The Grim Fate Awaiting Marvel's Spider-Man 2's Critical Mechanic Revealed

Highlights

Forced walking sequences in video games can be tedious and break up the excitement of gameplay.

In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, similar to other games, there are sections where players are required to walk at a slow pace through various areas. Although these walking parts can offer intriguing character moments and backstory, game developers should explore alternative approaches to prevent abrupt disruptions in gameplay.

In video games, developers often incorporate moments where players are required to slow down and walk. This may be to allow players to absorb new story details, introduce fresh gameplay mechanics, conceal loading screens, or simply as a design choice. However, these forced walking segments can be frustrating and interrupt the flow of the game. Although Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is not the first game to include such segments, it should definitely be the last. Throughout the game, there are several instances where players are compelled to walk slowly through various environments, and the majority of the time, they are stuck at an incredibly slow pace. While it is too late to alter this feature in the current game, its presence emphasizes the need for this mechanic to be abandoned in future games.

It is Time for Forced Walking Sequences to End

In the video game industry today, it is quite common for players to be forced to follow a specific sequence by slowing down the main character. These moments typically serve the purpose of allowing players to listen to dialogue and prepare for what comes next. Occasionally, developers even require players to walk when inside certain locations. While these sequences do not usually ruin the overall gaming experience, they can become tiresome, especially after playing through the game for the first time.

In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, players are aware that whenever they control Peter Parker or Miles Morales, the pace of the game will slow down significantly compared to when they are exploring the open world. While there are instances where they can jog or participate in bike-riding sequences as Peter, most of the time they are limited to walking around these different places. This can become a monotonous task, particularly when players would rather be engaged in fighting crime instead of wandering the expansive halls of locations like the Emily-May Foundation.

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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is not the only game that does this, and it probably won't be the last. Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 also make players move slowly when entering certain buildings, Final Fantasy 7 Remake consistently prompts players to walk calmly, God of War incorporates this technique throughout its story, and even The Last of Us is filled with these mandatory walking sequences. While it may serve a purpose at times, it often slows down the overall experience and can feel like unnecessary filler.

Getting rid of these enforced walking sequences may seem like an easy solution. However, it's not as simple as it sounds. Often, these sequences involve NPCs who are also walking alongside the player. In games like World of Warcraft, where players aren't forced to walk slowly, NPCs still move at a sluggish pace. This means that players will often find themselves far ahead of the characters they should be walking with. Therefore, game studios would need to ensure that the NPC speeds match those of the players to avoid missing important plot details.

The forced walking sequences in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 often contain enjoyable character moments, which ultimately don't hinder players' overall enjoyment. Additionally, fans have the opportunity to explore intriguing lore, such as in Kraven's mansion. If players were able to sprint through these sequences at the same speed as Spider-Man swings through New York, Insomniac wouldn't have the time to include intimate story moments in the first place.

However, intentionally slowing down the player can create a disruptive shift in gameplay, especially without the presence of engaging lore interactions. This is especially significant considering the Marvel's Spider-Man series' emphasis on exhilarating movement systems once Peter or Miles put on their masks. Although it's unlikely that these forced walking sequences will disappear suddenly, developers should definitely consider alternatives.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is available now on PS5.