Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 had a difficult task in creating entertaining antagonists since the first game introduced the Sinister Six—Doctor Octopus, Mr. Negative, Electro, Vulture, Scorpion, and Rhino. Of course, the original game featured other antagonists as well, such as Kingpin, Tombstone, and Shocker. However, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 managed to balance the number of antagonists with a remarkably subtle integration of each one. Quentin Beck’s wickedness, for example, isn’t as clear-cut in Mysterio’s boss battle, and the Lizard is merely Peter’s opponent while he works to heal and control the rapidly changing monster.
In fact, some of the most interesting enemies in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 can be located in side missions that have no bearing on the main plot. The Chameleon’s historically correct relationship with Kraven is interesting to discover, the Flame’s identity as Cletus Kasady is intriguing since it suggests future Carnage, and Sandman makes a big impression as the massive set-piece opener for the follow-up. In instance, the Sandman was hinted at as a collectible backpack in the first game, and he makes a memorable return in the follow-up.
Sandman from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could have been a great tutorial boss.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 could not have begun better than with a massive Sandman tutorial boss, and everything that happened before and during the fight came together to create an amazing and educational experience. First, open-world web-swinging is restored to players, but with the thrilling addition of web-wing gliding. Then, as his boss’s health bar displays, players swing and glide from island to island toward a swirling sandstorm that, when it gets close enough, exposes itself to be Sandman himself, rising high above surrounding structures.
In addition to offering players a new adversary type in the form of sand minions, the Sandman set piece is an amazing spectacle in and of itself. The tutorial and boss battle are rather lengthy, taking about 20 minutes, and they teach players fundamental fundamentals as well as introduce Peter and Miles’ baseline skills. The sequence also looks amazing.
The Sandman Side Quest in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is Surprisingly Engaging After That
But when the sand settles, Spider-Man and the FDNY begin to rescue citizens as they navigate sand-filled streets in the wake of this titanic conflict. While Flint Marko is in prison, players can hear him hint that Kraven is after him. While this could have been the last players see of Sandman, the Marko’s Memories side mission in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 tells a sympathetic story about the character.
The story revolves around Marko’s love for his daughter, but his memories are dispersed around the wide city of New York City like amber crystal deposits. When exploring the city and coming across plumes of sand particles, players can locate these crystals. However, they must first battle gangs of sand minions there.
These adversary kinds are far more enjoyable to face because they are exclusive to the introductory sequence and Marko’s Memories encounters. By the end of the adventure, Spider-Man has made sure that Marko’s daughter is safe, as players have learned.
