Insomniac’s Spider-Man Games Need Less Arkham Combat and More Web-Swinging

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Instead of immersing myself in Insomniac’s Spider-Man games on PS5 and PC like many others, I’ve been recently delving into the Spider-Man 2 movie game. Despite being two decades old, it remains an excellent superhero video game that continues to be enjoyable for ardent Spider-Man enthusiasts.

Lately, the Spider-Man games developed by Insomniac are highly praised, delivering impressive graphics, intuitive controls, and compelling narratives to fans. Yet, these games seem overly focused on achieving the “cinematic” appeal that Sony expects from its exclusive titles. Interestingly, both games show signs of envy towards the Batman Arkham series, despite introducing a distinct combat system of their own.

Even though I believe that the upcoming game could benefit from learning some strategies from an older video game, I find the current Arkham-style combat engaging, yet I propose a shift in focus towards incorporating more wall-crawling and web-swinging levels. This change would not only make the game more unique but also offer a fresh, exciting experience.

Enthusiasts of Marvel’s iconic character are well aware that Activision’s Spider-Man 2 video game allowed players an initial open-world experience where they could glide around as Spiderman. Numerous games have since strived to refine this format, with the Insomniac series ultimately striking a satisfying blend of web-slinging and engaging combat.

While Insomniac’s Spider-Man games boast technical excellence, they don’t stand out as uniquely original in today’s AAA market. The Arkham Knight comparisons are relevant, but the game also echoes some characteristics of Ubisoft open-world titles, including linear cinematic sequences and a certain degree of predictable gameplay. The web-swinging experience remains enjoyable, yet players rarely encounter challenges that truly test their skills, unless they engage in time trials.

In the Spider-Man 2 game available on PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube, there were levels designed to evaluate Spidey’s wall-climbing and web-slingshot abilities. The well-crafted Mysterio missions involved navigating an obstacle course that demanded quick reflexes and skillful use of his wall-crawling. Towards the end, Mysterio sends Spider-Man to the Statue of Liberty, where he only had a limited number of items to swing from, adding an enjoyable level of difficulty.

In the thrilling Marvel’s Spider-Man games, while I’ve enjoyed tackling time-based challenges, I can’t help but feel that these skills aren’t utilized in a fresh or engaging manner. The web-swinging action is undeniably fun, but it primarily serves as a means of transportation from one spot to another, which leaves me yearning for something more exhilarating. Introducing levels with unique constraints on travel for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man would have added a layer of depth, rather than the repetitive wall-crawling segments we often encounter.

Just so you know, my point isn’t that the Insomniac Spider-Man games are poor quality. On the contrary, they’re skillfully crafted and show obvious affection for the comic books. The developers have clearly immersed themselves in the source material, and we’re eagerly anticipating what they’ll deliver in the third installment.

Additionally, in addition to the battle arena mode mentioned earlier, it would be delightful if the upcoming game focuses on testing Spider-Man’s agility and movement abilities. At a minimum, this could help diminish the frequent Batman Arkham-like criticism from critics.

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2025-03-12 20:12