First Look At Spider-Man In Marvel's Avengers Compared To PS2 Era
Remembering Crystal Dynamics is stuck in a wicked web of issues with Marvel's Avengers, there were high hopes that a certain wall-crawling hero could help reinvent the struggling superhero game. Unfortunately, the arrival of Spider-Man as a PlayStation exclusive have led to complaints we've been dragged back to the PlayStation 2 era of games - ouch.
Straight of the box, there were accusations that Marvel's Avengers was struggling under its own Hulk-sized hype. The idea was simple - bringing together a classic roster of Earth's mightiest heroes while chucking in Kamala Khan's Ms. Marvel. The execution was poor, and although some loved the campaign, a lacklustre multiplayer and microtransaction misery mean Marvel's Avengers has been adrift in a sea of negativity.
What Does Spider-Man Look Like In Marvel's Avengers?
The first footage of Spider-Man in Marvel's Avengers has started trickling online. Sadly, many have said it looks dated - reminding them of the '00s Spider-Man games we used to play on the PS2. One critic joked, "They jacked his model from the PS2 Spider-Man 2. Pizza time!" Another added, "Such an insult to Spiderman lol This is so incredibly sad compared to Insomniac Spiderman", while a third took it even further and concluded, "Spider-Man PS1 vibes."
If that wasn't enough, Spider-Man's late addition to the game doesn't even come with any story missions. The recent War for Wakanda DLC added a tonne of content to the game, and was praised as a potential return to form. It's saddening that Spider-Man's arrival is another step backwards.
Speaking to IGN, Gameplay Director Philippe Therien explained why the story of Spider-Man: With Great Power is told through audio logs and unlock challenges. "We want to spend our efforts on content that everyone can enjoy," said Therien. "So we chose to spend a lot of our energy on the Klaw raid that's coming up at the same time.
"Really that's a simple decision for us. Spider-Man can play all the content, but then we release a piece of content that's good on all platforms. Really that was a decision that's been that way since the beginning." Of course, the developer shelled out a small fortune to have Spider-Man as a PlayStation-exclusive character thanks to the character's ties to the console in Insomniac's Spider-Man game series (which is completely unrelated).
Is It Too Late For Marvel's Avengers?
Although the dev team has remained committed to a regular roadmap that's added heroes like Hawkeye, Black Panther, and now Spider-Man to the mix, most think it's too little too late. There were some fundamental flaws at the very core of the game, so glossing over this by chucking in a few new heroes won't repair the deep cracks that are widening beneath the surface.
Dataminers have previously uncovered a long list of proposed DLCs that could bring everyone from Doctor Strange to Scarlet Witch, the Winter Soldier, and even Captain Marvel to the mix, but it might be best for the devs to cut their losses. Putting it politely, there are much more exciting superhero projects out there.
Alongside the arrival of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Gotham Knights flying the flag for DC, Insomniac Games is hard at work on Spider-Man 2 and a bloody Wolverine game. CD was already living in the shadows of Insomniac thanks to the rave reviews 2018's Spider-Man and last year's Miles Morales received, and adding Spidey has only cemented fears Marvel's Avengers is an inferior product.
With slashed prices and Spider-Man failing to reignite the fan base on PlayStation, it could be time for devs to accept defeat and allow Thanos to "snap" this one out of existence. Oh well, you tried.
