Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is likely still far off, as Spider-Man: Miles Morales only released back in November. Since then, Insomniac Games has been hard at work on the latest entry in the Ratchet and Clank series, with Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart looking to impress newcomers and longtime fans alike. The game features some fresh mechanics, ranging from new side activities to some clever uses of the PS5’s DualSense controller. One of the most interesting is the game’s rifts, however.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart features dimensional tears that can be opened using the Rift Tether, a special device wielded by the Lombax protagonists. In combat, players can use these portals to instantly reach a new part of the arena, opening entirely fresh angles in a battle. In exploration sections, these portals can be used to enter small platforming areas with extra rewards called Pocket Dimensions. Finally, some of the rifts will take players to entirely different planets, continuing their fight in a new location with fresh adversaries. While all of these features come together to make for an exciting Ratchet and Clank title, they could also make for an even better Marvel's Spider-Man game.
Explaining Spider-Man’s Use Of Portals
While both of Insomniac’s Spider-Men have useful gadgets at their disposal like gravity wells and drones, the tech has remained fairly grounded inside of the series thus far. This makes portals a big jump, though Insomniac could instantly explain the feature by incorporating Doctor Strange. While the Sorcerer Supreme being a playable character in Marvel’s Spider-Man could be a lot of fun, this is not a necessity, as he could simply make a cameo in the story as an ally of Peter’s. Realizing the gravity of a threat like Venom, Doctor Strange could use his magic to portal Miles and Peter throughout New York. With the Sanctum Sanctorum already seen in-game, working the character into the plot would not be too difficult.
Another option would be to have the next Marvel's Spider-Man game focus entirely on the Spider-Verse. One of the various Spider-Men could require help with a threat, with 2099 being a fine choice due to his futuristic technology justifying planet-hopping tech. Not only would this allow characters like Spider-Gwen to be playable, but it sets up the possibility for an engaging story full of unique settings. Diverse visual styles could be seen for each Spider’s version of New York, while each hero can show off different combat mechanics. Insomniac’s portal technology from Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart would make switching to every universe a breeze, and it is hard not to think of the setpieces that could result.
The Benefits Of Portals In Spider-Man
If Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 does incorporate portals, one of the biggest possibilities for the addition would be the variety it could bring to the game’s settings. While the Spider-Man character is deeply tied to New York, seeing the city used time and time again gets a bit repetitive from a gameplay perspective. However, portals could see Peter and Miles jumping to Spider-Gwen’s neon-filled version of New York, 2099’s stylish Nueva York, or Noir’s dark and drab 1940’s version of the city. Beyond this, iconic Marvel locations like Wakanda, Latveria, or the Negative Zone could instantly be reached, giving players the chance to battle enemies in locale that is fresh for a Spider-Man game. Fighting a villain like Kraven in an actual jungle would be far more exciting than any other setting, creating a truly memorable battle for fans.
The other advantage of the portals is that it allows for incredibly fluid transitions between the Spider-Men. Players could instantly switch between a boss battle where Peter takes on Venom to a scenario where Miles is clearing out an enemy base or clashing with a boss of his own. Players could switch between the two with the press of a button, with AI taking over in the fight for the meantime. Once one of the bosses is down, Miles or Peter could head through a portal to help the other finish off their opponent. Such a feature could really play off the pair’s teamwork while also giving gamers the chance to control both heroes as much as they desire. Further, players would be able to stick with Miles or Peter the entire way through, letting them enjoy whichever combat style they prefer.
Lastly, using some portal tech in regular combat could prove to be a lot of fun. Similar to how Ratchet and the new protagonist Rivet can flank enemies in Rift Apart, being able to do the same in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could be thrilling. Players could keep combos alive by using portals at the right time, attacking their enemies from some surprising angles. Further, being able to teleport around an arena could be hugely beneficial for stealth sections, adding another layer to the sequences. While the next game in the Marvel’s Spider-Man series could certainly be incredible without Ratchet and Clank’s rift system, the mechanic could benefit the sequel’s gameplay in a number of ways.
Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are available now on PS4 and PS5. A sequel has not been officially announced.