Spider-Man 2 (Multi, 2004)

• Partially non-linear structure after a quick tutorial (sandbox-style/open-ended - you have an overarching line of story missions divided into chapters which is pretty much linear but can enter side missions via NPCs or icons placed around a large city at will and some of these change depending on the current chapter - once you have enough points you move on to the next (doing the story missions first is generally better since they tend to yield more points, can also find and grab secret tokens for a decent amount of points each), sometimes you run into a mission/encounter while moving towards a story objective or just moving around the city)

• Some movement/locomotion upgrades (swing speed - 8 levels, wallsprint duration - 2 levels, web zip - have Spidey shoot a web-line and jerk himself along for a forward air dash (for moving with more maneuverability), slingshot jump - swing backwards with two webs attached and do a charge jump for a longer forward air boost; needed for certain race challenges? - the game makes you buy speed upgrades to proceed to the next chapter a few times though there isn't something like an obstacle or an impossible to reach platform that you need to gain a new move for as you can get anywhere with the default abilities given enough time) and various combat move upgrades (grapple (carry enemies by grabbing them with your web and pulling them towards you (can throw them around by default) is required at a certain point to progress though the mandatory challenge where you're supposed to use it to throw enemies into pits in doesn't actually require it if you're good at throwing them with the web) - buy these at stores spread around the city with points/money gained from finishing missions or found at harder to reach/find locations

• Mini-map (mission goal/point of interest radar feature, shows how far something is from you vertically as well with a pillar display), 2D map screen w/ four levels of zoom (shows points of interest and your location as well as enemies, nice transition between it and in-game)

• Day/night cycle (don't need to sleep, no effect on gameplay besides it being harder to see at night?)

• Mostly skippable cutscenes (a few are not)

• some good bosses (Shocker, Doc Oc besides when he grabs and pummels you for several seconds), pretty good pre-rendered cutscenes (besides the last ones where doc oc looks sleepy, peter looks a bit off and mary jane looks 10 years older), unlockable fight arena (enemy encounter gauntlet, gets very hard towards the end as you'll fight multiple bosses) - beat the game and then buy it for 5k

• Save anywhere (multiple slots - doesn't show your current stats or chapter though)

• Can't see what a mission is like before taking it on by talking to an NPC (can do it with the race challenges)

• Web is infinite

• Fall damage but you have to fall very far to get hurt

• Can't upgrade your health bar (it's generally restored after a mission though not always, can restore it at the stores)

• Exaggerated ragdoll physics when hit by enemies or grabbing them with web

• Dialogue isn't interactive

• No difficulty options

• Can't swim (he can swim in the comics and movies)

• Hint markers are generally placed on the ground so you have to interrupt your swinging to move into them - breaks flow

• No full button config (can choose a few settings and reverse the camera)

Playthrough - Video Review - Mini Review

Influenced by: GTA 3, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Rocket Jockey, Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (MCD)

Influenced: Probably The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows