Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 already promises to give players a vast open-world version of New York City to explore, but Insomniac could borrow a small feature from the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto 5 to make it even better. Information about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has been scarce since it was officially announced in September 2021, with fans just now learning that it will come out on the PlayStation 5 sometime in fall 2023. In the meantime, there have only been offhand mentions from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s voice cast to go on when it comes to getting players excited for the next installment of Insomniac’s growing superhero franchise.
Meanwhile, it can’t be overstated just how influential Grand Theft Auto 5 has been to the open-world genre, and fans have been brainstorming what Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 can borrow from the blockbuster crime caper. Like GTA 5, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will feature multiple playable characters in the form of Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and possibly Venom, and some fans have developed concept videos of a character-switching mechanic similar to the one used to alternate between Michael De Santa, Trevor Phillips, and Franklin Clinton across the city of Los Santos.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Should Let Players Explore The Subways Of NYC
There is another, less immediately noticeable aspect of Grand Theft Auto 5’s open-world gameplay that could add to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and that is the ability to explore the subways below New York City. Los Santos contains a fully realized subway system that players can use to transport their character around the city, and it can even be utilized for a quick getaway during Grand Theft Auto 5’s many satisfying story missions. In contrast, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Miles Morales only use the subways of New York as a quick travel mechanic, and players aren’t able to go inside them at all.
An Explorable Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Subway Is Easily Possible On PS5
This could change in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 thanks to the increased power of the PlayStation 5. While recent clues have suggested that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could feature important neighborhoods like Queens and Brooklyn, having a fully realized subway system for players to explore could make Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s map even bigger. Additionally, the subways could make for some memorable set-piece moments, with the two Spider-Men chasing down villains like Venom or The Lizard through the tunnels beneath the busy NYC streets that players were confined to in the previous Marvel’s Spider-Man games.
Fans have been hoping that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could fix some open-world problems by adding more cameos and references to the larger Marvel universe - including a set-up for Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine. Having a subway system that players can run, crawl, and web-swing through as they swing through Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s reportedly darker storyline could do a lot to make the game feel more like a living, breathing version of New York City - especially if it is as expansive as the one in Grand Theft Auto 5.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube