-slinging from before. That’s one of the best additions to the game.
With the way these games have been rolling so far, I’m excited for any inevitable sequels that come along!
Rating: Loved It
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