Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 gameplay, release date and more
Sony’s PlayStation Showcase was a mixed bag of news and announcements, but the show certainly ended with a bang when Insomniac Games revealed the first real footage of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 gameplay. Expectations were high for the sequel to the 2018 superhero blockbuster, and not only did the gameplay trailer live up to these expectations, but it surpassed them.
The gameplay, which was captured on PlayStation 5, was of an earlier build of the game. So any disappointment with the game’s graphics can likely be attributed to it still being a work in progress.
As for the combat, Insomniac Games has introduced a few wrinkles to the gameplay to keep things feeling fresh. Most notably, Spider-Man is now donning his iconic Black Suit. Players now have access to a range of Symbiote abilities. Not only is Spider-Man’s combat more aggressive and powerful, but he’s not got Symbiote tendrils to aid him in his fighting.
And he’s going to need all the help he can get because one of the new villains confirmed in this game is Kraven the Hunter. In this particular gameplay sequence, Kraven’s Hunters, a new enemy faction, are in pursuit of Dr. Curt Connors, AKA The Lizard, and Peter needs to stop him.
But Insomniac isn’t just using this suit as a way to give Spider-Man more combat flexibility. They are using it to help fuel their story. The game will delve into Peter’s personal relationship with the Symbiote and how it affects those closest to him.
That includes Miles Morales, who also received some of the spotlight in this gameplay reveal. Miles Morales, fresh off starring in his own expanded storyline, returns as a key player in the story. In this gameplay reveal, he’s chasing down Lizard through the streets and skies of Harlem.
Yes, I said sky because Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 introduces Web Wings as a new travel mechanic. These can be deployed by either Spider-Man and offers a much faster way of travel through the city.
Peter Parker isn’t the only one who received an upgrade in this sequel. Miles also has some new abilities and gadgets such as the Web Grabber, which pulls enemies together to an isolated spot. This allows Miles to chain one of his new abilities, Thunder Burst, which electrifies groups of enemies.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 won’t feature co-op gameplay, but it does give players the chance to seamlessly switch between both heroes across various moments in the story.
Marvel’s Spider-Man still doesn’t have a release date but Sony did reiterate its Fall 2023 release window. Some believe that a hint was placed within the trailer itself and have a theory regarding a November release date, but nothing is confirmed. When it does launch, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will be available on PS5.