Spider-Man 2: PS5 developer on stories, game length, and what’s next

Spider-Man 2, one of the biggest games of the year, is out on PlayStation 5 this week.

Reviews have praised the action-adventure’s open world and technical leaps over its PS4 prequel.

The PS5 exclusive, priced at £69.99 in the UK, has also reignited a debate about game-length, with its main story mission estimated at about 15 hours.

But creative director Bryan Intihar tells BBC Newsbeat: “I feel confident in saying that it’s worth it.”

Like the previous game, Spider-Man 2 takes place in a virtual New York City, and offers more side missions once you finish the main story.

It’s estimated that completing the game’s main quest and its additional content will take roughly 40 hours in total.

That’s in contrast to other major releases this year like Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3, which can potentially be played for hundreds of hours.

Some fans say they want more for their money, while others push back on the idea that longer is always better.

Bryan, from developer Insomniac Games, says the studio is aware of the arguments but his team is focused on making the game as good as it can be.

“For us, it really comes down to the experience we want to deliver with the quality we want to hit,” he says.

“Obviously, there’s a certain level of, ‘hey, someone’s going to spend this much money on a game’, so we want to give them the experience that’s worth it.

“Our job is to make sure that you feel no matter how long it is, it’s worth that money, it’s worth that investment.”

As well as praise for the game’s graphics, combat and open-world setting, most of the reviews have highlighted the quality of the story it tells.

Bryan says his aim was to include themes players would connect with including grief, relationships, and growing up.

He says this was possible because the game’s main characters, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, are relatable despite being superheroes.

“I love Tony Stark, but it’s hard to identify with a billionaire, right?” he says.

“And look at Thor. Great hero, but it’s hard to identify with a god.”

So after years of work, and the validation of “universal acclaim” on Metacritic, what will Bryan be doing next?

“I can finally exhale,” he says. “And I will definitely be taking some time off and playing some other games.

“This is probably one of the best years in gaming ever. I have a pile of amazing games I’m looking forward to playing.”

It possibly won’t be a long break though. Bryan and his team are already working on a new game based on fellow superhero Wolverine. And what about another sequel – a Spider-Man 3?

Bryan’s not giving much away: “We’ll see what the future holds.”