Summary
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is a grab-bag of the two games that came before it that attempts to supply fans with everything they demanded from them. Mary Jane’s missions were greatly improved while still being an instrumental part of the franchise, for example, but nowhere was fan demand supplemented more than in the suit selections that players received. Now withsuit style options inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2to further customize many preferred costumes, Insomniac needed to make tough decisions when it came to reprising beloved suits from previous games while also debuting new ones that had been clamored for.
The suit that was easily the most desired wasThe Amazing Spider-Man 2’s costume and Insomniac delivered on it, players got to enjoy the black symbiote suit fromSpider-Man 3alongside its red-and-blue Raimi counterpart, and Miles’ popular Bodega Cat suit fromMiles Moralesreturned with its cat companion helping attack enemies in finisher animations.
Insomniac obviously can’t please everyone and shouldn’t be held to that standard in every game. However, there’s a suit that’s still on the cutting room floor that would’ve made a fun nod to the actual events ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2: theBombastic Bag-Man.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Not Reprising the Bag-Man Suit is a Missed Opportunity
How Spider-Man’s Bag-Man Suit Connects to the Symbiote
On paper, the Bag-Man suit really has no context and seems only like a humorous costume mishap. That’s essentially what it is, but its context is important in understanding why Peter ends up looking that way, even if it is only for a brief moment in the character’s storied history.
The only reason why Peter ends up wearing an outdatedFantastic Fourcostume—sans footwear—and a paper bag over his head is that he is left without a costume when Reed Richards is able to separate the alien symbiote from him inThe Amazing Spider-Man #258. The Human Torch comedically lends him this makeshift outfit and even completes the look by slapping a ‘kick me’ sign on his back that Peter doesn’t notice.
This suit has arguably been more popular in games than it has been in the comics, lending itself to fun skin cosmetics in games such asSpider-Manon PS1 orSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. It was even featured inMarvel’s Spider-Manwith Insomniac’s own take on it, and because the sequel deals with Peter wearing and later absconding from the symbiote, it is odd that it didn’t return to have a neat comics connection there.
Bag-Man Could’ve Been a Fun Post-Symbiote Suit Unlock in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Insomniac had to have known that it wanted the symbiote to play a large role in the sequel while it was still working on the first game since it appears in the post-credits scene, and yet it looks like it was too antsy and wanted to have the Bag-Man suit inMarvel’s Spider-Manregardless of whether there would be any fun connection to make or not. This could’ve written it off from being included inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2thereafter, but instead Insomniac did reprise a number of suits, leaving Bag-Man in the dust when it deserved to be in the game more than ever.
It would have been excellent to see the Bag-Man suit become available for resource purchase after Peter’s boss fight where he rids himself of the symbiote, reflecting back on that being when Peter receives the Bag-Man suit in the comics. The Amazing Bag-Man suit is not in the sequeland while it may not have been the suit fans demanded the most to return, it’s a missed opportunity since it would have actually created a tether between its comic-inspired and original events, unlike suit additions such asMarvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Superior suit.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
