10 Best Video Games Of The Decade (So Far)

Spider-Man 2 picks up where the last entries left off, with the dual wallcrawlers teaming up to bring peace to New York. 

However, Peter Parker's life spirals out of control when an alien symbiote corrupts his mind. When he discards the extra-terrestrial, it infects Peter's oldest friend, Harry Osborn, transforming him into the monstrous Venom.

Anyone familiar with the comics knows Venom's primary host is Eddie Brock, not Harry. However, this switcheroo demonstrates what the developers were trying to achieve. 

Though Spider-Man 2 is crammed with marvellous supervillain fights, web-slinging action, a vast open world to explore, and a bunch of addictive side-quests, the most important aspect is Peter's inner turmoil and his doomed relationship with Harry. As riveting as it is to watch the symbiote almost destroy Spidey's life, it's far more heartbreaking to see his childhood friend become his greatest enemy. Fighting the Lizard and Kraven the Hunter is awesome, but it doesn't hold a candle to watching this destructive and self-destructive conflict play out.

Also, playing as both Spider-Men was an effective way to diversify the combat. Peter and Miles swap in battle in a way that never feels gimmicky nor does it interrupt the flow of battle. Spider-Man 2 also deserves praise for fixing a few minor issues Marvel's Spider-Man suffered. (Mary Jane is fun to play as this time.)

The original turned out so well, the developers had their work cut out for them for this instalment. But immediately after completing the faultless prologue with Sandman, it's apparent Spider-Man 2 is the superior of the two.