Heartwarming / Marvel's Spider-Man 2

We got a bond that no evil can break
Forever my bro at the end of the day

• As detailed in many examples below, a large theme of the game is second chances, to move away from past actions to atone and do what's right. For example, Mysterio has retired and uses his abilities for stagecraft at Coney Island. In the Mysterium side quest it sounds like he's going back to his old ways, but this turns out to be a ruse by his assistants: he has genuinely reformed into a better person.
• Miles asks for Peter's help in dealing with the Sandman, to which his initial response is asking if he can't handle it alone. Granted while it's out of paranoia that he'll lose his new job if he leaves, it shows how much Peter has grown to trust Miles as a partner that he believes he'll be able to tackle threats as Spider-Man by himself.
• While the symbiote is making Peter more aggressive and angry towards enemies he faces as Spider Man, he's noticeably still empathetic when trying to cure Curt Connors of the Lizard, trying to reach out to the good doctor during their fight and reminding him that his wife and son still need him. Sadly, the moment doesn't last as he eventually starts insulting Connors over his current state.
  • More subtly, the entrance to Connors' lab is fairly touching. The entrance is hidden behind a photo of him and his wife, and the password for the lab is his son's favorite song. Even with everything that had happened since he became the Lizard, his family is shown to be one of the most important things to him.
• The game really puts the emphasis on the "friendly neighborhood" aspect of Spider-Man. Unlike in the previous game which put a lot of focus on Spider-Man assisting the police and rounding up criminals, this game mostly has the Spider-Men helping people out with little odd-jobs: guiding pigeons to new homes, helping an old blind lady, protecting bee colonies and other such seemingly trivial things that demonstrate what Spider-Man is really about.
  • This was present in the earlier games, Spidey being the friendly neighbourhood hero, but the focus changed, became more about people and less about gameplay moments. In the first game, a random woman flagging Spidey down in a park led to a mini-heist movie that ended in a combat encounter. In this game, a woman flagging Spidey down in a park led to Spider-Man sitting on a park bench listening as an old man tells the heartbreakingly beautiful tale of how he proposed to his now-long-dead wife.
• Despite its Tearjerker and Nightmare Fuel parts, Miles fighting Peter also is this because Miles makes it clear that he knows that his mentor is suffering under the effects of the symbiote and encourages him to reject its corruption. The fight is as much a "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight as it is an emotional fight, and after finally freeing Peter from the symbiote, Miles comforts Peter over what happened since taking it off, assuring his mentor that he has his back in case he needs anything.
  Miles: You know if you need me, I'm just a call away.
  • The fight also acts as a direct parallel to the fight with Otto at the end of the first game. Just like before, Spider-Man is forced to fight his beloved mentor and hero who has been corrupted by a power they feel like they desperately need. Miles even puts the onus to save himself on Peter just like Peter did to Otto, only where last time it was Peter finally accepting that Otto won’t accept help, Miles says it in complete confidence that Peter is strong enough to overcome it. And thankfully, he’s proven right.
• Just as it seems as if Peter is forced to drop two civilians still on the crashing roller coaster into the fire below them, Harry comes to his aid using the Venom Symbiote.
  • When this causes Peter to blow his cover in front of him in a moment of surprise, rather than feeling hurt or betrayed that his best friend kept this double life of his a secret from him, Harry is just excited and impressed over the fact that the two of them both have super powers.
  Peter: Okay, we gotta talk.
  Harry: We sure do... (smiles warmly) Spider-Man.
• Harry puts himself at risk to turn off the particle accelerator emitting a high pitched sound that weakens Peter and the symbiote just as Kraven's men nearly capture him, allowing him to unlock his Symbiote Blast and turn the tables on the hunters.
• Rio can tell Miles is dealing with a lot in his struggle to balance his school and superhero work, and sees through all his attempts to act like he's fine. A reminder that while she may now be on the city council, those duties do not overtake her love for her son and his needs.
• Rio instantly forgives Peter for his actions under the symbiote’s control. She knows it wasn’t what he’s like, and trusts that he’ll do better in the future.
• One of the new features in the game is that Peter and Miles can assist each other in stopping crimes after which there is the option to interact with the other Spider-Man. One of those interactions? The two going in for a simple hug. A sweet reminder how they aren't just superhero partners but also fellow spider bros.
  • They can also encounter Harry (while he has the symbiote) and Yuri (after her questline). Of note is when you encounter them as Miles, Miles welcomes Harry to the team and banters with him, while Yuri sincerely says she hopes Peter appreciates everything Miles does to help.
• The reunion scene between Harry, MJ, and Peter, who've all been best friends since middle school. Their chemistry is such that Harry quickly breaks out of Remember the New Guy? territory and you fully buy that the three have always been friends.
