Unlocking new powers is something the developers of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have in common with their web-slinging protagonists. Insomniac Games is unleashing the power of PlayStation 5 in the upcoming sequel with two playable superheroes wielding new abilities, a gallery of menacing supervillains, a city that nearly doubles its size, and a host of other immersive improvements.
I recently had the opportunity to play several hours of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and was looking for examples of the power of the PS5 at work. Let’s look at some interesting examples:
Haptic and cinematic immersion
The preview begins with Peter in his new BlackSuit facing off against Kraven in the middle of the church rafters. He rings a massive bell, sending shocking, reverberating waves through the DualSense controller’s haptics. The resonant haptic sensation sells the disturbing effect of the bell on the trembling Black Suit. Scenes with the enormous stampeding Lizard are also accented by intense haptic pulses, emulating the nervous power of the mutant supervillain.
Particle colliding with adaptive triggers.
A moment early in the preview asks Peter to help Harry Osborn align the beam emitters of a particle collider. A brief minigame appears when Spider-Man weaves the emitters. I enjoyed carefully pressing the adaptive triggers with asymmetrical levels of pressure and watching the on-screen prompts to properly lock them in place. It’s a novel and satisfying example of the accuracy and tactile feedback of triggers.
Web Wings and SSD unlock Spidey’s fast flight
Web Wings offers players a new option to fly over the city. The power of PS5 allows Marvel’s New York City to load faster than previous titles. This translates to faster movement around the city, including boosting along wind tunnel routes at impressive speeds using the new Web Wings. Spidey’s tried-and-true web-swinging is also faster and feels as joyful as ever. Interweaving traditional web swinging with the new Web Wings glide created an empowering, butter-smooth way to traverse the city.
Iconic characters with deep emotion.
Facial performances come together with enhanced character model details to deliver new levels of expression. For example, a heartfelt conversation between Miles and Rio shows without words the concern and love his mother feels for him: it’s all in her eyes. Realistic levels of eye detail enhance expression, such as visible capillaries, moistened eyelids, tiny eye movements, and nuanced lighting. Emotionally intense scenes also benefit from improved facial enhancements. Just take a look at Kraven’s expressive face as he fights Spidey, his eyes wide and piercing as his face contorts with intense cunning…
Quickly switching between Peter and Miles
Players have two Spideys at their fingertips in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and switching between them is a breeze. The game zooms in on an aerial view of Marvel’s New York City by switching between the two heroes, then zooms back in on the newly selected Spider-Man in another part of the city. It’s a perfect and powerful demonstration of the PS5’s ultra-fast SSD.
Undulating muscles
Speaking of which, Insomniac is increasing the realism of its character models with simulated musculature. This subtle improvement makes character movement appear more natural to the eye, similar to improvements in facial capture. For example, you’ll see arm muscles bulge or stretch under tight-fitting superhero suits or Lizard’s jaw muscles flex convincingly when he screams a roar.
duplicate the city
Spider-Man’s territory extends beyond Manhattan to include Brooklyn and Queens in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. In previous Marvel’s Spider-Man games, these areas were not accessible and were simply low-poly representations of the city at large. . The doubling of the sequel’s map size is made possible in part by the PS5, as is the game’s ability to depict the sprawling metropolis from a greater distance. From the top of a Manhattan skyscraper you can clearly see the shapes and colors of Brooklyn’s walkable skyline.
Spectacular ray tracing
Both Performance and Fidelity modes feature Ray Tracing in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 thanks to the title’s launch exclusively on PS5. The effect is immediately evident when bobbing or sliding through the water. One beautiful moment involved crossing the East River with the setting sun casting a warm glow on the water, including the reflection of the Brooklyn skyline and a splash of hazy red from one of its large neon signs.
Lively urban life
Spider-Man is nothing without a city to protect, and Marvel’s New York is more lively than ever. Pedestrians in New York are represented by a more diverse range of body types and enter and exit buildings. They drive through the streets in vehicles that display the subtle and authentic oscillating motion of automobile suspension systems. In previous Marvel’s Spider-Man titles, players could look out of the windows of buildings to get a glimpse of the decorated interiors; Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 enhances the details with real occupants. These small details help create a rich urban backdrop that feels alive.
Listen with 3D audio
Insomniac’s audio team implements 3D audio in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with impressive attention to detail. Immersive effects are ubiquitous, but two specific sequences caught my attention. A huge bell rings during a sequence in which Peter, dressed in a black suit, confronts Kraven in a church. The bell’s resonant frequency hits with a convincing thump. Another moment is more focused on gameplay, with the player crawling after the Lizard through the sewers of New York. The claustrophobic sequence is enhanced by a 360-degree range of sounds, including creaking pipes, crumbling rubble, and the occasional slide of the Lizard itself.
These are just a few colorful examples of how Insomniac’s amazing sequel is shaping up to make the most of the PS5. Find out the full scope for yourself when Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 arrives on PS5 on October 20.
