Marvel’s Spider-Man told a concise story that introduced players to an established version of the webslinger. Having a few years of experience under his belt, Insomniac’s Spidey was able to take down the Sinister Six and nemesis Doctor Octopus — though the fight came at a cost. While the story was wrapped up nicely and a sequel was set up, Marvel’s Spider-Man received DLC in the form of The City Never Sleeps expansions.
While it remains unclear if Spider-Man: Miles Morales will get DLC, the original webhead’s three packs of content incorporate a fresh bit of story for players to uncover. Characters like Black Cat and Silver Sable take center stage, while Hammerhead serves as the main villain of the bonus content. With Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 all-but-confirmed to be on the way, though, players that have not yet player the DLC may be wondering if it will be necessary to understand the sequel.
Adding Context
The three City Never Sleeps expansions do I fine job of telling brief, episodic stories. Insomniac does a fine job making Black Cat a likable-yet-flawed foil for the do-gooder that is Peter Parker, while a nice twist on Silver Sable sees her becoming a proper ally. Hammerhead does his job fine, and while he lacks the depth of a character like Otto Octavius or Norman Osborn, he is a fine enough secondary antagonist due to his control over New York’s gangs. The characters build off each other well, too, with solid performances elevating the storyline.
While the main story is entertaining and worth playing for those that loved the main game, and the buildup to Miles becoming Spider-Man is fun to see, the biggest reveal actually comes via side content. Through a series of side quests, players learn that Spidey’s former ally on the police force has gone rogue. Frustrated due to her partners dying in the line of duty, she takes matters into her own hands, killing off criminals who escape justice. Believing that the legal system is flawed, Yuri makes for a fun anti-hero known as Wraith in the comics. With evidence around the crime scenes suggesting she will take up this mantle in the next games, the DLC seemingly reveals one of the secondary antagonists for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Not A Necessity
Despite being a fun pack of extra missions and story content, The City That Never Sleeps is not a must-play release for Marvel’s Spider-Man fans. While those that play the DLC will likely not regret their time with it, as Black Cat’s dynamic with Spidey is fun to see on-screen, gamers with a focus on the full games are not missing too much. After all, the biggest reveal by far is the Wraith situation, something that will surely be recapped once the sequel works her into the story.
The City That Never Sleeps’ other major piece of setup, Miles Morales being a hero-in-training, already received its payoff in Spider-Man: Miles Morales. There are no major teasers tied to Venom and the Symbiote, either, with the post credits scenes for the two Marvel's Spider-Man games doing all the work to set up the sequel’s plot. As such, players interested in the DLC purely so they do not miss out on any sequel-building can steer clear of the expansion, as there is nothing crucial within it.
Still, for those looking to kill the time until Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is revealed, the DLC will serve as a fine distraction. While it is not as emotional or important as the main plot or Spider-Man: Miles Morales narrative, The City Never Sleeps tells a fun side story that should please longtime fans. As such, while players do not need to play it by any means, it could still be fun to spend some time with. Further, if characters like Black Cat or Silver Sable make a comeback in the next game, understanding their relationship with Insomniac’s Peter Parker could be beneficial. With Wraith all-but-guaranteed to play a part, learning her origins could help as well.
Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are available now on PS4 and PS5. A sequel has not been officially announced.