Summary
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 introduced new threats like Kraven and Venom to challenge Peter and Miles.
- Kingpin deserves a larger role in the upcoming Spider-Man 3 game to capitalize on his potential.
- With a potential villain team-up in Spider-Man 3, Peter and Miles may face their strongest opposition yet.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 put the duo of Peter Parker and Miles Morales through some of their greatest challenges yet. From the emergence of Kraven the Hunter to the menace of Venom, Insomniac's sequel succeeded at introducing new threats from Spider-Man's extensive rogues' gallery. After Marvel's Spider-Man brought its own version of the Sinister Six into play, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 lowered the scale but maintained the stakes of its predecessor. Now it's up to the next Spider-Man entry to do something befitting a series that has become an essential part of PlayStation's exclusive lineup.
Insomniac has already put in some work towards teasing Marvel's Spider-Man 3. In Spider-Man 2's end credits scene, players see Norman Osborn visit Doc Ock in prison. Though the two scientists have been shown to be at odds with one another, it's implied in the scene that Norman and Otto may team up to terrorize New York's Spider-Men. While Doc Ock's return alone could be enough to carry Spider-Man 3, he's not the only villain worthy of more screen time. As the first boss fight in Marvel's Spider-Man, it seems only fitting that Kingpin should play a larger role when closing out Insomniac's trilogy.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 3's Open-World is Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Although Insomniac Games has many routes it could take Marvel's Spider-Man 3, its New York City open-world may not have as bright of a future.
Kingpin Deserves To Be A More Prominent Antagonist In Marvel's Spider-Man 3
Kingpin made an immediate impact in Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man, serving as the first boss players encounter in its opening minutes. Though his fight served as more of a tutorial, Wilson Fisk nonetheless had an opportunity to demonstrate just how dangerous he is as both a physical and intellectual force. Players would continue to clean up his assorted messes throughout New York City, even as the hulking crime boss spent the entire game in prison. With Peter Parker juggling several villains at a time, as well as his relationship with Mary Jane Watson, Kingpin's involvement wasn't major, but it wasn't nonexistent either.
In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Kingpin fell even farther into the background than before. With all of Kraven's soldiers and Venom's symbiotes running rampant through the city, less time was committed to street-level criminals. Side missions like those featuring The Flame filled this void, but for such a significant villain like the Kingpin to fall by the wayside feels like a waste of potential. Marvel fans know what can be done with the character thanks to depictions like the one found in the Daredevil Netflix series, and to not capitalize on his popularity as a result of said depiction feels like a missed opportunity.
While Doc Ock's return alone could be enough to carry Spider-Man 3, he's not the only villain worthy of more screen time.
With Doc Ock teased to be escaping prison in Marvel's Spider-Man 3, it's time for Kingpin to emerge from the shadows as well and play a more prominent role in Insomniac's next adventure. Odds are he's been devising numerous ways to rebuild his criminal empire, and with Fisk Tower transformed into the Baxter Building in Spider-Man 2, Kingpin could seek to reclaim his territory. When grouped with the likes of Otto Octavius and Norman Osborn, he could prove to be one of the sharpest thorns in the sides of Peter Parker and Miles Morales.
There's no telling exactly how things will play out in Marvel's Spider-Man 3, but if Spider-Man 2 is any indication, Peter and Miles could come up against their strongest opposition yet. Kingpin isn't usually one to let go of a grudge, and if he's given the chance, he's sure to enact some kind of revenge on Peter for what he did in the first Spider-Man title. If it means joining up with the wall-crawler's greatest villains, then players could see one of the most volatile villain team-ups in a long time.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- 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
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
- Franchise
- Spider-Man
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
- How Long To Beat
- 17 hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
