Old Guy Game Guide- Spider-Man 2 part A

This is late. Not a big surprise from me and video games. However, the reason is different than  the usual- "I started playing a decade after it was released." 

There will be spoilers. If I could finish the game by now, so can anyone else.

Since I needed to play through the other open world games I wrote about a second time to get photos I wanted, this time I made sure to take pictures as I went along. I took way too many, and then played through again anyway, and took a boatload more. The serious over use of images in this review is about a tenth of the total group. Yes, weird addictions are my hobby. This overage is my excuse for why many of the images in part one have very little to do with what is being discussed.

Therefore, the delay was caused by figuring out the proper approach, and finally deciding it was not going to be an enormous, multi-chapter, moment by moment retelling of the massive multiple story elements that captivated my interests for almost a year the first time (and well over a year to do it twice) in this game.

While not a giant Spider-Man fan (although I do have moments... and a short box that is at least fifty percent over filled) I do agree his movement style is one of the most engaging when transitioned out of comics, and it ads a huge amount of fun to video games. The Sega Genesis Maximum Carnage was in my library shortly after release. The original Spider-Man "open world" (because the city was covered in poison fog and only the rooftops were visible) game for PCs was one of my initial acquisitions when I got my own computer.

Clarification, I do like Peter Parker a great deal. How can you not? (And I've become a Miles Morales fan from his films, comics and this game.) It's the fact that everyone needs to over show that they can constantly handle the world pooping on them all the time and keep going. This game, like my favorite Spidey stories, does give my boys a win here and there.

Getting the latest game when it was released is not something that ever happens in my life and happened by accident. For many years, when the Black Friday sales rolled around, Rosa would ask about getting a new system that could play the increasing number of 4K disks we were accumulating. Normally, no actions were taken. Two Novembers ago, when she had a bunch of upcoming time where she'd be away from home to take care of her Mom, she ordered the Playstation 5. (THANX HONEY!)

There were two options for games to come with it. There was no way I cared about whatever version Call of Duty is out now. With my history of Spidey game fandom, it was an easy choice.

Technology is terrifying. Rosa went away, and I planned on making all the wire connections one night, and then, because it was late, doing the software installations the following day. 

I plugged everything in...

AND THE PLAYSTATION TURNED ITSELF ON AND STARTED INSTALLING ITSELF! 

AAAH!

It turned on the TV, selected its own input, and began downloading files and running all of its required set ups. At this point I gave up, and let it finish. Once I stopped screaming, naturally.

The system came with the a code for the (then newly released) Spider-Man 2 game, which it also installed with minimal input from me. I still find it very weird to have no "cartridge." 

What do I blow on when it doesn't start?

The opening of the game ("SWING!") was a battle against a city sized Sandman. There was much more screaming.

There were some problems with a game this new. I was unaccustomed to the number of issues and glitches they fix "on the fly" in modern software.

I got stuck inside a building and inside the Brooklyn Bridge in places there were supposed to be no access to, forcing me to restart those missions. 

During the big Lizard chase, the oversized reptile did the same thing, with only his feet sticking through a wall, and I also had to reload and try again. (Extra photos here for my daughter and her inexplicable, excessive Lizard fandom.)

I quickly became addicted in ways I had not been for many years of video gaming.

The reason breaks down to the same reasons I enjoyed the open world games I played previously.

The Godfather game had the cool aspect of taking place in New York City, in and around places I recognized. That one had small representations of only parts of southern Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey. This game has a MASSIVELY larger portion of the City That Never sleeps, filled with interactive people, cars, buildings and other locations. Most of Manhattan is fully rendered, along with almost all of Queens and Brooklyn. Not to mention that I'm probably more familiar with the Marvel version of New York than the actual place. It is very easy to lose hours of time just swinging around the city, taking in the sights, interacting with happy fans,  and fighting random crimes.

Assassin's Creed II had the fun, roof hopping, parkour based movement style built into the game's mechanics. But in this title, you're Spider-Man!! (Both of them!! The interplay and switching is one of the cooler elements. The fact that Peter is a scientist and Miles is an artist shapes their sections of play.) The movement system is built around all of their web swinging, agile leaping, web gliding, wall crawling glory. Getting from place to place in this game is more fun that most aspects of other games. I NEVER used the "fast travel" option.

Batman Arkham City lets you be a superhero. As I stated playing that game, no one in their right mind would want to be Batman. While being Spidey is stressful, its also a huge amount of fun! Not to mention this is, by far, the best Spider-Man storytelling I've experienced in decades.

Other times Rosa was away, I would still watch movies or shows (ones she didn't care about) on weeknights and maintain my normal- late night on weekends- for video game time. Once I started on Spider-Man 2, I'd finish exercising, have a quick meal, and get in a couple hours of web swinging each weeknight as well.

While the listed, expected playing time for 100% completion was in the 25 hour range, it took me well over 70. This is partially due to the title, "Old Guy Game Guides" but also due to how easy it was to spend time randomly thwipping through New York, snooping around and stopping pop up bad guys, instead of continuing with the story, or the huge number of comic book type sub-plots 

While not soul crushing like being Batman, being Spidey can be stressful. This was especially true the first night of playing, when I couldn't remember which button brought up the menu that had "save" and "quit" on it. Every time I'd start looking, the red indicator of a crime in progress would light up, and I'd go swinging off to the rescue. 

It is true. "With great power must also come great responsibility."

That's not to say the story didn't grab my attention. It (or should I say they) were outstanding. Peter Parker as an older, mentor figure working towards settling down with Mary Jane is my favorite interpretation of the character. (And getting fired for needing to save the city the first day of work as a teacher is incredibly on brand.)

Having Miles learning from Peter, and maturing into the role of the main Spider-Man as the bond between them blossoms was a fantastic take on that character as well. 

When Peter starts to lose himself in the symbiote, it's his connection to Miles that is the key to saving him, after some emotionally charged battles between them of course.

Continued Next Week!!!! (a post can only hold so many photos!)