Summary

  • Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a love letter to Spider-Man's entire history, filled with references and Easter eggs to the Spider-Verse series and past films.
  • Players can track down Spider-Bot collectibles throughout the game, each themed after different universes within the Spider-Verse franchise.
  • The game also includes outfits from the Spider-Verse series, allowing players to unlock Miles Morales' costumes and other iconic variants that feel ripped straight out of the films.

For the past couple of years, Spider-Man-related media seems to be dominating the superhero genre. Not only have fans gotten to experience the web-swinging adventures of Tom Holland’s MCU iteration, but they have also been whisked away on a fantastic adventure through Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Now, they are once again stepping into the shoes of the titular character in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. And through that experience, Insomniac has given them a spectacular easter egg-filled treat.

Since Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 feels like a love letter to Spidey-related media, it is filled to the brim with secrets related to the franchise’s past. While many of these come in the form of unique suits, there are also plenty of collectibles that allude to the character’s exciting past. And one set of collectibles seems to be solely connected to the Spider-Verse series, which only makes Peter Parker’s brief cameo in Across the Spider-Verse even more exciting.

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Spider-Man 2 Is Filled With Spider-Verse Easter Eggs

Spider-Man performing a loop de loop

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has almost nothing to do with the Spider-Verse series nor do the events of those films really have any impact on the story here. Insomniac Games is telling a brand-new type of Spidey tale not tied down by what came before, and although characters like Miles Morales may be instantly recognizable by fans of those films, this is a completely different take on the character. That being said, the studio still filled the game with many references to those two films.

One of the first major references that players may notice is the Spider-Bot collectibles that are strewn about New York City. These collectibles do not appear on the map, but rather players must actively track them down to find them. Each bot emits some strange pulses around the area that they are hiding, so players just have to use their Spidey skills to track it down once they get there. And since there are 42 to find, they will become masters at it in no time., especially after a few perk upgrades.

These Spider-Bots are more than just little robots as each one is actually themed after one of the many universes within the Spider-Verse franchise. Players can find a bot themed after Spider-Man 2099, they can discover a black-and-white Noir one, they can find one wearing Gwen Stacey’s costume, and they can even discover a Peni Parker anime-inspired one. Additionally, there is even one themed after the MCU’s Iron Spider and countless others inspired by Spidey’s rogues’ gallery.

Insomniac Games has also added a couple of Spider-Man outfits themed after popular variants from the Spider-Verse series. For starters, Players can unlock both of Miles’ Into the Spider-Verse outfits and his Across the Spider-Verse outfit if they want to feel like they are playing the video game version of the films. Along with that, they can unlock Spider-Man Noir’s outfit, Spider-Man 2099, and the Spider-Punk suit which looks a lot like Hobie’s. While not every suit is a direct recreation, they all feel like they were ripped straight out of the films.

Even though Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is disconnected from the Spider-Verse series, all of these additions make it feel like a part of that multiverse. And since the video game version of Peter Parker already cameoed in Across the Spider-Verse, all of these elements just further cement that feeling. While Insomniac will likely not take the crossover any further, just including these easter eggs goes a long way in making Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 seem like a true love letter to the character’s entire history.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Marvel's Spider-Man 2
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Open-World
Action-Adventure
Superhero
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Systems
PlayStation-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
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Released
October 20, 2023
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Insomniac Games
Publisher(s)
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Engine
Insomniac Engine v.4.0
Prequel(s)
Marvel's Spider-Man
Franchise
Spider-Man
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.

Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.

Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.

Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, PC
Genre(s)
Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
How Long To Beat
17 hours
Metascore
90