He’s one of gaming’s greatest superheroes, but which Spider-Man game is the best of the best?
Marvels Spider-Man 2represents Insomniacs biggest attempt yet to create aSpider-Mantitle unlike any that have come before.
Every time, the bar is raised just a little bit higher.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
The Amazing Spider-Manfranchise left a lot to be desired.
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The video game adaptation defied expectations though and seemingly exists in its own continuity.
The action-adventure was developed by Beenox and published by Activision.
Anything that can improve upon the original movie should be celebrated!
The video game of the same name had a tough task to pull off.
Developed by Software Creations and published by Acclaim Entertainment, the side-scrolling beat-em-up has aged superbly.
The combat was as button-mashy as they come and that was part of the charm.
No one will argue thatSpider-Man And Venom: Maximum Carnagewas groundbreaking, nor is it categorically Spider-Mans best title.
Theres even an argument to be made that some of the levels could be conceived as repetitive.
Developed and published by SEGA, the side-scroller beat-em-up followed all the familiar conventions of the genre.
Players didnt just get to suit up as the titular web-slinger in this arcade title.
That diverse roster ensured that the gameplay had far more depth than other retroSpider-Mantitles.
That isnt to say that the title wasnt challenging.
At times the improvements seen inSpider-Man: The Video Gamewerent enough to avoid unexpected bugs and imperfect gameplay mechanics.
Yet, there was a magic to the game, elevated further by the variation in those villain face-offs.
The game was designed to follow the events of the film, taking place months after The Lizards defeat.
Just like other movie tie-ins, there were criticisms about how the title was adapted to different consoles.
Others criticizedThe Amazing Spider-Manfor its general lack of innovations and often familiar bits of level design.
Ultimately this was a title that was held back by its movie tie-in status that still showed great potential.
If only it had broken the mold in areas like its travel system.
Developed by Neversoft and published by Activision, the devil of this game really is in the details.
The narrative carried genuine emotional levity, with Petes personal struggles and character relationships driving the plot forward.
Unfortunately, the technology of that era has taken its toll.
The graphics have aged incredibly poorly.
At times, the character models fail to capture the essence of the comic book icons.
But pushing those aesthetic flaws aside,Spider-Manfound a way to make the web-slinger come to life on screen.
The way Spidey scaled a building or fired a web feels far more natural.
Its clunky at times but theres a new level of functionality that hadnt been seen in past games.
This title was a massive step for the franchise, laying the groundwork for what was to come.
Ultimate Spider-Man (2005)
TheUltimate Spider-Manbrand was designed as a fresh start in the comics.
Thats much to the games benefit, with a cartoonish quality forcing each scene into a more energetic aesthetic.
The narrative jumps between Spider-Man and Venoms point of view with players even getting to control both.
Theres a heaviness to Venoms attacks that contrasts well with Spider-Mans speed and agility.
Its fair to say that withoutSpider-Man,Insomniacs version just wouldnt exist.
But a few simple tricks stopped the title from becoming repetitive.
The character models even hold up well (even if the graphics are clunky in other areas).
However, the impact it has had on futureSpider-Mangames makes it worthy of a reappraisal.
While its console iterations were debatably superior, each game struggled with its camera choices and encountered performance issues.
The overwhelming consensus is that the game delivered some genuinely cool moments, with the bold approach paying off.
Yes, thats right; Miguel OHara was the co-star of this terrific narrative.
With a well-thought-out progression system, players fought to earn their upgrades which were always worth the grind.
Still, the biggest compliment thatEdge Of Timecan be given is that it was totally cinematic.
Classic villains like Mysterio and Hammerhead made an appearance, but really its all about the Spiders here.
From the character models to the animation choices, everything was obviously authentic to the comic book personas.
These sequences were sometimes chaotic and messy but were nonetheless entertaining because of the variation in enemy types.
Boss battles and henchmen encounters were always highlights despite the challenges they posed.
ButSpider-Man 2still sits above many that follow in its footsteps.
Full of twists and turns, the character interactions are some of the best elements of the game.
In many areas, this game does improve upon the previous installment.
The web-swinging has been refined with a plethora of Miles-specific animations having been added in.
And the addition of Miles own stealth capabilities truly elevated the system.
Graphically its stunning and its a fantastic display of what can be achieved in the current generation.
The script was spot on and the voice performers came to steal the show.
The web-slinging was just as good asSpider-Man 2stake on that concept and added a few wrinkles of its own.
They always inform the character and are varied enough to make them worth hunting down.
Marvels Spider-Man 2 (2023)
Yes, actually, it can.
Much of the praise thatMarvels Spider-ManandMiles Moralesearned applies toSpider-Man 2.
With their previous games, Insomniac crafted a nearly perfect foundation for the idealSpider-Mangaming experience.
They obviously found few excuses to deviate from the core components of that formula for this sequel.
