The Best Web-Swinging Ever? — Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man 2 (2004) | Video Essay

Two fantastic games! Two well-regarded web-swinging systems!

So which one did it best? The intricate physics and complicated controls introduced in the legendary Spider-Man 2? Or the polished cinematic animations of Insomniac’s 2018 Game of the Year runner-up?

Full disclosure: I’m a big fan of both these games (and our favorite wall-crawler in general), and I wanted to highlight the brilliance of how each developer approached the swinging experience in these highly distinct games. My answer may be less straightforward than you think!

After several months of working on this video, I’m very happy to at last present it to you… and just barely in time for the impending release of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales!

I’m also working on a lengthy retrospective video looking at some of the seldom-noticed merits of Treyarch’s Spider-Man 2 (first part finally available here:    • The Development of Treyarch's Spider-...  ), and I’ll be working on more videos about some media I like. I’ll do my best to get that stuff put together as soon as I can… so hopefully you’ll have something new to view between now and the release of Insomniac’s full-fledged sequel! ;)

CAPTURED FOOTAGE:

Gameplay footage from Marvel’s Spider-Man (Sony/Insomniac, 2018), God of War (Sony/Sony Santa Monica, 2018), Horizon: Zero Dawn (Sony/Guerrilla Games, 2017), and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (Sony/Naughty Dog, 2016) captured on Playstation 4.

Gameplay footage from Spider-Man 2 (Activision/Treyarch, 2004) on Xbox 360 from Xbox version.


ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE USED:

Spider-Man (2002 Movie)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014 Movie)
Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4) 2017 E3 Gameplay:    • Marvel's Spider-Man (PS4) 2017 E3 Gam...  
Sony E3 2017 Spiderman Reaction:    • Sony E3 2017 Spiderman Reaction  
How Web Swinging Works in Spider-Man:    • How Web Swinging Works In Spider-Man  
Breaking Down Why Spider-Man PS4’s Web-Swinging SURPASSES Spider-Man 2’s!!!:    • Breaking Down Why Spider-Man PS4's We...  
Replay - Spider-Man 2:    • Replay – Spider-Man 2  
The Amazing Spider-Man - Web Rush Trailer:    • The Amazing Spider-Man - Web Rush Tra...  
Answering Spider-Man’s Lingering Questions:    • Answering Spider-Man's Lingering Ques...  
Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019 Movie)
Making of Spider-Man 2 The Game (Spider-Man 2 2004 DVD Feature)

Excerpts used from “Concrete Jungle Gym: Building Traversal in Marvel’s Spider-Man” GDC 2019 talk by Doug Sheahan (Lead Gameplay Programmer, Insomniac). PDF available at: https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1026422...


MUSIC USED:

Spider-Man (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Swing 1 (Michael McCuistion/Lolita Ritmanis, Spider-Man 2)
The Golden Age (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Alive (Warbly Jets)
The Golden Age (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
City of Hope (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Hairylegs (KMFDM, Spider-Man 2)
Black Cat Chase (Michael McCuistion/Lolita Ritmanis, Spider-Man 2)
City on Alert (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Karacho (KMFDM, Spider-Man 2)
Spidereggs (KMFDM, Spider-Man 2)
Swing 2 (KMFDM, Spider-Man 2)
Swing 1 (KMFDM, Spider-Man 2)
The Breakthrough (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
City on Alert (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Web Launch (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Behind the Mask (John Paesano, Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Origin (Michael McCuistion, Spider-Man)