The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Editor's Notes

Digital PS4 version reviewed. Review is spoiler-free with regards to the movie.

Introduction

Canadian-based developer Beenox is no stranger when it comes to the Spider-Man franchise. Their creative efforts shone the brightest when they strayed from the more conventional story arc with the releases of 'Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions' and 'Spider-Man: Edge of Time.' Since then, they've embraced the movie tie-in with Sony Picture Entertainment's 'The Amazing Spider-Man' film series. 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' is the latest third-person action-adventure video game that is intended to build upon the story of the previous game, while also giving players an enhanced, free-roaming web-slinging experience. But does this second movie tie-in make for a better overall experience, or do they continue to sacrifice creativity?

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

While it seems like just yesterday I was reviewing 'The Amazing Spider-Man' for the PlayStation Vita, my recent play through provides a unique opportunity to better evaluate what, if any, changes have gone into Beenox's latest development effort. Although a busy schedule has prohibited me from enjoying the newest theatrical release, if the last game in the series is any indication, it comes as no surprise that this playable version of 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' is a loose representation of its big-screen counterpart.

'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' begins with a brief flashback of when Peter Parker became a crime-fighting arachnid after witnessing the death of his father figure and uncle. From there, the story spirals somewhat out of control as the web slinger attempts to unravel the mystery behind warring gang factions and a mysterious vigilante known as the Carnage Killer. Other, more stable characters from the franchise – Harry Osborn, Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Kraven the Hunter – make periodic appearances, but their involvement seem more convenient to allow for repetitious, arena-like boss battles than furthering the story in any meaningful way.

I generally have fairly low expectations of any movie tie-in video game providing a thought-provoking story, and 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' is no different. However, it's the freedom of swinging through the streets, looking for crimes in every back alley that ultimately determines whether the game is enjoyable or another failed attempt. Thankfully, 'The Amazing Spider-Man2' somewhat succeeds. The developers at Beenox kept what worked from previous iterations and added a few new mechanics that (attempt to) enhance the experience.

Making a repeat appearance from 'The Amazing Spider-Man' is the return of Web Rush - a slingshot style method for Spider-Man to quickly traverse from one perch to the next. The web slinging has also been updated to become a more realistic representation of what it would be like to sore across the city skyline. No longer is Spider-Man able to attach his web to non-existent buildings (or those that are several feet beneath him). Instead, players will need to be more conscious of their surroundings and consistently position Spider-Man between buildings and closer to street level.

Additionally, alternating between the DualShock 4's L2 and R2 replicates the way in which Spider-Man shoots webs from his respective hands, attaching to the buildings on either side of him. Slinging too often from the same hand will pull you closer to that side of the street and throw off any momentum you may have built up. After an initial learning curve, getting into a nice rhythm while maintaining a closer proximity to the ground results in the most enjoyable and exhilarating Spider-Man web swinging I have experienced to date.

As in other open-world Spider-Man games, there are a variety of hostile and criminal activities the residents of the city depend on the web-crawler to manage. While in games past these amounted to nothing more than the ticking off of another trophy or achievement. 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' makes sure that players don't forget about these petty crimes when considering the larger picture. A new Hero or Menace gauge is adjusted according to how many run-of-the-mill crimes Spider-Man has resolved or left unattended. The more criminals go unpunished, the higher the menace level becomes. As a result, Spider-Man's suit upgrades are directly affected through a decrease in damage bonus, combo streak, and shooting rate. Although these side missions quickly become routine, disregarding them to solely focus on the main story will eventually take its toll on your abilities as a super hero.

Some light RPG elements allow the player to level up a handful of abilities specific to Spider Sense, Web-Rush, and Web-Shooting. However, when compared to prior Spider-Man games, the options seem rather limited and less of a focus this time around. They get the job done, but very little difference can be seen from one upgrade to the next.

Finally, if patience isn't your thing, prepare yourself for an unusually high number of load screens - they hit often, and they hit hard. Whether entering or leaving a building, completing a boss battle cut scene, or changing from one Spider-Man suit to another, watching the load percentage in the lower left corner becomes a major distraction. In a console generation that boasts impressive technological advancements, one would think that a loading screen would be a thing of the past. Sadly, that's not the case with 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'.