The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Parries in Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Highlights

The combat in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 encourages players to use freeflow counterattacks, midair juggling, and environmental interactions while avoiding gunfire.

The inclusion of a parry mechanic in the sequel enhances the intensity of battles and introduces a fresh gameplay aspect for players to hone their skills in.

Parrying has the potential to disrupt players' intended chain of attacks or the utilization of their gadgets, and it is yet to be determined how this mechanic will be adapted to accommodate both Peter and Miles' unique abilities.

Marvel's Spider-Man's combat seamlessly blends fluid counterattacks with aerial acrobatics and a wide range of thrilling gadgets. Rather than engaging enemies head-on, players are encouraged to utilize their surroundings and avoid incoming gunfire by leaping around the terrain. The addition of stealth at the beginning of each encounter minimizes the number of enemies that need to be confronted, allowing for limitless possibilities in combat. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 introduces even more diversity to this already dynamic combat system.

In the same vein, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales introduced significant changes to combat to accommodate the unique abilities of its titular character. As Miles possesses different powers, the need for an extensive array of gadgets was reduced compared to Peter. In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Peter is further distinguished with the inclusion of four metal arms similar to the Iron Spider suit and the game-changing black symbiote suit. Additionally, both Spider-Men will now have the ability to parry specific attacks.

Parries May Throw a Wrench into Combat for Both Spider-Men

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 introduces a dedicated parry mechanic that adds a sense of urgency to encounters. Players are already familiar with the spider-sense alarm, represented by a dodge prompt, which alerts them to dodge incoming attacks. This experience is enhanced when players activate the perfect dodge skill, allowing them to swiftly web-zip towards their attacker for an instant knockout.

Parries have become increasingly prominent as a game mechanic in recent times, inspired by games like Soulslikes and action games. The remake of Resident Evil 4 serves as a prime example of how parrying can greatly enhance gameplay, even in a game where fans may not have expected it or thought it necessary.

In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the inclusion of parries is uncertain, and how they will be incorporated into both Peter and Miles' skill trees is unpredictable. However, any new game mechanic is bound to make an impact. From what we've seen in the gameplay reveal, even regular enemies will be capable of launching attacks that players must parry.

The timing window for parries appears to be quite lenient, and executing a simple button input shouldn't pose a significant challenge for players. Spider-Man will still rely on his spider-sense to detect incoming attacks, but parryable attacks will be indicated by a yellow glow above the enemy's head. Once successfully parried, the glow will turn red. It seems that any attack can be used to parry an enemy, adding an interesting dynamic since parryable attacks cannot be evaded and require quick reactions.

In higher difficulties, it can be frustrating if enemies in the game are designed to launch more attacks that can be parried by the player. It is not unexpected to see these parryable attacks disrupting the player's intended sequence of attacks or the use of gadgets. Additionally, it seems that parries do not distinguish between the two playable Spider-Man characters. However, it will be interesting to observe which character is more affected by parries interrupting their combat flow.

For instance, Miles' bioelectric abilities enable him to forcefully push back and incapacitate enemies who have been parried, which can be particularly useful in dealing with groups of enemies. This suggests that he may be more skilled in crowd-control strategies compared to Peter. On the other hand, Peter's gameplay in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, influenced by the symbiote, is expected to exhibit impressive parrying abilities, allowing players to have a similar impact when his tendrils extend from his arm to strike distant enemies.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launches on October 20, exclusively for PlayStation 5.