Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is jam-packed with features. Some of those are reiterations from the last game, while others are entirely new systems to which you will need to get accustomed.
After the spectacular first few hours, you’re dropped into a gigantic New York. The combat, traversal, and even being two Spider-Men is quite overwhelming at first, but gradually, you’ll feel right at home. However, it’s a slow process since the sequel is on a different technical level. There are things the game tells you, and many things it doesn’t which are just as essential. To make sure you aren’t missing out, here’s a list of 9 tips and tricks for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 that you should know.
1. Turn Down The Swing Assist
Swinging is why the Spider-Man games are so good. You can spend hours swinging around New York on end. When you take your first swings in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, you can notice no matter which direction you keep holding the forward stick in, Peter and Miles will always move in a straight line.
This is the Swing Assist feature in play that automatically adjusts the Spider-Men’s direction, allowing for a hassle-free experience for the player. But if you ask me, it isn’t as immersive. Going into Settings>Gameplay>Swing Assist and turning that down to 2 or 3 makes swinging far more challenging and realistic. You need to perfect your swinging technique as a result, and it’s a rewarding process. This is the ultimate tip and trick for new players in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, so be sure to adjust the Swing Assist. However, turning it down to 0 might be a bit too far as then Peter and Miles will start bumping into every single Skyscraper in New York.
2. Side Activities Are Easy In, Easy Out
Side activities in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are bursts of dopamine. Most take only a few seconds to complete like the Photo Ops. They offer great rewards too, especially items necessary for crafting suits. Whenever you pass by a side activity, always prefer going into and completing one as in exchange for a minute you’ll get plenty of experience and crafting items.
3. Use Your Scanner To Keep Track of Activities
While we’re on the subject of side activities, be sure to press R3 to open up the scanner during gameplay. Wherever you are with Miles or Peter, opening up the scanner will highlight all side activities near you; Marko’s Memories, Photo Ops, Prowler Stashes, you name it. Now you’ll never have to check the map screen in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – even if it’s nice to look at.
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4. You Need To Learn How To Swing Fast
Remember everyone kept saying the swinging in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is crazy fast? It is but it’s not if you just hold down R2. To swing fast, you’ll have to master control over the new swinging skills such as the Corner Tether and Slingshot Launch. The new web-wings Peter and Miles have are just as important to learn. Only after combining all skills will you be able to fly around at lightning-fast speeds.
5. Focus On The Shared Skill Tree
Both Miles and Peter have separate skill trees in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Additionally, they have a shared skill tree which includes upgrades for traversal movements as well as combat. Since any of these upgrades apply to both characters instead of one (like in the separate skill tree), investing in the shared skill tree is a better option. Once you get a couple of side activities in, then it should be okay to branch out.
6. It’s Okay To Dip Your Toes In The Ocean
Besides new swinging skills and the web-wings, you now surf on water for a while. During this time, you can relaunch yourself into the air by jumping, or just wait until the Spider-Men sink ship. Surfing is a thing in-game, so here is another one of those Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 tips and tricks for you: don’t be afraid to dip your toes into the river bank once in a while.
7. Don’t Forget To Assign D-Pad Shortcuts
Like in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the left and right D-Pad buttons can be mapped to actions of your choosing in Spider-Man 2. These are shortcuts that come in handy when you don’t want to press two buttons for the finishers or more of them for ultimates. Just assign a shortcut, sit back, and relax.
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8. Get The Into the Spider-Verse Noir Suit
This isn’t as much of a trick necessarily but equipping the Into the Spider-Verse Noir suit for Peter makes his animations the same frames as in the movie. It’s a feature similar to Miles’ Into the Spiderverse suit from the previous game. Another reason why the dark trench coat is so cool is because it provides special VFX during combat. They’re pretty fun to see, so once you’re level 22, craft the Noir suit.
9. Try To Keep A Focus Bar In Reserve
Healing is going to be a major issue during your initial hours in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. When you have 1 complete focus bar, you can either choose to perform a finisher or heal. The endless number of enemies on screen almost always instinctively have you pressing the finisher buttons, and in turn, a couple of hits lead to a game over. Upgrade the focus bar the first chance you get, and you’ll see the game feels much safer afterward.
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