• Harry taking Peter on a nostalgia trip remembering their misadventure when they were teenagers. It comes off the heels of Peter getting fired and stressing about how he’s going to keep a hold of May and Ben’s home, so Peter really needed some time with his long-lost best friend. And then there's Harry's job offer...
  • Harry offers Peter a place at the Emily-May Foundation startup as its co-founder alongside him to "heal the world". When Peter accepts the offer, Harry is overjoyed and the two share a heartwarming bro-hug. Even Peter can hardly believe that, for once, he has a stable dream job he always wanted that involves helping people.
  • Also, at the door to Harry's startup, there's a hawthorn tree planted by his mother and flowers dedicated to Aunt May. It's a beautiful monument to the two women who meant so much to them.
  • While sneaking through the photography room in the flashback, Peter can come across a photograph he took of Avengers Tower, sheepishly admitting to a bit of hero worship. It's a sweet moment, especially when you consider that, within ten years, this awkward fifteen year old will grow into an equal to Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
• Related to the above: Emily Osborn dies and Norman takes a helicopter to make sure that his son hears it from his mouth in as kind a way as possible... rather than from someone else who may not be gentle enough.
• After losing the Emily-May Foundation to Kraven and Harry had lost the symbiote that was keeping him alive, Norman gets hit with despair hard. However, he has a moment to speak with Peter alone and, in genuine Sincerity Mode, Norman thanks Peter for being Harry's friend and hugs him like a second son. While Harry, who's within earshot, is saddened of having to hear his father so hurt, even a part of him is touched that his father considers his friends a part of his family.
• Mysterio and Tombstone working at Coney Island. They seem to be rather content with their new lot in life. Peter seems really proud of his old foes for moving on and reforming too.
  • After Tombstone helps a crashed go kart rider, he's sincerely thanked while the crowd applauds. No Reformed, but Rejected here.
    • The fact that some of the villains have genuinely been able to turn things around and get on the straight and narrow, ordinary citizens, people who are liked by others.
  • When Kraven's goons come to kidnap Tombstone, Peter immediately rushes to Lonnie's aid. When the Hunters respond by crashing into one of the Coney Island rides and causing it to fall as a distraction, Peter sincerely apologizes to Lonnie as he moves to help bystanders, desperately saying he wants to save him.
    • When Peter and Harry do successfully rescue Tombstone from captivity, he's sincerely thankful that Spider-Man came to save him, and even extends the gratitude to Harry, despite him having complicated the rescue by triggering a booby trap on his cage. Peter makes sure that Lonnie has somewhere safe to lay low so the Hunters don't find him again, and the two part with a friendly handshake.
      Tombstone: See you around, spider.
• Even after stating that he doesn't trust her, Miles eventually helps Felicia open a portal to Paris so she can reunite with her girlfriend. As she says goodbye, it's clear that she’s utterly grateful.
• Miles and Hailey's budding romance.
• After collecting all the Prowler stashes, Miles discovers that Aaron might be up to his old Prowler business again. Turns out it's not the case: turns out Rio was inspired by her son willing to forgive Aaron that she decided to forgive him too, and helped him get a new apartment in the same building as the family. And Aaron reassures Miles his old life is behind him: from now on, he's with his family.
• In The Flame/Wraith arc, Spider-Man (Peter) reunites with his former Friend on the Force, Yuri, who's now going by Wraith. While there's still a lot of tension and physical clashes between the two due to their opposing beliefs, they're clearly on mutual/professional terms and are genuinely grateful to see and help each other again like old times.
  • Yuri spends the entire questline trying to kill The Flame, a murderous cult leader responsible for countless deaths, even fighting Peter when he tries to stop her. When she has to choose between pursuing her target and saving Peter from being burned alive however she chooses him without hesitation. Her explanation? She's doing this to save lives, and Spider-Man is very good at that. For all her zeal and willingness to kill where necessary she hasn't lost sight of the big picture.
• A flashback reveals how Peter got into the Bugle and his first meeting with J. Jonah Jameson. While he is as abrasive and loudmouthed as ever, he tries to give Peter advice on getting around quicker as he's biking fast to his location. And although he dismisses the photo of Spider-Man Peter gives him, Jameson nonetheless hires him as his photographer.
  • His time working for Jameson is most likely the reason why Pete doesn't take his insults of his superhero persona that badly; he knows his heart's in the right place...he just doesn't show it the typical way.
  • The way this flashback is prompted is extra heartwarming, as Peter encounters an aspiring photojournalist who wants a picture of him. What makes it even better is that she cites none other than Peter Parker as an inspiration for her work, and uses the picture from the flashback as a reference. So many people know and look up to him as Spider-Man, but it’s nice to see people admire Peter for a change. The whole affair clearly lifts Peter’s spirits quite a bit.
