Spider-Man 2 is the sequel to the first Spider-Man game, but it’s the third game in the series. Before that, you had Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which takes place in the same world. Miles Morales also takes place after the first Spider-Man’s DLC, with all the stories connected to each other. All three take place chronologically, and you might wonder if you must play the first game before starting Spider-Man 2.
While veterans of the franchise won’t have a problem, newer players might wonder if the game is worth picking up. If you didn’t play Spider-Man 1, is Spider-Man 2 a good game to jump into? Will you be confused if you play the sequel right away? Or is it a stand-alone story that doesn’t need any prior knowledge? Let’s dig into all those questions.
Should You Play Miles Morales Or Spider-Man 1 First?
It’s not mandatory to play either Spider-Man 1 or Spider-Man: Miles Morales before Spider-Man 2. However, characters in Spider-Man 2 will reference events from previous games and assume you know what they are talking about. Characters will also have relationships that don’t make sense if you didn’t play the previous games.
Spider-Man 2 has its own story, skills, and suits. You have different enemies that weren’t present in previous titles, such as the Lizard. If you have some background from the comic books, you shouldn’t be too confused, even if you didn’t play the previous titles. The story doesn’t draw from a previous event and starts on its own foundation.
However, the combat in Spider-Man 2 is similar to that of previous titles. If you find Spider-Man 2 is too hard, play Spider-Man 1, which is easier to learn. You can carry over the basics to the sequel and perform much better. It’s also helpful for learning how to use Miles’ Spider-Man effectively, though there are plenty of tutorials.
If the story is your biggest gripe, the start of Spider-Man 2 has a quick recap of the events from both games. While it misses out on some of the more poignant moments, it’s great for catching up on short notice. It doesn’t perfectly replicate the story, though, and it’s worth revisiting both games if you want a better understanding.
It’s perfectly fine to start Spider-Man 2 even if you didn’t play Spider-Man 1 or Miles Morales. Expect some confusion if you are starting fresh and take the time to learn the basics. But after a few hours, you will know about as much as the veteran players and can fully enjoy the story.
