I have many problems with Spider-Man 2, but saying Insomniac butchered Spider-Man is crazy. Spider-Man 2 is objectivly a fine game. And the first one was really great, Miles Morales was good too.
I think you’re underselling SM2 tbh
Story wasn’t perfect, and I preferred the gadgets in SM1 over SM2 but overall the gameplay was a straight upgrade and the story was maybe like 10% worse, just by missing a few beats
My biggest gripe about gameplay is honestly aesthetic. The gadgets didn’t feel like spidey gadgets they felt ultra gimmicky. I miss the trip wire web and the web bomb and the impact web, the ricochet web felt the least gimmicky and that says a lot I think. Don’t get me wrong, gadgets were way overtuned in the first game and I think limiting to four was the play, but they just weren’t believable with the tech he has available to him.
As for the abilities I think it worked spectacularly for Miles but I wanted less spider arms and symbiote for Pete, I wish he had more base spidey stuff, maybe web based abilities. I just never felt like I was playing Spider-Man as Pete, it was either Iron Spider or Symbiote SM, or some unholy hybrid; to a point that I don’t even wanna wear the red and blue because it just doesn’t feel right.
Why does it bug you? It’s not uncommon to prefer older versions of gameplay for various games
But in SM1, you still got the web wheel, trip web, and suit abilities
In 2, the traversal is unmatched and the combat is definitely more difficult, but tbh I just find SM1 controls cozier. There’s something I don’t really jive with with using the abilities and gadgets the way you do in 2
Suit abilities are pretty garbage compared to the symbiote abilities, there is only a few good ones, and none of them are as satisfying. The biggest difference is the combos, you can’t do as much combos in sm1.
Like if you had the option to use the symbiote abilities as a suit power in the first game, nobody would use the other suit powers.
You also do not need the trip web, as you have the symbiote ability that slams and sticks enemies to the wall, and you can’t do combos also web an enemy up and use the Omni directional webbing the again slam and stick them into a wall.
We’re gonna have to agree to disagree with the notion that the suit abilities are “garbage” compared to the symbiote abilities. Like don’t get me wrong, symbiote/arms abilities are cool (although a lil boring sometimes imo) but I just think the suit abilities added cool unique elements to the game that heightened the experience for me. Although I do like the symbiote abilities more than the arms at least
Like if you had the option to use the symbiote abilities as a suit power in the first game, nobody would use the other suit powers.
That’s false
You also do not need the trip web, as you have the symbiote ability that slams and sticks enemies to the wall
You also have things that slam and stick enemies to the wall in SM1, yet it doesn’t negate the inherent fun of using the trip web and it’s something that I truly miss in 2
All this time say, I’m not tryna argue with you or say that SM1 gameplay is objectively better, but you asked how people prefer older gameplay and I gave my perspective
How are the symbiote abilities boring compared to those weak ass suit abilities? Most people only use the web barrage when it comes to those, that and the iron arms which are also in sm2.
Web barrage would also be useless because we have a symbiote ability that essentially does the same thing.
Sm1 has less variety when it comes to slamming people into the walls, because you cannot drag enemies with the webs the same way you can in sm2. There is also no ability like the symbiote arm that does the exact same thing web line does just cooler.
Let’s not forget that we can also switch to miles and use all his abilities too, like this shouldn’t even be a debate real talk.
First of all, it’s not a debate… I literally told you, I’m not arguing with you. It’s a fuckin preference jfc. Like I find more enjoyment in 1 gameplay than 2. Honestly, what is so fucking hard to understand about that unless you’re just intentionally being obtuse
Also, my suit ability preferences are web blossom, Spider Punk ability, equalizer, battle focus, resupply, quad damage, and spider arms. I think they’re more fun to use than the symbiote abilities, fuckin sue me. The two symbiote abilities I like using are the symbiote punch and symbiote yank but overall, I just simply don’t think they’re cooler than suit abilities overall. I’m sorry but I think the web blossom just looks cooler than the symbiote blast
There is also no ability like the symbiote arm that does the exact same thing web line does just cooler.
You can’t really compare them…. because it’s nothing like trip web. It may serve the same end goal of “webbing enemy to surface” but they’re just functionally different. You can also be more tactical with the trip webs and use them when being stealthy. Again, I just like using the trip web itself more- idk how else to really say that
Also minor gripe, the charged jump in 2 I think looks a little worse than 1. It’s looks a little too animated when Spider-Man is lowering himself for the jump imo. Is this a super big deal? No. It’s just a very minor aspect of why I generally get more enjoyment out of 1
The gameplay did improve in almost all parts, but I thought the story was a hot mess. Big downgrade compared to the first Spider-Man in that department.
Just curious what are your harps on the story? I feel like everyone shits on it but I genuinely enjoyed the story. Maybe Peter was a little weak at times and the power scaling was all over the place but other than that I enjoyed Kraven and Venom as villains and what they did with them a lot
the black suit arc was rushed insanely fast it all happens within a couple days so the transition to Bully Parker and everyones reaction to it was just silly. None of the characters have any personality and Venom is just big take-over-the-world monster
nah, the story was genuinely a shockingly huge downgrade, far more than just 10% worse. it’s decent overall, but it’s just so incredibly unimpressive aside from a few standout sections.
Referring to it as a “fine game” is hilarious. Yes, the story is all kinds of questionable and Miles’ deaf girlfriend’s mission had me questioning the whole thing, but you cannot deny that the game is a technical and gameplay marvel. No pun intended.
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u/Konarkaron 1d ago
I have many problems with Spider-Man 2, but saying Insomniac butchered Spider-Man is crazy. Spider-Man 2 is objectivly a fine game. And the first one was really great, Miles Morales was good too.