The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is an upcoming third-person action-adventure game, developed by Beenox and published by Activision. Set to release on all major platforms (except the Xbox One) April 29th, it puts players in the shoes of Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man. While it’s reasonable to think that this game is similar to its predecessor, we found several new and improved game play features that might surprise you. Here are five reasons you’ll want to play.
Swing into Action
While web-swinging is nothing new to the franchise, the mechanic was completely overhauled in a way that can only be positive. Gone is the ability to swing from thin air. In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, players will find a much higher level of control, using the left and right triggers to decide if they want to swing from a building on the right, or perhaps one on the left. Of course, as we briefly mentioned above, if there’s nothing for his web to stick to, Spidey will take a tumble. While there’s nothing realistic about web-shooting and swinging, both improvements are a step in the right direction.
Explore Manhattan
Recently, while we were giving you five reasons you really want to play Watch Dogs, we mentioned how real world environments allow for a level of immersion that can take a game to the next level. That same concept applies here, but there is a big difference between driving around Manhattan and swinging from its buildings. For anyone who’s seen any of the Spider-Man films over the last 10 years, you’ll recall how exhilarating it was to watch Spider-Man slip between buildings, narrowly miss two passing buses or free-fall to street level. We don’t know if the game will be that satisfying, but based on what we’ve seen, there’s plenty to like about swinging through the Big Apple.
Hero or Menace – You Decide
Much like players were able to decided whether to embrace good or evil karma in inFAMOUS: Second Son, gamers in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 can do the same. In the open world of Manhattan, there is always something for Spidey to do. Bad guys need to be taught a lesson, while civilians need to be rescued from burning apartment buildings. If players choose to ignore crime or citizens in need, this will change the way the police interact with him. Of course, should you play the role of proper hero, the city and its citizens will embrace you as such. What will it be for you, hero or menace?
Peter Parker -vs- Spider-Man
It’s not a secret to anyone that Peter Parker and Spider-Man are the same person. This is another area that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 aimed to improve the experience. Players can now fight crime as Spider-Man (as you might expect), but they can also step into the shoes of Peter Parker and solve crimes from an investigative standpoint. This new approach gives Peter his own role in the story, helping to make the game more personal rather than just a man in a spider suit. You’ll even be able to go to Aunt Mae’s house and hang out in Peter Parker’s bedroom.
Go Loud or Stick to the Shadows
One of the most ambitious changes from the first game is the ability for players to choose how they wish to approach each mission. Rather than a linear experience, you can now approach any situation in a way that suits your play-style. For those who don’t have the patience to sneak and subdue, you can battle it out with your enemies in chaotic fights. For those (like ourselves) who prefer to get in and out without anyone being the wiser, you can carefully and methodically neutralize enemies as you progress. Besides allowing you to play as you want, this feature adds a great deal of replay value for those who wish to get the most out of their games.
To see more of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in action, check out this developer walkthrough.
Published: Apr 22, 2014 03:30 pm