In the world of gaming, where marketing buzzwords reign supreme and “free updates” are just a euphemism for “we’re trying to keep you engaged so you don’t forget about our game,” Insomniac Games has pulled off a clever trick. They’ve managed to tie in their latest Spider-Man game with not one, but two other properties: the MCU Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the upcoming fighting game, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. Because who doesn’t love a good cross-promotion, am I right?
The Suits of Fate
Insomniac Games has announced that Spider-Man 2 will be receiving two new suits based on Brand New Day and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. Because, you know, the game didn’t have enough suits already. I mean, who needs a coherent narrative when you can just slap on a new costume and call it a day? The suits are part of a free update, because, of course, they are. I’m starting to think that the term “free update” is just a myth perpetuated by game developers to make us feel like we’re getting something for nothing.
The Twitter announcement for the new suits can be seen below, where Insomniac Games proudly declares that it’s a “Brand New Day” for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. I guess that’s one way to spin the fact that they’re just adding more costumes to the game. The update also includes support for Enhanced PSSR upscaling on PS5 Pro and Power Saver mode, because Sony loves to tout their fancy upscaling technology. I’m not complaining, though – better graphics are always a good thing, even if they do come with a side of marketing jargon.
Critic and Fan Reception
The critics have weighed in on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with a 70% score on Metacritic. CGMagazine’s review calls it “additional proof why the superhero film genre should continue to thrive now, and for centuries to come,” which sounds like a glowing endorsement. The costume from Brand New Day is now in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, because why not? And as an additional surprise, the Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls suit is also included in the free update. I’m starting to think that Insomniac Games just really loves giving away free stuff – or maybe they just want to keep us distracted from the fact that the game’s narrative is getting a bit long in the tooth.
On the other hand, fans on forums like Reddit have been quick to share their opinions on the new suits, with most of them expressing disappointment at the overall presentation. One fan simply writes, “Fix the suit,” which I think sums up the general sentiment nicely. It’s almost as if fans are tired of the constant stream of new costumes and want something more… substantial.
Technical Upgrades
The new update v1.005.000 also adds support for Enhanced PSSR on PS5 Pro and Power Saver mode, because Sony loves to tout their fancy upscaling technology. I’m not complaining, though – better graphics are always a good thing, even if they do come with a side of marketing jargon. PSSR, or PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, is Sony’s exclusive upscaling technology for the PlayStation 5 Pro, which makes visuals 4K without sacrificing power. It’s all very technical, but the gist of it is that Spider-Man 2 will look even prettier on your PS5 Pro console.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Insomniac Games has pulled off a clever marketing trick by tying in Spider-Man 2 with two other properties. The new suits are a nice addition to the game, even if they are just a marketing ploy. And who knows, maybe the Enhanced PSSR upscaling will make the game look so good that we’ll forget all about the lackluster narrative. But hey, at least the game looks pretty, right? Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go play some Spider-Man 2 and admire the new suits – after all, that’s what it’s all about, right? The suits, the graphics, the marketing buzzwords… oh wait, I forgot, it’s about the gameplay. Or is it?
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
