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‘Spider-Man’ swings onto the PlayStation 4 at E3

Last night, Sony’s E3 press conference confirmed rumors that a new Spider-Man game is in development exclusively for the PlayStation 4. The new title is being put together by Insomniac, the studio responsible for the Ratchet and Clank series and the Resistance franchise.

It might seem like high time for the web-slinger to make his return to the world of video games, now that the blockbuster Captain America: Civil War has helped start the process of returning the character to former glory. However, it has been confirmed that the new title will not have any ties to existing cinematic adaptations.

That facet of the project is made quite clear by Spider-Man’s suit, which is quite different from the versions we’ve seen on the silver screen. His trademark red-and-blue get-up is emblazoned with a large white spider in place of the standard black arachnid, immediately distinguishing this Peter Parker from the one in Marvel’s cinematic universe.

Spider Man Screenshot
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This could well be a good thing for Insomniac’s Spider-Man, as it means that the studio isn’t confined in terms of the game’s storyline or the characters that are involved. While next year’s Homecoming movie seems likely to feature the Vulture as its big bad, the game can cherry pick from the superhero’s impressive rogues gallery.

However, there’s no word on which villain (or villains) will make the cut. All that we know at the moment is that the game will cast each player as an experienced hero who has been around the block once or twice, both Spider-Man and Peter Parker are playable, and the game’s version of New York City is an open world to explore at will.

Insomniac has apparently been hard at work on Spider-Man for quite some time, but there’s still no word on a potential release date just yet.

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Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Where to find Aunt May’s grave in Spider-Man 2
Peter visiting his aunt and uncle's graves.

Peter Parker has had a hard life. He was orphaned by his parents as a child and raised by his caring Aunt May and Uncle Ben, only for Ben to be killed in an act that would shape Spider-Man's entire philosophy as a hero. Things only get worse during the events of the first act of Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 as Aunt May is tragically killed as well, leaving Peter with no more true parental figures. Peter hasn't forgotten all his caring aunt and uncle have done for him, and if you can find their gravesite, he will pay them respect, as well as earn you a Trophy. It's a big graveyard, though, and their site isn't marked on the map. Here's where Uncle Ben and Aunt May's graves are located in Spider-Man 2.
How to find Aunt May and Uncle Ben's graves

The graveyard is located at the most-northeastern point on the New York map in Harlem. If you have unlocked fast travel in this district, you can warp almost directly to the spot. Once in the graveyard, go forward down the middle into the open field. You might spot Mile's father's grave first. May and Ben's graves are directly to the right of that.

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All Mysterium locations in Spider-Man 2
Miles posing by a Mysterium.

It seems like a requirement for superhero games to bring in a villain just to set up challenges for the hero to complete. In the first Spider-Man, this was Taskmaster, but in Spider-Man 2, we get Mysterio and his Mysterium challenges. Not only are they simply fun ways to test your spider skills against some unique trials, but you can also get your hands on some Hero Tokens for performing well. Plus, you also get a little more insight into this unique former villain. That's all well and good, but by this point in the game, you should know that you won't be given the exact locations for each challenge right away. If your spider-sense is failing you on where to find all the Mysteriums in Spider-Man 2, we'll mark your map so you can swing straight to the action.
All Mysterium locations and requirements

Mysteriums, also known as mysterium dev diaries, unlock after you complete Chapter 12 of the main game. This is the chapter where you first meet Mysterio at the carnival while playing as Miles and go through his attraction. Once you beat this chapter, a few Mysteriums will appear on your map, but more will pop up as you continue to go through the story. You need to do them all as Miles, and each rank earns you Hero Tokens. Here is where you can find them all.
Under Construction - Harlem
This is a "defeat all enemies"-style challenge, but these always come with a twist. In this case, around halfway through the challenge, poison gas will fill the arena and constantly drain your health. You can heal to recover, but if you're on a good pace and have upgraded your health, then you should concentrate on using your Focus for finishers to complete the challenge faster.

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Miles checking his phone in spider-man 2.

With Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 out, you might be tempted to devour Insomniac’s new superhero adventure as fast as possible like a hungry Venom. I wouldn’t blame you. The sequel’s sprawling story is a complicated web of threads that beg to be untangled. It’s tempting to zoom from mission to mission, ignoring all other side activities until New York City has been properly saved from Kraven’s wrath.

If you find yourself in that boat, consider this a PSA: Don’t skip out on Spider-Man 2’s side missions. Though they aren’t as glitzy as the main campaign, the sequel’s best moments are consistently tucked away in quieter quests that emphasize compassion and community support over comic book violence. They’re the moments that best illustrate what it truly means to be a superhero.
Community support
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