Up untilMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, Insomniac was good at keeping its extracurricular Easter eggs to a minimum. References to other Marvel characters are rampant in theMarvel’s Spider-Manfranchise, to be plain, but they’re largely reserved for environmental set dressings in New York City to ensure that Peter Parker and Miles Morales are part of a larger mythology, even if there was never a promise that this shared universe would show more of itself. This was ideal because it meant Insomniac could still focus its storytelling on its Spider-Men inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2and not resort to baseless cameos.
The New York City Sanctum Sanctorum has been around sinceMarvel’s Spider-Man, for instance. Rather, the sequel elaborates on it byhaving Black Cat rob the Sanctorum’s Wand of Watoombto create portals through which she and Miles can teleport. Even if this had been the entire reference it would’ve been the most explicit oneMarvel’s Spider-Manhas devised and it takes it one massive leap further by delivering Miles a hand-written note from Wong. This is how such Easter eggs should be executed because they at least made for an exhilarating gameplay sequence, andMarvel’s Spider-Man 3has a high bar to clear now if it wants to feature its own.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Doctor Strange/Wong Easter Egg Thankfully wasn’t Superficial
There’s a case to be made that it should’ve been Peter Parker who embarked on the quest to pursue Felicia Hardy since he and her share an intimate history together inMarvel’s Spider-Man, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s a miracle at all that while Insomniac finally couldn’t resist a desire to reach into its extended Marvel mythology it refused to have Doctor Strange or Wong appear, assuming it could have. Instead, Insomniac takes players on a thrilling set-piece pursuit by weaving through Black Cat’s portals.
This made use of theimpressive load tech fromRatchet and Clank: Rift Apartthat essentially allowed for the same function as players instantaneously translocate to the area they foresee through a portal ahead of them, and inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2Miles flings himself into them the same way that he hurls himself between and through narrow environmental interactions. A combat sequence then follows where Miles and Black Cat battle Kraven’s hunters together and active finisher animations frequently have the two tag-team the enemy with Black Cat emerging from and entering into a series of her portals as if she had become the next Sorcerer Supreme in under a few minutes.
The cherry on top of this quest is a literal note from Wong, addressing that there truly areother Marvel icons in Insomniac’sSpider-Manuniversewith tangible evidence—not that Miles could prove it, though, as the magical note quickly disintegrates thereafter.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 Can’t Have a Big Marvel Easter Egg without Its Own Gameplay Relevance
It could be neat to see another established Marvel landmark such asthe Avengers Tower or the Baxter Buildingnow play a larger role inMarvel’s Spider-Man 3, but it would need to come with its own substantial gameplay sequence on par with this Doctor Strange and Wong Easter egg. If an Avenger such as Iron Man or Captain America was to appear,Marvel’s Spider-Man 3would need to get creative with how it interjects them; for example, Peter or Miles wielding Captain America’s vibranium shield in combat would be phenomenal.
A simple walking-sim tour of a landmark’s interior wouldn’t do, either, since a glorified museum sequence wouldn’t contribute anything significant to ordinary gameplay as Black Cat’s quest does. IfMarvel’s Spider-Man 3can’t meet the standard it created withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, it might be best to leave such Easter eggs as they were in the franchise’s previous games and focus more on satisfyingly tying loose threads the sequel has left untethered.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
