Spiderman 2 Review: A Game Worth Buying PS5 For

Before I jump into my super long Spiderman 2 Review, I want to talk a bit about Sony PlayStation’s history. In the past, very few games have been good enough to achieve the title of “system sellers,” a term coined for extraordinarily amazing games that manage to sell a gaming console on their own. Each console has its list of system sellers including Nintendo Switch and Microsoft’s Xbox. But living in India, most of us never really had the chance to experience any other console than the Sony PlayStation.

In my memory, the first system seller which I can recall was the God of War 3, which managed to give the Sony PS3, arguably the least popular PlayStation console, a huge boost in sales. Similarly, by the time PS4 launched Sony had figured out the formula for creating memorable single-player games and as a result, we saw many amazing titles during the same console generation.

However, Spiderman PS4 stood the tallest among all Sony PS4 exclusives, selling more than 33 million copies as of June 2022. So naturally, the game’s direct sequel, Spiderman 2 was hugely anticipated around by millions of fans around the world. Therefore, it had pretty big shoes to fill. And after playing the games for more than two weeks I am confident to say that the Spiderman 2 is indeed another system seller for Sony.

The review contains spoilers for 2018 Spiderman PS4 and Spiderman: Miles Morales.

Spiderman 2 Review: The Story So Far

In Spider-Man (PS4), Peter Parker has been Spider-Man for eight years and has settled into his role as protector of New York City. However, things take a dark turn when Wilson Fisk, a powerful criminal mastermind, is arrested, and a new villain named Mr. Negative emerges to fill the power vacuum, alongside other familiar adversaries. Throughout the game, Peter tries to balance his life as a scientist and a superhero, and even mentors Miles Morales, who later gets bitten by a genetically altered spider.

Fast forward to Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the story picks up with Miles now having spider-powers. Miles initially struggles with the responsibility but steps up when Peter goes abroad. As the new Spider-Man, Miles discovers a war between the Roxxon Energy Corporation and a high-tech criminal army, the Underground, led by the Tinkerer. Throughout his journey, Miles learns the importance of community, family, and accepting help from others. By the end, he matures into his role, saves Harlem from a catastrophic explosion, and solidifies his place as a worthy successor to Peter, protecting the city with a style uniquely his own.

The sequel picks up about nine months after Spider-Man: Miles Morales, with Peter grappling with personal loss while Miles navigates the trials of young adulthood. Their personal lives become even more complicated with the re-emergence of Harry Osborn, adding another layer to the evolving narrative. As the story progresses, the symbiote’s dark influence becomes a central plot point, creating a grim internal and external struggle for our heroes. This chapter in the Spider-Man saga challenges Peter and Miles not just to save their city, but to explore their inner selves and the bonds that tie them together, amidst action-packed sequences and high-stakes battles against formidable foes.

Spiderman PS5 Review: Refined Gameplay

In Spider-Man 2 on PS5, the gameplay loop is extremely satisfying with the right mix of exploration, combat, and story progression. Much like its predecessors, the game invites players to swing through an expanded New York City, combating foes, completing missions, and uncovering the city’s secrets.

The gameplay loop intricately weaves main story missions with side quests and random crime events, alongside an enticing exploration of the city for collectibles and Easter eggs. A notable feature is the quick switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales, each adorned with unique abilities and their own story arcs and unique side missions.

This seamless switch, facilitated by the PS5’s SSD, and the fast traveling makes the game even faster than before as there are virtually no loading times at all. Adding a layer of customization and strategy are over 65 new suits teased in the game, each likely bearing unique abilities or cosmetic changes, allowing players to tailor Spider-Man to their liking and potentially altering their approach to combat and exploration.

The fast travel feature has been significantly enhanced, with players able to select travel points on the map to quickly traverse the expansive city. The PS5’s capabilities have reduced load times drastically, making fast travel almost instant and ensuring players can dive into action wherever they choose with minimal downtime. These gameplay mechanics, working in harmony, keep the gameplay loop engaging and fresh.

