Spider-Man has had a somewhat inconsistent relationship with video games over the years, with plenty of fantastic titles being balanced by more than a few forgettable ones. Insomniac, developer of the superb Sunset Overdrive and the underrated Resistance series, took the beloved Marvel Comics character and made a game worthy of his lofty name with Marvel's Spider-Man. It felt like a mixture of all the great elements of the well-received Spider-Man games of old, and drew favorable comparisons to Rocksteady's Arkham trilogy, which hasn't been short of its own critical acclaim.
Naturally, with such praise comes high expectations. The sequel that's set to release in 2023 has a lot to live up to, as the success of the character on the silver screen has also elevated the series' legacy. Marvel's Spider-Man could very well become a victim of its own success, and if the sequel is anything below average, it could certainly end up disappointing fans.
Miles Morales' Relative Mediocrity
Though its approach to character development was fantastic, the spin-off/sequel Spider-Man: Miles Morales didn't particularly advance the formula of the first game in any significant way. The gameplay loop worked wonders before, so with Miles' maiden outing as the famed web-slinger releasing just two years later, it would have been unwise to presume that its core mechanics would have been all that different. Miles is a truly great character, a wonderful addition to the series, and one of the best gaming characters of 2020, but the familiar gameplay and mediocre story hold it back from feeling truly innovative.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will be the first in the series to be a console exclusive, meaning that the restrictions of the PS4 will be a non-issue in the development of the sequel. Spider-Man: Miles Morales had to run on PlayStation 4, and it achieved this beautifully, though not with the same degree of success that it had on PS5. Now that the Peter Parker-led sequel will ditch the last generation entirely, Insomniac is free to push the limits of the new hardware, as Marvel's Spider-Man did in 2018. Miles' adventure was by no means a disappointment, but it didn't move the franchise forward, meaning Spider-Man 2 can't afford to do the same.
Spider-Man's Film Success
Since the recent release of Spider-Man: No Way Home brought a story that was a delight for fans of all ages, the character has been the topic of much conversation, which only piles the pressure onto Insomniac to create something as beloved. More eyes will inevitably be on Spider-Man 2 as a result of the films, but while this is great for sales, so many fans will have different expectations, and catering to such diverse opinions may prove to be an issue once the reviews roll around.
One of the criticisms of the first game was that, while it had a great story, it didn't take any chances. Instead of bringing a new flavor to the character, it felt like a familiar template, just done better than most. The same could be said of No Way Home, and so Insomniac have a mammoth task making its new Spider-Man game feel fresh.
Spider-Man 2 will have to pull out all the stops to forge something new, but still universally beloved. Tom Holland's take on Peter Parker is great, and a five-year tenure over three movies has solidified him as the live action face of the character for years to come. In the realm of video games, Pete's features have been less consistent, as the PS5 remaster changed his looks entirely. The new character model didn't affect the emotional weight of the story or the game's many action sequences, but though the change is a subtle one, it proves that the game series doesn't have the consistency that Tom Holland's performances brought to the character.
Wolverine Is On the Horizon
It's clear with the short development cycle of Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the confirmation of a Wolverine-focused game that Insomniac has a lot on its plate. A packed schedule for years to come is enough pressure, but when one of the upcoming projects is yet another Marvel hero, the job gets a lot tougher. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as the highly-praised X-Men movies and the decades of comics that precedes Insomniac's games, are a bar that many are expecting the developer to hop over with ease.
The tone of each character is remarkably different, but with Logan and Parker both falling under the Marvel banner, the success of Spider-Man 2 could have an impact on anticipation for the upcoming Wolverine project. 2018's Spider-Man was a resounding success, but by the time the Wolverine project comes to fruition, it will have been years since it released.
Its upcoming sequel will undoubtedly be the game to set expectations for what's to come. Wolverine will require a significantly different approach to combat, storytelling, and presentation, three essential pillars of Marvel's Spider-Man's success. If the sequel fails to live up to the original in these departments, it could spell bad news for Logan.
Does Whatever a Spider Can
Should the sequel to Spider-Man be a mediocre affair, the character will live on regardless. Peter Parker is too much of a fan-favorite to let a mediocre game get in the way of his success, but the ramifications it can have on Insomniac are palpable. Sony acquired the studio to produce games that are in keeping with its first-party quality, and if the sequel doesn't build upon the first in any significant way, it would dampen excitement for future projects.
All signs point to something special with iconic villain, Venom, confirmed. Insomniac is an established developer, and if the first game is anything to go by, Spider-Man 2 will uphold the legacy of the character with grace. However, nothing is a sure thing, and while quality may be the expectation from fans everywhere, it simply cannot be mediocre. It has to be more than that.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 for PS5.