In late 2023, the extensive leak from Insomniac Games generated considerable excitement among fans. While some long-time Insomniac players expressed frustration over the limited content for classic franchises, the revelation of an upcoming Venom game and an X-Men project was met with widespread enthusiasm. Amid the celebratory atmosphere, the preview of Insomniac's Wolverine game garnered overwhelming praise. However, the leak also delivered disheartening news about the cancellation of Spider-Man: The Great Web.
The demise of Spider-Man: The Great Web, a live-service game, despite its compelling concept, stands as a testament to Sony's unsuccessful foray into this genre. The game aimed to allow players to craft their own Spider-Person, choose their origin story, tweak the costumes of iconic characters, and engage in four-player co-op gameplay with battle passes and raids. Although the game's fate appears sealed, its potential alignment with Gotham Knights' Patrol system remains a tantalizing prospect.
Unleashing the Potential of Gotham Knights Patrols in Spider-Man: The Great Web
The Untapped Brilliance of Gotham Knights Patrols
Similar to other games centered around formidable vigilantes, Gotham Knights aimed to immerse players in the superhero experience, with its Patrol system offering an intriguing approach. Despite some drawbacks, such as a sluggish batcycle and performance issues, the Patrol system proved more beneficial than detrimental. It allowed players to combat crime as Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin, echoing the characters' endeavors in comics and animated adaptations.
During Patrols, players could intervene in random crimes, aid key figures like Lucius Fox and Renee Montoya, or partake in side activities like races and collectible hunts. Halting crimes or interrogating adversaries yielded clues, subsequently leading to more intricate and challenging tasks on subsequent nights. While Patrols could become repetitive, as the availability of engaging side missions dwindled, the concept held significant promise for expansion.
Integrating Patrols into Spider-Man: The Great Web
The notion of one player conducting an interrogation on one end of the map while another tackled the crime on the opposite side, combined with the gradual release of side activities, presented a robust framework. Therefore, had Insomniac's multiplayer Spider-Man venture materialized, incorporating this system would have undoubtedly enriched the game. Enhancements, such as a more diverse array of premeditated crimes, additional side narratives alongside basic crimefighting, and improved incentives for comprehensive patrols and crime eradication, could have been implemented. While Gotham Knights' Patrol system was tailored to its four characters, given their affiliation with the World's Greatest Detective, the remainder of the system could have seamlessly complemented a co-op Spider-Man game.
After each patrol, players could have received customizable gear for their Spider-Person, with rarity tied to their crime-solving accomplishments. Insomniac could have introduced competitive crime prevention, akin to the approach in Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, offering extra rewards to the most effective crime-stopper based on various criteria. Infusing narrative elements, such as encounters with Kingpin after thwarting a substantial number of related crimes, could have further enriched the experience. Ultimately, Patrols offered a methodical delivery of side content and facilitated a heightened vigilante experience in Gotham Knights, making it an ideal enhancement for The Great Web.