Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is finally available on PC, much to the delight of non-PlayStation owners or those seeking to double-dip on one of Sony’s best games yet. This PC port not only makes the title more accessible to a wider pool of players, but it also introduces a handful of new graphical features that make the game look so much better. While at launch the technical state leaves something to be desired, it is great to see theMarvel’s Spider-Man 2experience ported so faithfully to PC, giving players there the best experience possible.
The porting ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2to PC is a landmark moment, not simply because of theexcellentMarvel Rivalstie-in, but because it finally fixes a problem that has been plaguing the franchise for over two decades. WhileSpider-Manfans have been able to enjoy several incredible video game experiences as of late, this hasn’t always been the case. In fact, players couldn’t even be sure of whether they were going to have a good or badSpider-Manexperience because of how different game development, especially when regarding movie tie-in games, was.
It Was Vastly Different From The Console Version
Back in 2004, during the dawn of the superhero movie renaissance,Spider-Man 2, the classic flick starring the titular wall-crawling, web-slinging, octopus-beating hero, got a movie tie-in game. Actually,it got several movie tie-in games, all of which were developed by different studios and played differently. There were multiple handheld versions, including for the GBA, DS, and PSP, all of which were completely unique, as well as console versions - most notably the iconic PS2 version - and, notoriously, the PC version.
Crucially, the PC and console versions ended up becoming a source of contention among fans, with everyone loving the PS2 edition, even going as far as to call it one of thebest movie tie-in gamesof all time, but hating the PC one.This is because the PC version was a fundamentally worse gamein practically every aspect. Its open world was smaller and more restrictive due to Spider-Man only being able to swing via set swing points. Conversely, the PS2 version let players swing from wherever they pleased and had a far more lively and interactive open world.
The story of the PC version was more nonsensical, at least for a movie tie-in, as it often had little to do with the film it was supposedly adapting. Once again, the PS2 version did a better job while also fleshing out the runtime with interesting villain inclusions.The console versions, in a surprise twist, also looked better than the PC one, although lacked its vibrancy and color. Of course, when both are compared to thecritically acclaimedMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, they hardly hold up. However, compared solely to each other, the PC version feels like a discounted shovelware rip-off.
PC & Console Used To Be More Separate Niches
Different Versions Were Developed For Each Platform
This wasn’t an isolated incident either, asreleasing a different version per platform was commonplace among video games in the early 2000s, especially when it concerned movie tie-ins. One of the most notable examples was theHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonegame, which had a drastically different PC and console version. While in this case, they both proved to be enjoyable experiences and are even considered as being some of thebestHarry Pottergamesof all time, all too often was one version substantially worse than the other.
Typically,the handheld editions of these games were severely truncated, reducing the story to a handful of text boxes and completely shifting genre. In this case, it was to work around those consoles' limitations, as, naturally, the GBA was significantly less powerful than a PC or PS2.The Simsis another good example of this. For example, theDS versions ofThe Simscompletely ditched the mainline series' gameplay formula for a more narrative experience in a specific setting. It had important characters, bizarre plotlines, and significantly less freedom, all of which made it feel like an entirely different series.
Sorry But Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Isn’t Getting DLC, Confirms Insomniac Games
After over a year of speculating, Insomniac Games confirms that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 won’t receive any DLC while announcing the PC release date.
However, when it comes to the differences between PC and console versions, it’s a little more complicated. Porting games verbatim wasn’t as popular or nearly as technically feasible. This is because consoles were just built differently to how they are now, with far more unique specifications, which meant that games couldn’t simply be copied across all platforms. Each one would need to be specifically tailored to each console, which would take an inordinate amount of effort. In most cases,it was simply easier to hire another developer to make a different version of the game.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 On PC Comes Full Circle
It Finally Offers The Same Experience Across All Platforms
Fortunately, those restrictions and limitations are a thing of the past. PC and console ports of games are now perfect replicas of one another, outside of perhaps some graphical enhancements, additional skins or items, and a control scheme. Importantly,this applies toMarvel’s Spider-Man 2’sPC and console versions, which are identical to one another. This finally ends the tainted legacy of the original divisiveSpider-Man 2and its multiple versions that have lasted in the memory of disappointed fans for decades.
While to some it may seem trivial, it is important to reflect on how far the games industry has come in such a short space of time. The fact that 20 years ago people had to deal with whatever version their platform of choice got, rather than expecting there to be consistency across all versions, seems outlandish.It can be easy to take ports and cross-platform releases for granted these days, especially for those who didn’t grow up playingSpider-Man 2on PC and not realizing a far superior version was being enjoyed by millions of others on another platform.
This Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Character Would’ve Been Perfect For DLC, So Why Isn’t It Happening?
Carnage was a huge missed opportunity for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and it’s a big loss for players who were looking forward to playing the DLC.
Luckily, especially with the likes of the Switch 2 bringing all platforms closer in specs and performance than ever before, players can rest assured that no matter how or where they play games, they’re going to have an enjoyable time and can share stories with their friends and not sound utterly bizarre. WhileSpider-Man 2’sPC port may go down in history as one of the worst movie tie-in games of all time, and deservedly so, it also serves as a perfect demonstration of just how much games have improved.
