Highlights
The inclusion of an inventive fast travel system in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 revolutionizes the way players move about the city, offering the convenience of choosing any destination and instantly appearing there. This feature greatly enhances navigation and simplifies traversing the urban landscape.
Using fast travel in the game diminishes the immersive experience of being Spider-Man as it removes the thrilling sensation of swinging through the streets, performing acrobatic moves, and exploring the city. Additionally, utilizing fast travel means missing out on the excitement of encountering side activities, collecting special items, and stopping crimes that players would have otherwise come across while swinging through the streets. This can greatly impact the overall enjoyment and rhythm of the game. Therefore, players seeking a genuine Spidey experience are advised to refrain from using fast travel.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has arrived, and it is exceeding expectations. Insomniac Games has taken the original game's strong foundation and expanded upon it to create an incredible superhero adventure. Not only does it fulfill the Spider-Man fantasy, but the studio has also introduced numerous features that other open-world games should take note of. One feature, in particular, sets Marvel's Spider-Man 2 apart from the rest - its innovative fast travel system.
Fast travel is a standard feature in open-world games nowadays, so it's no surprise that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 includes it. However, Insomniac Games has taken a unique approach to fast travel, deviating from the norm. This has resulted in a fresh and exciting system that players will undoubtedly want to experiment with. However, those seeking the most immersive Marvel's Spider-Man 2 experience may actually choose to avoid it.
Fast Travel Diminishes the Spider-Man 2 Experience
Insomniac Games' creation of the fast travel system in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is truly captivating. Unlike other open-world games that have remained stagnant with their fast travel systems, Insomniac Games introduces a refreshing approach. Instead of limited waypoints, players can now freely choose their fast travel destination simply by hovering their cursor and holding triangle. Within seconds, they seamlessly appear at their desired location. This innovative system may tempt players to rely on it constantly, once it is unlocked in each district. It tremendously enhances navigation, making city traversal effortless. However, despite its appeal, this system seems out of place in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. It eliminates the thrill of swinging through the city streets and ultimately detracts from the overall immersive experience of the game.
The actual feeling of being Spider-Man, brilliantly delivered by Insomniac Games, is the most crucial aspect of playing a Spider-Man game. However, fast travel undermines this experience. Fans undoubtedly desire to swing through the open-world streets of New York, utilizing the full range of Peter or Miles' abilities to enhance the thrill. The act of performing flips, soaring through the sky, and scaling buildings throughout the city is immensely enjoyable. Without this exhilarating navigation system, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 would lose its special appeal. Hence, it is illogical to sacrifice this aspect simply for the sake of reaching a destination quickly.
Additionally, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 encourages exploration. While swinging through the streets, players come across various fascinating elements scattered around the city. Their map slowly but surely fills up with side activities, collectibles, and crimes that demand attention. By fast-traveling past all of this, players miss out on experiencing the game's full potential, ultimately dulling the overall enjoyment. Moreover, bypassing this content means rushing solely from one story chapter to the next, potentially disrupting the game's pacing for players.
Players who purchase games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 generally desire to fully embody the iconic titular character. Although the fast travel system is a noteworthy feature that should be adopted by other open-world games of this console generation, its inclusion in this particular game may diminish the immersive experience of swinging through the city as Spidey. While Insomniac has provided players with the choice to utilize it, those seeking a genuine Spidey adventure may prefer to refrain from using it altogether.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 can currently be found on PS5.