Spiderman PS5 Review: All Graphics Modes Explained

Spider-Man on PS5 offers various graphics modes to enhance the gameplay experience depending on player preferences. Here’s a breakdown of the different graphics modes:

• 4K 30FPS Fidelity Mode
• 4K 40FPS Performance Mode
• 4K 60FPS Performance Mode
• 120Hz Mode and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) Support

Ray tracing is enabled across all the graphics modes in Spider-Man on PS5. This feature significantly enhances the game’s visual appeal by providing more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. These graphics modes allow players to choose between better visual quality or smoother performance based on personal preference, thereby enhancing the overall gaming experience on the PS5.

Spiderman 2 Review: New And Improved Combat

Spider-Man 2 on PS5 is abundant with references and Easter eggs, much akin to its predecessors. The city of New York in the game is meticulously crafted with references that players can stumble upon, enhancing the linkage to the broader Marvel universe and other Spider-Man titles.

In Spider-Man 2 on PS5, combat has seen an evolution with new features compared to the previous titles, offering an enhanced and more immersive experience. Notably, Peter now utilizes mechanized Spider-Arms as a default part of his combat loadout, a departure from the original game where it was a customizable suit power.

Similarly, Miles has two distinct colorings for his bio-electrical Venom powers which are intertwined with his story arc. Both mechanical and electrical powers come with their own skill trees, allowing players to unlock Area of Effect (AOE) attacks, multi-foe launchers, and more as they earn XP.

The iconic web-shooters remain a crucial part of the combat system but now come with an increased capacity of twelve slots. Additionally, new gadgets have been introduced to control crowds; for instance, “Upshot” deploys a drone to attack enemies, while “Web Grabber” pulls enemies (and objects) towards Spider-Man, setting them up for an AOE strike.

A headline addition to combat is the Black Suit, which comes with its own skill tree and offers new combat abilities. Players can now toss out tendrils to grab and slam enemies or morph into a writhing mass to launch enemies backward with the Symbiote Strike. The Symbiote Punch and Symbiote Surge abilities provide powerful new options in combat, emphasizing a more brutal and aggressive fighting style compared to the regular Spider-Man suits.

Lastly, the utilization of the PS5’s DualSense controller’s haptic feedback has been harnessed to provide more situationally accurate feedback during combat. This adds to the immersion and tactile sensation of wielding different powers, enhancing the overall combat experience.

Spiderman 2 Review: Tons of Easter Eggs

Spider-Man 2 on PS5 is abundant with references and Easter eggs, much akin to its predecessors. The city of New York in the game is meticulously crafted with references that players can stumble upon, enhancing the linkage to the broader Marvel universe and other Spider-Man titles.

Notably, there are 21 fun Easter eggs and references sprinkled throughout the game, encompassing elements discoverable while exploring New York and those embedded in mid and end-credit scenes. Among these Easter eggs, players can find nods to various iconic Marvel characters like the Avengers, Black Panther, and Wolverine, which enrich the game’s connection to the larger Marvel universe.

There’s also a specific Spider-Verse Easter egg to uncover, which entails collecting all 42 Spider-Bots spread across the map. These Spider-Bots themselves act as Easter eggs, referencing certain characters from the movies. The Spider-Verse Easter egg is a testament to the depth of engagement the game offers, allowing players to delve deeper into a blend of Spider-Man and Marvel lore.

Spiderman 2 Review: The Controversy

Mechanically and visually the game is pretty sound but that doesn’t mean that it is not without faults. First and foremost, some character models lack detail. Compared to Peter and Miles, Mary Jane’s character looks a bit less detailed and even wooden at times. Some fans were already unhappy with the way Mary Jane’s character looked worse than it did in Spiderman PS4. And there does seem to be some truth to it.

Secondly, the game does contain some progressive narratives and side missions. Although one might call them “woke” I think most of them are not in your face and remain separate from the main story. Lastly, I did face some game-breaking bugs towards the end of the game which forced me to restart from a much earlier save file. But overall, the controversy surrounding the game is true to some extent but so much that it’d ruin your experience.

Spiderman 2 Review: Is It Worth It?

The answer is a resounding yes! In 20 or so hours of main campaign, Spiderman 2 builds upon the original game and Miles Morales in a fantastic way all the while introducing us to a storyline that feels personal and engaging. The game won’t move you to tears like how God of War: Ragnarok did but it will definitely keep you at the edge of your seat until the very end.