Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC Review (Plus Steam Deck) … and now patched!
Summary: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 had a bumpy start but with the new patch, it's almost webslinging heaven as the "bugs" have been crushed.
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PC Spiders!
The critically acclaimed PlayStation 5 blockbuster, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, has finally arrived on PC, bringing with it the dynamic duo of Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Following the stellar PC ports of the previous installments, anticipation was sky-high. While Insomniac Games has largely delivered on the promise of an enhanced Spider-Man experience, the PC version isn’t without its share of webslinging woes.
Let’s address the elephant in the room – or perhaps the Spider-Elephant – right away. Some players have reported technical hiccups, ranging from occasional crashes to performance dips. Although we suffered some performance issues here and there from frame rate drops to a couple of crashes, I could not replicate them, and your mileage may vary depending on your rig. However, it’s undeniable that the PC launch hasn’t been entirely seamless but with the new patches, the developers have addressed quite a few of these issues and more importantly, in under a week!
It’s worth remembering that porting a game of this scale from a console environment to the diverse landscape of PC hardware is a monumental task. With countless configurations to consider, some initial bumps are almost inevitable. Thankfully, Insomniac has been responsive, releasing patches to address these concerns. So, while a smooth launch is always ideal, the developers’ commitment to fixing these issues is a positive sign …
so ‘hater’s, please don’t be a Jonah Jameson …
Now, onto the good stuff. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 takes everything that made the previous games great and amplifies it. Playing as both Peter and Miles, each with their unique abilities and storylines, adds a compelling layer of depth to the narrative. Facing off against iconic villains like the Lizard, Kraven the Hunter, and Venom is a thrill, and the story weaves together their individual struggles in a satisfying way. The sheer scale and ambition of juggling two Spider-Men’s narratives is impressive, and Insomniac pulls it off with aplomb.
Initially, the dual Spider-Man dynamic felt a tad overwhelming. Switching between characters with slightly different combat styles required some adjustment. However, Insomniac’s intuitive tutorial system quickly eased me into the flow. The skill trees, offering upgrades specific to each Spider-Man as well as shared abilities, are well-designed and easy to navigate. With that said, I really enjoyed the takedowns and new combos that were inspired by the Miles Morales game… my favourite is the multiple spider-claws!
Web-slinging and traversal feel better than ever. The movement is fluid and responsive, making you feel truly in control. Acrobatics return, rewarding skillful navigation with XP. The expanded New York City is a playground for your Spider-Men, and the numerous side missions, accessible through a clever in-game Spider-Man app, add depth to the world and provide opportunities to connect with the city’s inhabitants. The sense of a living, breathing city is palpable, and the occasional appearance of the other Spider-Man with witty banter adds to the immersion.
Combat is intense and rewarding, especially on higher difficulties. Spidey’s moves are spectacular, and chaining combos feels intuitive and fluid. The game does a great job of gradually teaching you the nuances of each character’s combat style, preparing you for the tougher challenges ahead. On PC, the controls are perfectly mapped, replicating the excellent feel of the PlayStation 5 version.
Graphically, the game is a visual feast, provided your PC meets the recommended specifications. Ray tracing adds a stunning layer of realism to the lighting and shadows, and the overall level of detail is breathtaking. However, the AI of some NPCs can feel a little lacking at times, breaking the immersion slightly. They should be screaming ‘Spidey! Spidey! Spidey!’ when they see you.
The sound design is equally impressive. The soaring soundtrack perfectly complements the cinematic moments, while the ambient sounds of New York City create a vibrant and immersive atmosphere. Spider-Man’s sound effects, especially when using a good surround sound system or headset, are a treat, adding to the feeling of truly embodying the character.
And what about the Steam Deck? Surprisingly, the game runs quite well on the handheld console. With default settings and no tweaking, I consistently achieved stable frame rates in the 30-50 FPS range (more so 30-32), making the game very playable. While some online commentary might suggest otherwise, my experience has been positive. It’s impressive to see a AAA title of this caliber running so smoothly on the Steam Deck – so yes, we’re calling it… a verified tick for Steam Deck coming soon!
Final Thoughts?
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a fantastic superhero adventure that builds upon the strengths of its predecessors. While the PC port has experienced some initial technical hiccups, Insomniac’s responsiveness and the overall quality of the game shine through. Whether you’re swinging through New York on a high-end PC or enjoying the portable thrills on the Steam Deck, this game is a must-play for any Spider-Man fan. Just be sure to check for the latest patches and adjust your settings accordingly for the best experience.
Developer: Insomniac Games, Nixxes Software
Publisher: PlayStation
Format: PC Steam
Genre: Adventure
Rating: M
Release Date: 01/30/2025
And if you’re curious, this is what the Patch 1 has addressed;
Release Notes (v1.205.0.0)
- Various crash fixes based on player feedback and data from our crash reporting system.
- Improvements to crash reporting with screenshot support.
- Film Style Animation and Comic SFX can now be toggled via Settings > Game > Camera.*
- User interface improvements to simplify starting a New Game+
- Implemented autosave backups. At key points in the story the game will create a backup of the autosave slot.
- Added mouse scrolling to the manual load/save menu.
- Various improvements and bug fixes to the user interface.
- Reduced noise in character hair when using DLSS Ray Reconstruction.
- Enemies webbed to surfaces no longer have a black background when using ray-traced shadows and ray-traced ambient occlusion.
- Fixed a bug related to ray-traced reflections that could cause pixelation artefacts along water edges.
- Settings for Subtitle Text Size, Closed Caption Text Size, Icon and Prompt Size and Audio Listening Mode are no longer synchronised between different devices.**
*These options become available after obtaining the Across the Spider-Verse Suit.
** As a result of this change, these settings will be reset to their defaults after you install this update.
And additionally, they recommend to update your graphics card drivers;
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