Summary
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is replete with additions and improvements to the previous Spider-Man titles from developer Insomniac Games, but one feature that isn’t present is a huge missed opportunity. The newest entry expands on its predecessors by putting both Peter Parker and Miles Morales at the forefront, testing their mettle and web-slinging prowess against threats new and old. From a world with increased density and scale to developments like seamless fast travel that can jump to any point on the map, Insomniac Games pushed the envelope in many ways while failing to implement an age-old option that generates fun.
The nature of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2‘s dual protagonist lends itself to interesting gameplay and narrative possibilities. Although the core swing mechanics remain the same between the two characters, they do each have unique features that can shake up combat. It’s also possible to run across one Spider-Man while playing as the other, reinforcing the believability of the world and the distinction of the characters. Quickly swapping between characters lets the adventure change up on the fly, but properly embodying both at once is where the options suddenly stop covering the bases.
Does Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Have Co-Op Or Multiplayer?
Co-op multiplayer might seem like the perfect way to keep Peter and Miles in action together, but unfortunately, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 doesn’t have support for more than one player at a time. This can hardly be seen as a careless oversight, as implementing proper multiplayer would have no doubt been a development challenge, but it is a bit disappointing that the task wasn’t tackled and surmounted. Web-slinging with a companion could give Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 a unique draw over its predecessors and make a case for why upgrading to a PS5 might really be worth it.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 wouldn’t need a dedicated co-op campaign or any competitive online mode to have some fun with multiplayer possibilities, as the core gameplay lends itself well to throwing a second player into the mix. Racing across rooftops or diving from skyscrapers would be a fundamental thrill with a friend, bringing the unique feeling of companionship between Peter and Miles to life in a way that’s never been done before. New York City offers a massive sandbox to play around in, from taking on enemies to hunting for collectibles with an extra pair of eyes.
Related: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Map Size Compared To The First Two Games
Spider-Man 2 Co-Op Wouldn’t Have To Disrupt The Story
The narrative focus in Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man games might seem like a fundamental obstacle to delivering a robust co-op experience, but it wouldn’t have to be. Maintaining story integrity could be achieved in a number of ways, like only allowing co-op for side missions and minor activities while locking major story events to single-player. Far Cry 4 presents a solid example of how this approach can work, even though the series ultimately transitioned to a more complete co-op experience in Far Cry 5. The latter approach wouldn’t necessarily be off the table for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but it’s easy to understand why Insomniac might be reluctant to try it.
Another solution to the story problem would be to make co-op a post-game unlock, tasking players with completing the main story before taking on New York with a friend. A 15-25 hour runtime makes this a more reasonable ask than it might be with other modern open-world titles, requiring a solid commitment of time but stopping short of a true long haul. Post-game in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 allows free roam of New York City, so co-op would be the perfect way to add a little pizazz as a reward for completion.
Related: 5 Best Things to Do After Beating Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 Multiplayer Could Be A Technical Challenge
Couch co-op has become a commonly cut feature from games, due in part to the demands of rendering increasingly complex environments in split-screen. If anyone could take on this challenge, however, Insomniac Games is certainly a front-runner. The carefully balanced Performance and Fidelity modes in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 shows that the developer is more than capable of packing in technical marvels with minimal compromises, and split-screen co-op would only be one more feather to add to a well-decorated cap.
Some tradeoffs would inevitably be necessary to keep a stable framerate while rendering an extra perspective on New York City, but there’s enough wiggle room in the graphics for something to be viable without destroying the game’s look. Complex ray-tracing features, draw distance, and density of NPCs and foliage seem like obvious cuts that could help keep demands on the system down. PS5 console exclusivity gives Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 a leg up by avoiding the Xbox Series X/S parity demands, which would typically require split-screen co-op on the more powerful model to be replicated by its weaker sibling.
Related: “Villains Are More Fun” – Yuri Lowenthal On Bringing Out Peter Parker’s Dark Side
It’s Not Too Late To Add Co-Op To Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a complete and generally polished game at release, so the roadmap for possible patches and updates to the game should be significantly less extensive than games in desperate need of post-launch work. Even so, there’s no reason that an update couldn’t introduce co-op to the game in the future. The first Marvel’s Spider-Man set a precedent for major DLC with the three-part The City That Never Sleeps, and bundling in a co-op addition with possible expansions for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 would also be a reasonable way to bring multiplayer to the game.
Although Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is hardly lacking for content as is, it’s difficult not to imagine just how much co-op play could add to the experience. Having such a seamless dual protagonist system is rare, and it offers the perfect opportunity to add a second player into the mix without overhauling mechanics or disrupting the game’s overall intent. Playing as Peter and Miles is fun in a single-player Marvel’s Spider-Man 2campaign, but having a friend take on half of the web-slinging duties would be a dream come true.
It’s hard not to wonder what could have been. Read More