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It’s been about a year sinceSpider-Man 2came out and became the subject of as much critical acclaim as its predecessor, wowing players with its combat, storytelling, visuals, and use of PS5’s capabilities. Considering all that, it really doesn’t come across as surprising that people are naturally eager to see the series to its conclusion with a third title.
As the hype and excitement build for aSpider-Man 3, however, there is one particular mechanic that Insomniac will undoubtedly focus on a lot before marking its return. Despite being one of the most praised aspects of the second game, it may end up on the cutting floor.
Fast Travel was almost scrapped away during the development ofSpider-Man 2
Spider-Man 3is already highly anticipated for its potential plot developments, but the gameplay mechanics are just as important as the story.
WhileSpider-Man 2elevated traversal to new heights with its inclusion of web wings and wind tunnels, Fast Travel became a significant talking point amongst the community for how genuinely “fast” it felt, turningInsomniac into one of the few developers worth caring about on PlayStation’s platform.
Keeping that in mind, it becomes rather fascinating how, when speaking at GDC 2024, design director Josue Benavidez revealed that the Fast Travel system nearly broke the game, explaining how:
We were working on this new fast Travel. It was one of my favorite new features. And it totally broke our game. Because the map was fully revealed, you could go anywhere.
Ultimately, though, Insomniac settled on a compromise: players would unlock Fast Travel by progressing through completing activities within districts. Completing side objectives—like photo ops, rescue missions, or gathering Sandman’s memory crystals—allowed players to Fast Travel to different parts of New York City.
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While this most certainly gave players more incentive to interact with the world, forSpider-Man 3, a better integration of fast Travel on Insomniac’s end could help them avoid some of the system’s potential pitfalls.
To improve this system,Spider-Man 3could feature more dynamic fast travel zones that are unlocked based on story progression, along with providing more incentives to explore different regions of the map.
Alternatively, fast Travel could be reserved for key story events or missions, making its use feel more intentional and enhancing the pacing of the game.
Beyond the fast travel mechanics, there’s a lot that fans expect out ofSpider-Man 3
While addressing the fast travel system will be crucial for Insomniac, there’s also no denying that people have even bigger expectations that they might want to focus on more for the next installment.
For instance, one of the most eagerly awaited elements isa potential face-off between Peter Parker and Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin, an eventual showdown that could define the very premise of the third game. Not only that, but many are also seriously hoping for more one-on-one battles between the Spider-Men and their greatest rivals rather than massive and sprawling, multi-hero battles that involves just about everyone.
But what’s most important to the community is to know what the third game holds in store for the fate of Peter Parker. After all, while Miles Morales has been well-received and established as a key character in his own right, many players would be devastated if Peter were to be killed off.
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It really can’t be overstated how Insomniac must find a way to balance the two Spider-Men without sidelining one in favor of the other. But then again,Spider-Man 3is quite far down in the developer’s priority list, as Insomniac is currently focused on other projects like the Venom DLC and the Wolverine title.
Regardless of when it arrives, with the foundation they’ve built and their proven track record, there’s little doubt anyway that Insomniac won’t deliver a stellar experience when Spider-Man 3 finally arrives.
What are your thoughts on Spider-Man 2’s Fast Travel system? What other things would you like to see in the third game? Let us know in the comments below!
Akshit Dangi
Writer - Gaming
Articles Published :266
Akshit is a supposed human being and gaming writer who lurks in different corners of the internet in search of fascinating rabbit holes. Outside of that, though, you’ll most likely find him staring at a piece of art for days or completing another playthrough of Silent Hill.
