Two Spider-Men, one problem
Spider-Man 2 gives you both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, and that split is its biggest structural tension. The game tries to service both characters equally across a story that lasts around 18 hours if you're moving at a reasonable pace. It mostly works, but there are stretches where whichever Spider-Man you're not playing feels like the less interesting option.
The traversal is still among the best in open-world games. Adding the web wings — a gliding mechanic that lets you cover Manhattan in long swooping arcs — genuinely changes how the city feels. You can cross the map faster than in the previous games, which matters because the map is also bigger.
Combat and the symbiote
The symbiote sequences are the game's visual highlight. There's a section roughly at the midpoint that's as well-directed as anything Insomniac has made, and it recontextualises everything before it effectively. What comes after is slightly less interesting — the final act rushes some of what it set up — but it earns its emotional beats where it needs to.
Combat is fast and fluid. Enemy variety is reasonable. The parry timing window is forgiving enough to not be frustrating. Nothing here will surprise people who played the previous two games, which is either a strength or a limitation depending on what you want.
What works
- Traversal with web wings is genuinely excellent
- Production values are very high throughout
- Miles and Peter both feel distinct to play
- The symbiote sequences are visually impressive
What doesn't
- Final act rushes some of what it set up
- Open world activities are repetitive
- Story splits unevenly between the two protagonists
Verdict
PS5 console game review
Spider-Man 2 is a polished, well-made sequel that does most things better than its predecessors. The story has real moments even if the ending rushes. The traversal is excellent. Is it worth buying? If you own a PS5 and liked either previous game, yes. If you're new to the series, start with the first Miles Morales — it's shorter and tighter.
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