Of all the iconic images in the vast Spider-Man mythos, few are as simple yet powerful as the sight of him perched atop a towering skyscraper, gazing out over the endless, illuminated grid of New York City. It is a moment of quiet solitude for a hero rarely afforded a break, and it perfectly encapsulates the promise of an open world. With 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man, Insomniac Games delivered on that promise masterfully, creating a traversal system so fluid and joyful that simply moving through the city became the game’s greatest reward. Its sequel, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for the PlayStation 5, faced a monumental challenge: not just replicating that magic, but evolving it within a denser, richer, and more demanding world. Based on universal critical and fan acclaim, with scores consistently landing in the 90/100 range, it is clear Insomniac didn’t just meet expectations—they soared past them, crafting a benchmark for superhero games and open-world design.
The Living, Breathing Boroughs: An Open World Revolution
The first game’s New York was a marvel of its generation, but it was largely a backdrop—a beautiful playground designed for web-swinging. Spider-Man 2 transforms this playground into a living, breathing character in its own narrative. The most significant and immediately noticeable expansion is the inclusion of the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, seamlessly connected to a vastly updated Manhattan. This isn’t just more real estate; it’s a narrative expansion. Peter Parker’s roots in Queens ground his story, while Miles Morales’s commitment to Harlem and Brooklyn deepens his connection to his community.
The environmental diversity is staggering. The quiet, suburban streets of Queens, with their rows of houses and backyard BBQs, offer a stark contrast to the dense, vibrant, and culturally distinct neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Swinging from the high-rises of Manhattan into these lower, more intimate boroughs forces a complete shift in traversal style, making the entire experience feel fresh and dynamic.
Beyond new areas, the world itself is denser and more interactive. The power of the PS5’s SSD is on full display, not just in the elimination of load times, but in the sheer density of assets, pedestrians, traffic, and ambient events. The city feels truly alive. Pedestrians react with more nuanced awe or fear depending on which Spider-Man saves them. The weather systems, particularly how rain slicks the streets and reflects the neon glow of Times Square, add a cinematic layer previously unseen. This is no longer just a playground; it’s a believable ecosystem that reacts to your presence, making the responsibility of being Spider-Man feel more tangible than ever.
The Dance of Destruction: Combat Evolved
If the open world is the stage, then combat is the breathtaking ballet performed upon it. The combat system in the first title was widely praised for its fluid, Arkham-inspired free-flowing mechanics. Spider-Man 2 takes this stellar foundation and injects it with a potent dose of adrenaline, variety, and strategic depth through two key additions: the Symbiote suit and dedicated abilities for both heroes.
The introduction of the Venom Symbiote (here named the Symbiote suit) is a masterclass in gameplay reflecting narrative. As Peter gradually succumbs to the suit’s influence, his combat style transforms. The once precise, gadget-heavy brawler becomes a brutal, overwhelming force of nature. New Symbiote abilities allow him to unleash tendril-based area-of-effect attacks, violently slam enemies into the ground, and parry incoming blows with a devastating organic shield. The combat feels heavier, more aggressive, and immensely satisfying, perfectly mirroring Peter’s internal struggle with the addictive power the suit provides.
Conversely, Miles Morales’s combat evolves through his unique Bio-Electric Venom powers and new training. His moveset is faster, more acrobatic, and focused on chain lightning and stunning groups of enemies. The game brilliantly allows players to switch between Peter and Miles almost instantly at certain points, encouraging the use of two distinctly different combat philosophies to tackle challenges.
The most significant universal evolution, however, is the parry system. Instead of solely relying on the Spider-Sense dodge, players must now read enemy attacks to determine if they should dodge (indicated by a red ring) or parry (indicated by a yellow ring). This simple addition adds a crucial layer of strategic decision-making to every encounter. Facing off against a heavy Kraven hunter or a savage Symbiote creature becomes a tense dance of timing and reaction, elevating combat from a reactive spectacle to an engaging tactical puzzle.
A Seamless Symphony of Story and Gameplay
What truly elevates Spider-Man 2 to a 90+ score is not just the individual improvements to the world or combat, but how Insomniac seamlessly weaves these elements into the narrative fabric. The expanded map isn’t just for show; it’s where pivotal character moments for both Peter and Miles unfold. The evolution of combat is a direct expression of Peter’s arc with the Symbiote. Even the new Web Wings gadget, which allows for thrilling gliding across the city’s canyons, is diegetically introduced as a creation from Peter and Miles’s scientific collaboration.
The game understands that in a superior open-world title, there should be no division between the “main story” and the “open-world activities.” Every side mission, every friendly neighborhood Spider-App request, and every collectible hunt feels intrinsically tied to the heroes’ journey, building out the world and their characters without ever feeling like tedious filler. Stopping a random crime can lead to a multi-part story chain that explores the fallout of a villain’s actions on ordinary citizens, adding emotional weight to the heroics.
In conclusion, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a triumph of game design and a masterful execution of the open-world superhero genre. It takes the near-perfect template of its predecessor and improves upon it in every conceivable way. The open world is more expansive, detailed, and alive; the combat is deeper, more varied, and narratively resonant; and the entire experience is polished to a mirror shine. It is a powerful testament to the power of the PlayStation 5, not as a mere hardware showcase, but as a tool that enables developers to realize their most ambitious visions without compromise. Insomniac Games hasn’t just made a great Spider-Man game; they’ve crafted a definitive superhero experience that will be remembered as a high watermark for years to come. The critics’ scores don’t lie—this is a masterpiece.
