Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 is not only a technical masterpiece with NO loading screens, but a tour de force of storytelling in interactive media.
Inspired by and combining elements from Raimi's trilogy, Web of Shadows, various comics, and Into the Spider-Verse, the game manages never to feel bloated and never underwhelms. Switching between the two heroes (and other characters!) is seamless, and where Peter tackles more of the A plot, ultimately trying to find balance as a better Peter, Miles pulls a lot of emotional weight in the B plot and side quests as he works to become a better Spider-Man.
I cried multiple times, and the representation and care shown for Miles goes beyond performative and really hit home a few times, especially in his interactions with his mom. I highly recommend this for anyone, even those new to gaming, for one of the most tonally accurate and heartwarming Spider-Man stories put to screen.
This is what AAA gaming should look like! I'm so enamored with games that proves compelling storytelling is only possible in interactive media but can be dramatically enhanced by it. Indie games have done it several times over, but Sony's first-party exclusives (TLOU2 and God of War especially) are really pushing how studios should be developing AAA titles. (Well, narratively at least. Still need to fix the whole deadline crunch labor practices.)
10/10 no notes except to patch a few bugs out please.
Inspired by and combining elements from Raimi's trilogy, Web of Shadows, various comics, and Into the Spider-Verse, the game manages never to feel bloated and never underwhelms. Switching between the two heroes (and other characters!) is seamless, and where Peter tackles more of the A plot, ultimately trying to find balance as a better Peter, Miles pulls a lot of emotional weight in the B plot and side quests as he works to become a better Spider-Man.
I cried multiple times, and the representation and care shown for Miles goes beyond performative and really hit home a few times, especially in his interactions with his mom. I highly recommend this for anyone, even those new to gaming, for one of the most tonally accurate and heartwarming Spider-Man stories put to screen.
This is what AAA gaming should look like! I'm so enamored with games that proves compelling storytelling is only possible in interactive media but can be dramatically enhanced by it. Indie games have done it several times over, but Sony's first-party exclusives (TLOU2 and God of War especially) are really pushing how studios should be developing AAA titles. (Well, narratively at least. Still need to fix the whole deadline crunch labor practices.)
10/10 no notes except to patch a few bugs out please.