The 2018 Insomniac-developed game, Marvel's Spider-Man, somehow found a way to exceed expectations with its gameplay and story. It effortlessly snatches the crown of best Spidey game from the 2004 movie tie-in with mechanics, narrative beats, and a world that reestablish the magic of the character in the gaming sphere. Bringing Otto Octavius, Mr Negative, MJ, and Aunt May into a tale that felt like it was taken straight from the pages of the comics was a monumental achievement, and seeing it somehow also wedge in a worthwhile origin story for Miles Morales was a real treat.
Miles got his own game in 2020, battling Roxxon and the Underground in a fight that hit close to home for him. It gave clarity to his personality and showed off the skills that players will be able to reacquaint themselves with in the upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Taking on two playable characters will be a tough ask of Insomniac, as they each have to feel different to be truly justified. However, this could mean that the game falls into a familiar trap that God of War Ragnarok did just one year before, as quickly switching between two distinctive characters can take its toll on a product's pacing and gameplay.
God of War Ragnarok Made Atreus Playable, but Very Different
Kratos is a dream to control in God of War and its sequel, God of War Ragnarok, switching to an over-the-shoulder perspective that gives the combat a closer and more intimate feel. There's a lot of strategy to it, and though he feels heavy, combos executed well are rewarded with high damage and the potential for so much enjoyment. The 2022 successor branches out to allowing players to also control Atreus through points in God of War Ragnarok story, which brings an altogether different feel and a welcome break from Kratos' gameplay loop. Atreus prioritizes distance and speed over brute strength.
However, while this keeps gameplay fresh and does well to see the story from two unique perspectives, the difference between Kratos and Atreus in play style is huge. This means that it can take time to readjust to the controls of both, in large part because the sections with Atreus are lengthy, and the combat encounters are often as challenging as Kratos' fights can be. It's not like playing as Ashley in Resident Evil 4 which is fleeting and basic; Atreus brings much more for the player to do, which means it's hard to flit back and forth.
Spider-Man 2 Needs to Strike a Balance Between New and Familiar
Spider-Man 2 shouldn't suffer as much from this problem, as both Miles and Peter in Insomniac's Spider-Man exhibit similar strengths and abilities, so the basics shouldn't be worlds apart. However, they have to be distinct enough to warrant the switch to Miles and back again, meaning Insomniac has to tread a very fine line to make it work.
While the seamless switching from one to the other as shown in the May 24 PlayStation showcase is neat, it could hit the same hurdle that Kratos and Atreus did last year. Having dual protagonists presents lots of interesting gameplay ideas and story quirks, but it has to be handled in a way that reduces the learning curve every time the player steps in the shoes of someone new. Be it through shortened sections with each or controls that feel more universal, Spider-Man 2 would do well to keep the two characters from feeling like people with entirely different abilities and controls.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launches fall 2023 on PlayStation 5.