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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Review


Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 lets players take control of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, creating a story that feels deeper and more complex than before. Each character faces personal challenges, and their stories slowly come together as they confront one of Spider-Man’s most famous enemies: Venom.


Insomniac Games has once again taken creative freedom with Spider-Man’s story. In this version, the symbiote does not bond with Eddie Brock, as it does in the comics. Instead, it attaches itself to Harry Osborn, giving the story a fresh and unexpected direction. While this change may surprise longtime fans, it works well within the game’s narrative and helps make Venom feel both familiar and new.


A More Lively New York City

New York City looks better than ever in Spider-Man 2. The city feels more alive, with more people, activities, and small details that react to the story. Certain locations change as the game progresses. For example, players can see construction work at the Osborn Science Center after the events of the previous game. Coney Island is full of bright colors, moving rides, and crowds, making it one of the most memorable locations.


The game also features dynamic weather, including rain and changing skies, depending on where you are in the story. Later in the game, New York undergoes a dramatic transformation that reflects the darker tone of the final chapters. This change is visually impressive and adds emotional weight to the story.


Gameplay and Exploration Improvements

Like the first game, players can complete the main story alongside many side missions. Random crime events appear throughout the city, and sometimes the other Spider-Man will already be there, allowing you to fight together. Players can usually switch freely between Peter and Miles, which keeps gameplay fresh, as each Spider-Man has different abilities and fighting styles.


A major new feature is the ability to glide through the air using web wings. Wind tunnels and air vents help players travel long distances quickly without swinging. This makes moving around the city faster and adds variety to exploration, especially before fast travel becomes available.


Fast travel itself has been improved. Instead of being limited to subway stations, players can fast travel to almost any unlocked area after completing enough activities in that district. This is a welcome quality-of-life upgrade.


Suits, Story, and Characters

Another change from the previous game is that Spider-Man suits are now purely cosmetic. In the past, certain suits offered gameplay bonuses, but now all upgrades are unlocked through skill trees. This allows players to wear any suit they like without losing useful abilities.


The story is one of the game’s strongest points. The Kraven storyline adds tension and danger, while Venom feels powerful, aggressive, and dramatic. Venom’s movement and shape-shifting abilities are especially well done. Familiar characters like J. Jonah Jameson play a smaller role this time, allowing the main story arcs to take center stage.


Overall, the narrative does a great job showing how Peter and Miles have grown since the previous games. Completing the main story takes around 22 hours, with additional time for side content.


PC Performance and Technical Issues

On a high-end PC, Spider-Man 2 looks stunning. With advanced lighting, ray tracing, and HDR enabled, the game shines—especially on an OLED screen. Locations like Coney Island look particularly impressive at night, with bright lights and vibrant colors.


However, the PC version is not without problems. Some players may experience visual glitches, such as flickering hair or objects appearing bright white during cutscenes or missions. There are also occasional bugs where characters can get stuck in the environment, forcing a reload. While crashes are rare, they do happen.

The game performs poorly on the Steam Deck, with low frame rates even on the lowest settings. Although the game is technically playable, the experience is not recommended on handheld hardware.


Final Thoughts

Despite its technical issues, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is an excellent sequel. The ability to switch between two Spider-Men, the expanded city, and the strong story make it a rewarding experience. While the PC port still needs polishing, players with a powerful system will enjoy a visually impressive and engaging game. Fans of the series will find plenty to love, and the future of Insomniac’s Spider-Man universe looks very promising.


B2 Vocabulary List (Definitions & Examples)

  1. complex Definition: Having many parts or ideas that are connected. Example: The story is complex because it follows two main characters.

  2. personal challenges Definition: Problems or difficulties someone faces in their private life. Example: Both Peter and Miles face personal challenges during the game.

  3. confront Definition: To face a difficult situation or enemy directly. Example: The heroes must confront Venom in the final act.

  4. creative freedom Definition: The ability to change or adapt a story in new ways. Example: The developers took creative freedom with the Spider-Man story.

  5. narrative Definition: The way a story is told. Example: The game’s narrative keeps players emotionally involved.

  6. dynamic Definition: Changing or full of movement and energy. Example: The game features dynamic weather effects.

  7. visually impressive Definition: Attractive and exciting to look at. Example: New York City is visually impressive in this game.

  8. quality-of-life upgrade Definition: A change that makes something easier or more comfortable to use. Example: Fast travel is a quality-of-life upgrade in Spider-Man 2.

  9. cosmetic Definition: Related only to appearance, not function. Example: The suits are now cosmetic and do not affect gameplay.

  10. engaging Definition: Interesting and able to hold attention. Example: The story is engaging from start to finish.

  11. technical issues Definition: Problems related to software or hardware. Example: The PC version still has some technical issues.

  12. glitch Definition: A small technical problem or error. Example: Some players noticed visual glitches during cutscenes.

  13. performance Definition: How well a game or system runs. Example: Performance is excellent on high-end PCs.

  14. immersive Definition: Making you feel completely involved in an experience. Example: The detailed city makes the game very immersive.

  15. sequel Definition: A continuation of a story. Example: Spider-Man 2 is a sequel to the previous games.


2. Vocabulary Worksheet

A. Match the Word to the Definition

Match the vocabulary word to its meaning.

  1. cosmetic

  2. glitch

  3. immersive

  4. confront

  5. narrative

a. a small technical error b. only related to appearance c. the way a story is told

d. to face something difficult e. making you feel part of the experience


B. Fill in the Blanks

Use the correct vocabulary word.

  1. The game’s __________ keeps players interested from beginning to end.

  2. Weather changes make the city feel more __________.

  3. Some __________ caused characters to get stuck in the environment.

  4. The suits are now purely __________ and do not affect abilities.

  5. The heroes must __________ their strongest enemy together.


3. Comprehension Questions

  1. Which two characters can the player control in the game?

  2. How is Venom’s origin different from the comics?

  3. Give two examples of how New York City feels more alive in this game.

  4. What new movement feature allows players to travel faster through the city?

  5. Why is fast travel considered a quality-of-life upgrade?

  6. What are one or two technical problems mentioned in the article?

  7. Why is the Steam Deck version not recommended?


4. Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think a complex narrative makes games more engaging? Why or why not?

  2. How important are visual improvements in creating an immersive experience?

  3. Is it better for developers to have creative freedom, or should they follow the original story closely?

  4. Are cosmetic-only upgrades better than gameplay-based rewards?

  5. How much should technical issues affect a player’s opinion of a game?


5. Essay Questions

Short Essay: 5-10 sentences

  1. Do video games need strong stories to be successful? Use examples from Spider-Man 2.

  2. Tell me why Spider-Man is the best superhero.

  3. Sequels often try to be “bigger and better” than the original. In your opinion, what should a good sequel focus on most?

 
 
 

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