Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game review: A spellbinding superhero sequel

In the opening scenes of Spider-Man 2, developer Insomniac Games holds nothing back. An ordinary classroom scene featuring Peter Parker and Miles Morales is transformed in an instant. There’s a supervillain on the rampage, a string of explosions and civilians in peril. Both Spider-Men drop everything, don their masks and race against the clock to save the city. It has all the ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster, placing you firmly at the helm.

After a quick tutorial, the stabilisers are firmly taken off and you’re left in complete control of New York. The city is your playground and an endless sea of real estate surrounds you. Two new boroughs, Brooklyn and Queens, expand the map significantly from the original game and a vast array of collectibles and side quests already beg investigation.

Although fast travel features are eventually unlocked, you’ll seldom use them – such is the fun of web slinging through the infinite supply of skyscrapers and bridges. Drop down at any moment to see the vivid detail of the city streetscape and fight crime as it unravels before your eyes. Combat is slick, energetic and satisfying, as players can unleash a flurry of acrobatic punches and web and gadget attacks with relative ease. A variety of animations between both Peter and Miles allows you to button-bash without compromising on style and although the game tries to coax you to use stealth, you’ll never trust the silence for too long.

At some point, an enemy will become alert: one wrong step will summon hordes of pain your way. Relying on your instincts and muscle memory, you’ll be surprised at just how resourceful Spider-Man can be and how jaw-dropping the simplest of fights can become.

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What is a superhero without a worthy enemy, though? The game draws on a rich catalogue of villains that will test both Spider-Men, physically and emotionally, to their limits.

Kraven the Hunter is one of the primary antagonists, transforming New York City into his personal jungle. His obsession with finding worthy prey means that everyone from Black Cat and Tombstone to Sandman and the Lizard is brought into the fray. Multistage boss battles and intricate fight mechanics amp up the drama and keep players guessing what happens next.

As menacing as Kraven tries to be, however, he’s easily eclipsed by the game’s biggest attraction: Venom. While the game takes a new approach to the symbiote, which is best left for the players to discover for themselves, suffice it to say he is a rich tapestry of horror and delight. He is everything you want him to be and more.

As they progress through the story, Peter and Miles unlock unique new abilities and suit powers revolving around the mysterious symbiote. What either hero does with these unique powers is the catalyst for a tour-de-force storyline, cementing both as unique heroes in their own right.

[ Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Endlessly, dizzyingly imaginative, but also mildly disappointing ]

Spider-Man 2 is a superhero sequel for the ages. Players will get lost in the sheer scale of New York City and in the high-octane action on constant display; and marvel at the power and speed of the PlayStation 5. It is the execution and ambition of its story, and the spotlight it shines equally on Peter and on Miles, however, that make this game an exciting precursor for Spider-Man’s bright future in gaming.

Spider-Man 2 is released for PlayStation 5 on Friday, October 20th