Unraveling Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Breaking New Ground, It Could Rival The Last of Us

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 showcased a detailed glimpse of the gameplay, specifically highlighting a grand set-piece that involves multiple villains. Similar to its predecessors, Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the game is expected to offer open-world activities where players can intervene in active crimes while swinging through the city and search for collectibles scattered throughout the environment. The intriguing aspect lies in how these activities will be divided between the two playable Spider-Men.

It is presumed that certain side quests will be exclusive to Peter Parker, while others will be exclusive to Miles Morales. Additionally, some quests may be accessible to either Spider-Man, and main story quests will initially be exclusive to one character but will periodically switch between them. The gameplay reveal of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 unveiled how this swapping mechanism will occur. Players will be prompted to press a specific input to switch to the other Spider-Man, regardless of their current location. This presents a unique opportunity for Insomniac to follow in the footsteps of Naughty Dog's innovative approach.

The Last of Us Likes to Subvert How Players Interact with Its Mechanics

In The Last of Us, character development plays a crucial role in driving the narrative forward. Naughty Dog skillfully combines gameplay mechanics with the story, resulting in a profound experience for players. Throughout the game, there are instances where players engage in familiar interactions, only to be caught off guard by sudden changes. The behavior of non-playable characters (NPCs) is intricately designed to align with the events unfolding in the story, creating a remarkably immersive atmosphere.

One notable example of this is Ellie's distinct NPC behavior in the spring following her act of self-defense against David. This particular moment showcases the impact of NPC interaction, as players find themselves lifting a ladder for Ellie. Traditionally, players are conditioned to expect an NPC for Joel to hoist up at this point. However, as Joel prepares to lift Ellie, he realizes that she is still seated on a nearby bench.

This transforms a potentially monotonous input prompt into a dynamic experience for the player, mirroring the emotional story elements that resonate between Joel and Ellie. With Marvel's Spider-Man 2's seamless character swap feature, the same kind of subversion could now take place between Peter and Miles.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Could Leave One Spider-Man Unresponsive When Beckoned

Because this mechanic is introduced in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, fans can expect frequent switching between the two Spider-Man characters in scripted sequences. There are also instances where control is transferred to the other Spider-Man without any prompt from the player, like when Miles saves civilians on a boat while Peter continues his pursuit of Kraven.

The transition between the two Spider-Men should be seamless and not disrupt the player's experience. Insomniac should follow Naughty Dog's example and incorporate a moment in the story where either Peter or Miles calls on the other, prompting the player to switch control. However, there should be a twist - the screen should remain on the current Spider-Man and the prompt to switch control should appear to be malfunctioning. This would create tension as the player wonders why the other Spider-Man is not responding. The most logical scenario for this would be if Peter is emotionally compromised by the symbiote and is unable to respond, leaving Miles to handle the situation alone.

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