Warning: Minor Spoilers For God of War Ragnarok ahead. When looking at God of War Ragnarok, there is no shortage of things to praise. Its writing is top-notch, with characters like Kratos, Atreus, and Freya getting plenty of development. Combat feels better than ever thanks to the addition of a new weapon, while there are some top-notch endgame fights for those who want a bit of a challenge. However, the work Santa Monica did with companions may be the most impressive thing of all, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 can learn from it.
Currently, it is not yet confirmed whether both Miles and Peter will be playable in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but it seems very likely. Assuming this is the case, an approach like God of War Ragnarok would be ideal, as whichever character is not being controlled could serve as an AI companion with numerous powerful abilities. With seamless transitions between the playable character and the companion, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s combat can be fluid and consistently exciting.
What Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Should Take From God of War Ragnarok’s Companions
First and foremost, seamless character switching is something that should be a priority for the webslingers’ next adventure. Much like players will be in control of Atreus before becoming Kratos mid-scene, who has his own distinct moveset, players should be able to switch between Peter and Miles easily. This could happen even more consistently in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, as Insomniac could let players switch between the two heroes at will with a press of a button. Being able to use Miles’ abilities in part of a fight only to switch over to Peter’s side of a big battle would be spectacular.
Like in God of War Ragnarok, the companion Spidey that tags along with the player should be more useful if several upgrades have been acquired. If players unlock a skill when playing as Miles, for example, the AI version of Miles should occasionally use it when he is tagging along with a player-controlled Peter. Some upgrades exclusive to when the hero is AI-controlled, like Atreus’ grabs and Freya’s flying attacks, would also be welcome.
It would also be wise to give Peter and Miles some exclusive abilities for puzzle-solving, like with Freya and Atreus’ sonic arrows. This way, players could run into spots where Peter’s drone or Iron Spider legs are needed, or where Miles’ electric webs are beneficial. If they encounter one of these scenarios in the open world New York, they could radio their fellow Spidey and a brief animation where they swing over to the area could play. They could then solve the puzzle and be dismissed to fight crime somewhere else in the city.
The One Thing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Should Avoid From God of War Ragnarok’s Companions
While the companions in God of War Ragnarok are terrific from a gameplay standpoint, and they add some top-notch storytelling thanks to their conversations, one thing players have pointed out is that they are far too quick to solve puzzles for the player. While this issue is a bit overblown and is really only a minor problem instead of a major one, it would still be nice to have a bit more time to figure out the answer. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is unlikely to have many difficult puzzles, and the ones it does have will probably be straightforward, but this is still something to keep in mind for the ones it does have.
Aside from companions speaking too quickly and giving away answers, God of War Ragnarok’s approach to its AI allies is a triumph. If Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 lets players switch seamlessly between its two heroes, and makes them fleshed out AI allies instead of only having deep movesets whenever they are playable, the game could blow players away.
God of War Ragnarok is available now on PS4 and PS5.