Why Fans Should Rethink Their Criticism of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarok
Both God of War Ragnarok and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 have faced criticism for reusing animations, but this practice is actually a common and practical way to maximize resources in game development
Every video game has its flaws, whether it's a captivating storyline like The Last of Us and its sequel or a game with innovative gameplay like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Fans may criticize bugs, weak level design, and lackluster boss fights. However, not all criticism is valid, despite its prevalence. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is the latest game to receive unwarranted criticism, and it's not the first time this has happened. Some players have taken issue with the reuse of a few animations, similar to the complaints received by fellow PlayStation exclusive God of War Ragnarok. However, when evaluating the reasons behind the reused animations and considering the game's narrative, this particular criticism seems baseless. While Marvel's Spider-Man 2 may have legitimate issues, this particular criticism feels like a far stretch.
God of War Ragnarok and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Reusing Animations Makes Sense
Kratos' use of his Leviathan axe and his method of entering boats in God of War Ragnarok were criticized by a small group of gamers for being too similar to the previous game. However, these actions were purposeful as they allowed the game developers to focus on more important content such as new enemies and weapons, while also ensuring a timely release. Moreover, Kratos has no need to change his tactics if they continue to work effectively. Similarly, it would be unnecessary for a person who has been using a particular method of entering and exiting boats for years to suddenly change their habits. This same reasoning applies to Marvel's Spider-Man 2, where the perfected web-swinging mechanics of the previous game and its spin-off will be maintained and improved upon with the addition of new features and the fixing of any issues. Insomniac Games has already taken player feedback into account and increased web-swinging speed, while also confirming the inclusion of requested features like web wings and web launches in the upcoming release.
When players take control of Peter in the 2018 release of Spider-Man, they are embodying a seasoned hero who has already mastered the art of web swinging through years of fighting crime. It would be strange to drastically alter his signature style of swinging, although minor adjustments and new animations could be added. Instead, these new features should be reserved for Miles, who is still developing his abilities as a hero. Furthermore, criticisms of reused assets in sequels are unwarranted, as the addition of a few extra animations does not significantly impact gameplay. Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom both demonstrate that reused assets do not detract from a game's potential for excellence.
It is unlikely that Peter's swinging mechanics will hinder Marvel's Spider-Man 2, although the game's outcome remains uncertain. The criticisms of reused animations in Insomniac's latest game appear unnecessary, much like the complaints about God of War Ragnarok's boat mechanics. There are times when sequels do not require significant changes, as seen in the success of games like God of War 2018 and Marvel's Spider-Man. Instead of fixing what is not broken, it makes more sense to build on the strong foundation already established. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is set to launch in Fall 2023 exclusively for the PS5.
