Does Marvel’s Spider-Man rise from the ashes of the wall-crawler’s previous endeavors?
One hero stands above the rest in my eyes. He’s a dude that loves science, has a serious inferiority complex, and still manages to be useful to the world. Seeing as you’re here, you know I mean Spider-Man. You also know I’m just scrounging together an intro, similar to the way some movies and games seem to scrounge together a Spidey experience. It stings to see such a wonderful world be held back by bad storylines, unlikable minor roles, clumsy mechanics, or re-hashed origin stories.
I can finally attest that Marvel’s Spider-Man contains none of those detractors. In fact, I just want to rant about how much the swinging doesn’t suck and that you’re not punished for ignoring crimes. Let’s set that aside for a moment, though, and have a real talk.
Just as Spider-Man assumes you know the superhero’s backstory, I’ll assume you know the general gist of the game. Swinging around New York, fighting thugs, stopping villains, doing side-activities; I’ll only recount a few of these in detail. Some of the most important mechanics, though, are those related to fighting. Early on, combat comprises of mad mashes of Square (for punching) with the occasional Circle (for dodging). This flowchart grows more and more complex as time goes on, introducing web attacks, throws, counter-attacks, suit powers, and even gadgets.
Late-game fights are filled with dozens of goons, but by this time, you have an unholy arsenal of gadgets and punches at your fingertips. There’s hardly ever a right or wrong way to approach a fight, meaning that every ingenious trap, clever combo, or critical thinking exercise is all you. Kick a guy into the air, web him up, yank him back down, and throw his body into another thug: that’s your idea, tiger. No one made you do that! Fights are a subtle way to place you into Spidey’s shoes and test your innovation—what you lack in brute strength, you make up for with wit and reaction.
Surprisingly, this quick thinking is also needed for web-swinging. There are a variety of tiny tactics you can use while traversing New York by web. You could go “auto-pilot,” holding R2 while aiming your body, or you can experiment to find the quickest ways around town. Jumping at the lowest point of your swing will launch you forward, while jumping at the end will send you careening into the sky. Wall-running, point-launching, and web-zipping are a breeze, and compliment regular swinging nicely. Several side-activities even test your competency, ensuring you know how to hustle across town while controlling your swing positioning.
These are one type of Taskmaster Challenges, special side-activities that may rate your fighting tactics, stealth takedowns, and overall speed. There are also stakeouts involving Black Cat, which ask you to find a tiny cat statue in an I Spy-inspired mini-game. Other villain-less side jobs include pastimes like photography, backpack collecting, pigeon hunting, and beating down waves of thugs in generic base takeovers.
Peter will often comment that “it’s time for patrol,” denoting that he wants you to explore the city and take on these small jobs. Some tasks are quick and easy to accomplish. When inserted after his comment, those fill as a nice interstitial between missions. Others feel long, repetitive, and slightly uninspired. Aside from Taskmaster Challenges, Black Cat Stakeouts, and base-thug-beat-em-ups, these extra waypoints hardly tie in with Spidey’s web of baddies. Villains and side-characters have always been what make Spider-Man stories stand out, so it’s disappointing that they’re not used in every square inch of the experience.
Thankfully, the void left by absent ne’er-do-wells is filled with wonderful side-characters. It’s here that Spider-Man‘s hooks truly sink in, as supporting characters give soul and personality to the experience. Who truly wants to watch a superhero solely beat up criminals? It’s more interesting when you watch one act human and interact with the people in their lives.
Ditching the preconceived notions behind these characters pays off dividends, especially with comic fans. Individuals connect in ways you wouldn’t normally expect, which is a fun way to subvert story expectations. Insomniac Games left a few fun relationships up their sleeve and it’s enthralling to watch these play out.
Marvel’s Spider-Man is an experience built for those who love Spidey.
Of course, Spider-Man’s story avoids preconception as a whole by not being a rehashed origin tale. From the outset, Peter’s been a hero for eight years and has an established history with a few notorious faces. That can be a tad jarring, as Spidey makes quips mid-fight about their storied past. These lines make sense if you know the iconic comic showdowns behind them. But they can also leave new web-headed fans in the dark. Even if you do know the history here, you’re likely left wanting to see (or play) it for yourself, rather than hear it retold secondhand.
Yet the second half of the game truly shines. Insomniac has absolutely nailed the tone of Spidey’s comic run from the last decade. As usual, Peter can’t manage his time, has trouble balancing his personal and hero lives, and wants to be greater than he currently is. As the audience, we get to experience the consequences of those emotions—something most movies and comics can’t accurately convey. Melodrama can run rampant and details grow a little complex, but ultimately the plot climaxes in some extremely satisfying fights and missions.
With all that it does right, Marvel’s Spider-Man is a love-letter to Spidey fans. You’ll catch the references, know the backstory, and feel the awe at any subversion and twist. But if you just barely like the wall-crawler, or need convincing that he’s more than a threat or menace, I worry that there’s not much here for you. For all its fun, Spider-Man feels familiar to anyone who plays other big-budget superhero titles. In essence, that’s the boldest opinion I have here. If you’re itching for something brand new, something revolutionary, or something that switches its gameplay every thirty seconds, look elsewhere.
And that’s okay: Spider-Man isn’t trying to impress non-fans. It doesn’t bother with those looking for an all-encompassing adventure. Rather, it’s an experience built for those who love Spidey. It nails the tone of the long-running comic while delivering solid combat and traversal mechanics. Though these pieces don’t always fit together in the best way, the act of playing through them is spectacular. Not everyone will find this superior to other superhero titles, but then again, other titles don’t have the whimsy and charm of Peter Parker. Marvel’s Spider-Man rises above the hero’s rocky past to become something astonishing, sensational, and simply amazing.
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