Summary
Like with any Marvel product, the flashy action sequences and colorful costumes in Spider-Man games attract people’s curiosity, but the story gets their attention. Whether it’s Peter Parker, Miles Morales, or Miguel O’Hara, the story and characters are the main driving points of anything Spider-Man-related.
Spider-Man has been the star of a lot of Marvel video games over the last two decades. Among them, some excel at storytelling far more than others, with intricate arcs and twists. However, in some cases, the simplest of Webhead storylines can rival or even surpass some of the more complex and convoluted plots.
Tight and enjoyable gameplay is what stands out with the originalSpider-Mangame for the PS1, but there is fun to be had with the thin story. The best highlight is seeing Spider-Man and Venom eventually work together as the worst best partners in a buddy comedy,similar toMidnight RunorDeadpool & Wolverine.
For a simple action game, the story feels akin to an actual Spider-Man comic with a lot of villains, witty banter from Spider-Man and Venom, and a lot of Marvel characters.Spider-Manremainsa beloved classic for the PS1for many reasons and the plot is one of them, even if it’s silly and campy.
Though it may not have Spider-Man in the title, Spider-Man is at the forefront ofMarvel Ultimate Alliance. Thisclassic dungeon-crawler RPGis as classic of a comic book adventure as one can get, with four Marvel heroes of the player’s choicegoing up against the nefarious Doctor Doomand the Masters Of Evil.
The story forUltimate Allianceis pretty thin overall, but theworld-building is strong. It’s clear that a lot of love for the Marvel universe was present while making the game because theplayer travels to so many worldsand meets so many characters that help the universe feel alive and lived in. Heroes such as Spider-Man even get exclusive dialogue depending on which villains and heroes they encounter.
Today, multiverse Spider-Man adventures are quite common, but before there was theSpider-Verseevent,Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensionswas one of the first timesmultiple variants of Spider-Manjoined forces. Spider-Man, Ultimate Peter Parker, Spider-Man Noir, and 2099 work together to stop Mysterio’s chaos across dimensions.
These four famous Spider-Men are all voiced by actors fromvarious Spider-Man animated shows of the past: Josh Keaton, Neil Patrick Harris, C.D. Barnes, and Dan Gilvezan. Similar toUltimate Alliance, it is not a deep story, but it is a strong one that keeps the player engaged as theSpider-Men fight different villains to save the Web Of Destiny.
Spider-Man is constantly given moral dilemmas in the comics, andSpider-Man: Web Of Shadowsaccurately presents such dilemmas to the player. Though not as extensive as games likeDetroit: Beyond Human, thefates of characters and events can be altereddepending on certain choices made throughout the story.
Never before had a Spider-Man story delivered such complexity in the story as inSpider-Man: Web Of Shadows. With different Marvel heroes thrown in as a bonus,an always-evolving open world, and different abilities for the red and symbiote suit for Spider-Man, it’s easy to see why Insomniac Games would take inspiration from it years later.
Spider-Man joined a giant roster of heroes again inMarvel Ultimate Alliance 2, but this time, the plot was a bit thicker since it was anadaptation of theCivil Warstoryline. In the aftermath of the firstUltimate Alliance, the Superhuman Registration Act was established, dividing Marvel’s heroes into the factions of pro-registration and anti-registration.
There is way more focus on characters and dialogue inUltimate Alliance 2,since the game is split into two different campaigns for both factions in the war. It’s amuch darker storyline, showcasing both sides' pros and cons. It demonstrates why the heroes being divided is a bad idea, no matter their disagreements.
Some might see a sequel focusing on less Spider-Men thanShattered Dimensionsas a downgrade, but that is not the case withSpider-Man: Edge Of Time. With the past and future colliding, Peter Parker andMiguel O’Hara of 2099have to partner up and fix the timeline in a game that fans often neglect.
Spider-Man: Edge Of Timespends more time on thecharacter development of the two Spiders. Miguel starts as a colder version of Spider-Man who learns to be a better person under the mentorship of the original Spider-Man. The story is also much darker, withmore twists and turnsthat elevate the already excellent gameplay from the first game.
A New And Sensational Universe
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Sony Interactive Entertainment, Insomniac Games, and Marvel have teamed up to create an authentic Spider-Man adventure. This isn’t the Spider-Man you’ve met or ever seen before. This is an experienced Peter Parker who’s more masterful at fighting big crime in Marvel’s New York. At the same time, he’s struggling to balance his chaotic personal life and career while the fate of millions of New Yorkers rests upon his shoulders.After eight years behind the mask, Peter Parker is a crime-fighting expert. Feel the full power of a more experienced Spider-Man with improvisational combat, dynamic acrobatics, fluid urban traversal, and environmental interactions. A rookie no longer; this is the most masterful Spider-Man you’ve ever played.The worlds of Peter Parker and Spider-Man collide in an original, action-packed tale. In this new Spider-Man universe, iconic characters from Peter and Spider-Man’s lives have been reimagined, placing familiar characters in unique roles.The Big Apple comes to life as Insomniac’s most expansive and interactive world yet. Swing through vibrant neighborhoods and catch breathtaking views of iconic Marvel and Manhattan landmarks. Use the environment to defeat villains with epic takedowns in true blockbuster action.
Insomniac Games did what many fans asked for by takingthe open-world superhero templatethat theBatman: Arkhamgames established and creating their take on the Spider-Man mythos.Marvel’s Spider-Manfeatures a veteran Peter Parker who iseight years into his career,allowing fans to see a pre-established Spider-Man universe without needing an origin story.
With a plethora of villains, anew take on Miles Morales, and so much heart put into the story, Marvel’s Spider-Man became an instant hit. It has great freeflow combat and web-slinging, but it’s the story, characters, and strong voice-acting that made fans laugh, smile, and cry.
There are a few pacing issues in this game’s narrative, asMarvel’s Spider-Man 2tries to put so much into its main story between Kraven The Hunter andthe new version of Venom. However, that doesn’t stop Insomniac from delivering anemotional story about responsibility for Peter Parker and Miles Morales.
Both heroes inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2struggle with the problem of taking on too much responsibility, which can stretch a life too thin. Kraven, Venom, Mister Negative, and Sandman make for the bombastic action sequences, but they also further the plot, thus advancing the two Spider-Men arcs.
Despite the vibrantly colorful superpowers and more comic book-like villains such as Prowler and Rhino,Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moralestells a moregrounded story for the younger Spider-Man. It showcases Miles' issues of taking care of New York City while Peter Parker is away, and taking care of his friends and family while coming of age.
The holiday setting ofMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moralesis important because it’s Miles' connection to everyone around him as a person and Spider-Man that helps him tremendously. Miles' plot with Prowler is one of the best stories in this new Insomniac universe, and theirnew take on the Tinkereris arguably more interesting than the character ever was in the comics.
