A Significant Shift in Pace: One Side Mission in Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 captivates players with its thrilling main storyline, but it's the Cultural Museum side mission that truly stands out This engaging and satisfying experience offers a refreshing change of pace, showcasing the museum as a key highlight
Article Key Points
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 showcases Peter Parker and Miles Morales confronting their toughest obstacles to date. However, it also strives to underscore the significance of embodying the compassionate persona of the neighborhood Spider-Man and fostering meaningful ties within the community.
The Cultural Museum side mission in the game explores African-American art and history as Miles and his mother collaborate to save a struggling Harlem cultural center from both financial challenges and a robbery. This mission underscores the importance of community preservation.
Insomniac Games meticulously presents a comprehensive history for every exhibit in the museum, featuring an exceptional showcase dedicated to renowned poet Langston Hughes. The side mission offers a captivating and enjoyable homage to African-American art, enhancing the game's narrative and character growth.
In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker and Miles Morales face their toughest challenges yet as New York is once again in grave danger from Kraven, Venom, and the Lizard. While the story takes an intense turn, it seems to contradict the essence of the character. From the beginning, Spider-Man has been known as the "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man," highlighting his relatability to everyday workers. However, when alien symbiotes are introduced in Spider-Man 2, the focus on the neighborhood aspect diminishes.
Fortunately, Insomniac, the creators of the game, understands the significance of Spider-Man's connection to the community. The side missions in Spider-Man 2 provide multiple opportunities to ground the experience and emphasize how essential the wall-crawler is to the people of New York City. One particularly notable side mission involving Miles encompasses the true essence of a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man while also celebrating the rich history of African-American art in the United States. Despite slowing down the pace of the game, this mission brings a much-needed change and balance to the extraordinary threats faced by the game's Spider-Men.
Spider-Man 2's Cultural Museum Side Mission Shines In All The Best Ways
The Basic Premise of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's Cultural Museum Side Mission
Miles Morales, in his role as Spider-Man, often encounters notorious villains like Sandman even before most people have woken up. However, besides battling the excessive number of supervillains in New York City, Miles also dedicates his time to assist his community, alongside his mother, Rio Morales, who is a city councilwoman. Rio plays a crucial role as Miles' informant, keeping him informed about the issues that personally affect the residents of Harlem and the surrounding neighborhoods. In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Rio guides Miles towards a pressing matter involving a cultural center in Harlem, thus initiating an extraordinary Cultural Museum side mission.
In this questline, a Harlem cultural center is seeking funding while organizing a gala showcasing instruments and other artifacts from artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Miles soon uncovers that several of these instruments have been stolen, requiring him and Rio to collaborate and utilize their investigative skills in order to preserve this crucial exhibit honoring African-American history. While the unfolding story may differ from Spider-Man 2's main narrative, it captures the delightful essence of comic tales where safeguarding the community becomes the utmost priority.
The Museum is The Main Highlight of Marvel's Spider-Man 2's Cultural Museum Side Mission
Once Miles uncovers the truth behind the robbery at the cultural museum, the side mission reaches its climax. Players are given the opportunity to attend a grand gala, where they can explore various exhibits showcasing the accomplishments of African-American writers, musicians, and performers from the early 20th century. Insomniac has meticulously incorporated historical details for each artist, with a particularly impressive exhibit dedicated to poet Langston Hughes and his entire poem, "The Weary Blues." This heartfelt tribute to African-American art momentarily slows down the action in Spider-Man 2, but remains captivating and entertaining.
While Spider-Man's stories often revolve around confronting enormous threats, his commitment to serving the community is central to his character. Insomniac's portrayal of Spider-Man takes on risks, but never forgets the significance of the friendly neighborhood aspect. The Cultural Museum side mission not only grounds Miles, but also resonates deeply due to its subject matter and the personal connection he has to the conflict. Although the entire city may not be in danger, Spider-Man remains devoted to protecting his community.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed 2018 game, Spider-Man, and its Miles Morales spin-off, is set to be released exclusively for the PS5 console. This new installment from Insomniac Games offers an expansive open-world where players can take on the roles of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, who team up to face formidable adversaries such as Kraven, Venom, and Lizard. Get ready for an epic adventure filled with thrilling gameplay and captivating storytelling.
Franchise: Spider-Man
Platform(s): PS5
Release date: October 20, 2023
Developed by: Insomniac Games
Published by: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Open-World, Action-Adventure
ESRB rating: T for Teen (due to blood, drug reference, mild language, violence)
Estimated gameplay duration: 20 hours
Metascore: 90
Editor's P/S
1. The Cultural Museum side mission in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a refreshing change of pace from the main storyline. It highlights the importance of community preservation and showcases the rich history of African-American art and culture. The mission is well-written and engaging, and it provides a much-needed break from the game's more intense moments. I appreciate that Insomniac Games took the time to create such a detailed and informative side mission. It shows that they are committed to creating a game that is both entertaining and educational.
2. I also appreciate the way that the Cultural Museum side mission emphasizes the importance of Spider-Man's connection to the community. Miles Morales is a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, and he is always willing to help those in need. The Cultural Museum side mission shows how Miles uses his powers to help preserve the history and culture of Harlem. This is a great example of how Spider-Man can use his powers for good, and it is a reminder of why he is such a beloved superhero.
