Swif
Spider-Man 2 2004
Log Status
Completed
Playing
Backlog
Wishlist
Rating
Time Played
--
Days in Journal
1 day
Last played
July 20, 2022
Platforms Played
Library Ownership
If you've ever dreamed of jumping out your window and shooting that web, then Spider-Man 2 delivers.
Some of the greatest movement in an open-world game, Treyarch went absolutely above and beyond for the greatest piece of Official Movie Merchandise of all time.
Despite Spider-Man 2's swinging being held in such high-regard, there are still a lot of very impressive things happening in Spider-Man 2. Most noticeably, New York itself, and how a game from 2004 features an open world full of random little side quests and events. Yes, these can get a tad repetitive, but it absolutely sells working the streets as Spider-Man. The game's pacing also leans wonderfully into these, with a few chapters slowing it down a little and making the player complete a few of these minor crimes before revealing the next story moment. It feels very organic, especially how Peter will just chime in as he's swinging about something he's forgotten to do. And then, after an awkward meeting with Mary Jane, or being late for Dr. Connor's class, Spidey will ruminate to himself on his predicament as you swing through the city looking for your next crime.
This is all bolstered by Tobey's wonderful performance as Spider-Man. Credit to him for voicing so much dialogue and delivering it with a degree of care. Same for Alfred Molina (oh and Bruce Campbell as tutorial guy). However, Doc Ock is upstaged in his own movie game by one of my now favourite versions Mysterio. If you haven't seen or played the Mysterio boss fight from this game, then you really gotta check that out.
Combat can feel a tad sloppy at times, I could never execute some of the more complex attacks. It's at its worst when loads of thugs are shooting you, and they're also the types of thugs who can apparently dodge all your attacks unless you're hitting them with a counter move. But, it's got air combos and counter-attacks and you can do the Izuna Drop on thugs from ontop of buildings. I think that last point alone makes it better than the combat in many modern superhero games.
Overall, Spider-Man 2 gets Spider-Man. It gets what swinging should feel like. It gets what crimefighting in New York is like. It gets the humour and wit of Spider-Man. It is beyond "good movie game", or even "good superhero game". Spider-Man 2 is just damn good.
Some of the greatest movement in an open-world game, Treyarch went absolutely above and beyond for the greatest piece of Official Movie Merchandise of all time.
Despite Spider-Man 2's swinging being held in such high-regard, there are still a lot of very impressive things happening in Spider-Man 2. Most noticeably, New York itself, and how a game from 2004 features an open world full of random little side quests and events. Yes, these can get a tad repetitive, but it absolutely sells working the streets as Spider-Man. The game's pacing also leans wonderfully into these, with a few chapters slowing it down a little and making the player complete a few of these minor crimes before revealing the next story moment. It feels very organic, especially how Peter will just chime in as he's swinging about something he's forgotten to do. And then, after an awkward meeting with Mary Jane, or being late for Dr. Connor's class, Spidey will ruminate to himself on his predicament as you swing through the city looking for your next crime.
This is all bolstered by Tobey's wonderful performance as Spider-Man. Credit to him for voicing so much dialogue and delivering it with a degree of care. Same for Alfred Molina (oh and Bruce Campbell as tutorial guy). However, Doc Ock is upstaged in his own movie game by one of my now favourite versions Mysterio. If you haven't seen or played the Mysterio boss fight from this game, then you really gotta check that out.
Combat can feel a tad sloppy at times, I could never execute some of the more complex attacks. It's at its worst when loads of thugs are shooting you, and they're also the types of thugs who can apparently dodge all your attacks unless you're hitting them with a counter move. But, it's got air combos and counter-attacks and you can do the Izuna Drop on thugs from ontop of buildings. I think that last point alone makes it better than the combat in many modern superhero games.
Overall, Spider-Man 2 gets Spider-Man. It gets what swinging should feel like. It gets what crimefighting in New York is like. It gets the humour and wit of Spider-Man. It is beyond "good movie game", or even "good superhero game". Spider-Man 2 is just damn good.