Summary
One of the developers behindMarvel’s Spider-Man 2has come forward to answer a question many early players have about the game’s fast-travel mechanic. One of the many aspects Insomniac’sSpider-Mangames have earned praise for is theirfluid web-swinging and parkour transversal systems, which allow players to soar above the streets of New York City just like Marvel’s beloved superhero. Of course, not everyone wants to take the time to swing from point A to point B, so Insomniac also implemented fast travel for all three of itsSpider-Mantitles.
Marvel’s Spider-ManandSpider-Man: Miles Moraleshandled fast travel differently than the upcomingSpider-Man 2will, as they still had to account for longer load times on the older PlayStation 4 console. Players would select a fast-travel spot on the in-game map, then a humorous animation would play showing Peter or Miles riding the New York subway in their full superhero costume. Early clips ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2released ahead of its launch later this week show that its version of fast travel is much quicker, with Peter and Miles able to instantly transport themselves to any location.
Many earlySpider-Man 2spectators are praising Insomniac for implementing sucha near-seamless fast-travel system, but others point out that there is still a slight delay between the time the player selects their desired spawn point and Spidey’s arrival at that location. When this issue was discussed on one of the Resetera forums, Insomniac director of core technologies Mike Fitzgerald stepped in to clarify that the little bar that fills when a player tries to fast-travel is merely there to confirm their choice, not a loading bar.
Fitzgerald went on to reveal that he once considered having this “hold-to-confirm” bar removed to avoid this kind of confusion, but later decided that it was necessary to ensurethatSpider-Man 2remains accessible to all players. After all, the player using the map might not mean to fast-travel to a different location when they push the corresponding button, or they might change their mind while the “hold-to-confirm” indicator is filling. Fitzgerald says that ensuring that players could properly confirm their choices is more important to him and his team at Insomniac than any “Internet cred points” that they might have earned for completely instantaneous fast travel.
Even if it takes players about three or four seconds to hold down a button and confirmtheir choice to fast-travel inSpider-Man 2, the game is still being lauded for letting Peter Parker and Miles Morales quickly zip to any part ofSpider-Man 2’s larger open world should they wish to forgo the usual web-swinging - though many will likely prefer to take the long way regardless.Spider-Man 2appears to push the limits of the PlayStation 5’s advanced hardware in many ways, and fans will finally get to utilize the game’s almost seamless fast travel this Friday.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2releases on October 20, exclusively for PS5.
MORE:Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Release Time (Here’s When you may Start Playing)
