Spider-Man’s journey in the gaming industry has been one of many ups and downs. Older games like Spider-Man 2 are still considered some of the best superhero releases, but the character’s gaming legacy is marred by poor releases like Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man games.
With exceptional reviews and the incoming release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, I found myself reflecting on the character’s past in the gaming industry. I believe Insomniac Games saved the character in 2018, leading a new revolution for Marvel games.
In 2018, years of inconsistent releases came to an end after Insomniac Games took over the series. Following Marvel’s Spider-Man, the iconic Marvel character was slingshotted to new levels of success after breaking free from the curse of inconsistent releases.
Movie Tie-ins And Low Effort
When using the term ‘breaking free,’ I am referring to the previous practices of movie tie-ins and low-budget Spider-Man games.
This approach led to releases like The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I found this game to be one of the worst outings of the Marvel character, with an incoherent plot, recycled mechanics, and poor implementations of the character’s abilities.
This release came from Beenox, a studio that has already proven to be quite capable with a game like Shattered Dimensions. So, what went wrong? I can safely say that the game suffered due to a rushed development and forced connections with the 2014 film.
Even more fondly remembered games like Web of Shadows highlight this issue. I believe this game delivered the best Spider-Man combat to date, but this resulted in a lack of polish for other parts of the game.
Web of Shadows was short, its narrative rarely utilized the game’s best ideas, and mediocre visuals led to a game that never realized its full potential. Of course, there were exceptions to the rule.
Games like Beenox’s aforementioned Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions showed that studios were capable of delivering great superhero games when given the time, but this was hardly the case.
Fast forward to 2018, and Insomniac Games completely changed this approach. I believe the poor reception of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was the final nail in the coffin for Marvel.
Combining The Best Elements
The announcement of Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2016 was a big deal. This game represented a collaboration between PlayStation and Insomniac Games, inspiring hope for fans after years of disappointments.
Insomniac Games studied all the past Spider-Man games, taking the best parts of each release. While this led to a game that may not have been revolutionary, the studio delivered a well-rounded experience.
This was a far cry from the Spider-Man games of the early 2000s. I enjoyed each part of Marvel’s Spider-Man, as it excelled in the narrative and gameplay while delivering a beautiful rendition of New York.
Playing the game, I could tell the studio spent time on each aspect. While some parts, like the Mary Jane missions, felt tacked on, this release clearly outlined the benefits of moving away from movie tie-ins.
Building A Strong Legacy
Since this release, Insomniac Games has only gotten better at making Spider-Man games. After the awe-inspiring journey of Marvel’s Spider-Man, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the studio’s take on Miles Morales.
In particular, I was surprised by how distinct this adventure felt. Miles felt completely different while swinging through the city, and his venom abilities helped the character stand out in combat.
Following this release, I believe Insomniac Games has completely redeemed Spider-Man, leaving behind a troubled history in the gaming industry.
The studio is keen on delivering another high-quality release for the PS5, using the new hardware for a vastly superior experience than previous titles.
This ambition translates to immediate fast travel, leaps in console ray tracing, and much more. Thanks to Insomniac Games, I am more excited than ever for Spider-Man’s future, and I cannot wait to see where the character goes from here.
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