• Even before she fully breaks free of the Scream persona, we get glimpses of MJ fighting back tooth and nail against the symbiote's influence, refuting its claims that her work makes no difference and telling Peter that she needs him as much as he needs her. Much like Peter, MJ's care for her loved ones and drive to help others can't be so easily extinguished.
  • And then there's the final words Peter uses to break MJ out of her rage to become herself again.
  Peter: (While being strangled by Scream's hair) This isn't what you want!
  Scream: How could you possibly know what we want???!
  Peter: You're Mary Jane Watson! You want The Truth!
  MJ: (the symbiote pauses, then, with a whisper)....Yes. I want the truth.
• The aftermath of the Scream fight where Peter and MJ reconcile is nothing sort of heartwarming. It was a terrible experience, sure, but the couple got to vent out their problems, which was something they both desperately needed. This contributed to MJ deciding to move in with Peter after all.
  • Peter also expresses proudness towards MJ for telling Jonah off before quitting, something even he couldn't do during his time at the Daily Bugle.
• Upon getting the Anti-Venom Suit, Peter immediately declares how much he appreciates Miles.
  Peter: (to Miles, on the phone) Miles, where did this COME from?!
  Miles: Li and I went in your head to clear out the symbiote left inside. He had to drain his power into it to save you. Looks like it had an effect.
  Peter: Wait, you two worked together?
  Miles: I wasn't about to let you die.
  Peter: Miles, that's... After so many times saying it, "thank you" seems soft.
  Miles: It's okay. I know. (hangs up)
  Peter: (to himself) I don't deserve that kid.
• It's sweet how, thanks to the returning Bodega Cat Suit, Miles can still fight crime with his friend, Spider-Man the cat. Who still attacks enemies for him. Like Miles said in the previous game, a great cat.
• Look carefully when examining May's bedroom; on her bedside table is a photo of her and Ben on their wedding day.
• From side missions (which can be done as either Peter or Miles):
  • Putting the crystal fragments of Flint Marko's memories together reveals it's a figurine of him and his daughter Keemia in an embrace, showing that Marko sees being her father as his core identity. The mission ends with Spider-Man anonymously giving Keemia the figurine.
  • Hailey recounts a story of her encounter with a spray painter whose art is not getting recognized. Hailey encourages her that it is good, and they make a beautiful collab piece together.
  • One mission has Spider-Man meeting a blind woman named Alma who can't get a guide dog due to allergies, with a claim that something's been making a scratching sound in her backyard, and a request to find out what's been making it. Eventually, they discover the cause to be a rogue Hunter Beast, and after a scuffle with the beast's former owners, Ganke reprograms it, and Spider-Man takes "Fido" over to Alma to be her new guide dog. What really makes it is the fact "Fido" is decorated with adorable art in marker and the first thing it does is bring Alma her slippers. Crosses into Funny with the fact Alma is Blind Al, an associate of Deadpool
  • Spider-Man finds a woman who's been separated from her grandfather worried about him due to his declining mental health. After following the clues, Spider-Man finds Grandpa Earl sitting on a bench near a pond. While the granddaughter comes to collect him, Spidey sits with Earl while he recounts in detail the day he proposed to his wife.
  • At the end of the side quest chain to save the museum in Harlem, Miles takes a moment to dance salsa with his mom.
• The Brooklyn Visions side missions has Miles helping his fellow students with their problems, like helping one student with his homecoming proposal to his boyfriend.
  • And after completing all missions, Miles is gifted a suit from those he helped.
• If Peter or Miles finds the Spider-Girl themed Spider-Bot, both of them will remark on how much Peter loves/would love it. It seems like every Peter Parker's paternal love for their children transcends even the vastness of the Marvel Multiverse.
• As in the previous titles Peter and Miles can go to the cemetery and visit their respective loved ones that they have lost (May for Peter, Jefferson for Miles, but can also visit the other).
  • One of the things Peter can say if he goes to Jefferson Davis grave is telling him that he raised a hell of a son in Miles. Meanwhile Miles can tell May that he has internalized her message of helping people one at a time.
  • Miles can also visit the trophy he left on top of Trinity Church to commemorate Phin.
    Miles: Doing my best, Phin. Trying to make a city we'd both be proud of.
• Fisk Tower has been claimed by a new tenant and given a familiar name: the Baxter Building. Even more, the rooftop is sporting the beginnings of a familiar "4" logo. It just feels right finally having Marvel's First Family being represented here.
  • The Baxter Building holds a Spider-Bot once that quest opens up. Which one? The Future Foundation design. I.E. the Bot that represents Spider-Man's time as an official member of the First Family.
• Miles narrowly managing to defibrillate Harry after the symbiote is destroyed and nearly takes Harry with it. While Harry only manages to stay awake for a few moments before slipping into a coma with a slim chance of recovery and no cure on the horizon, he's still alive, and the sheer relief on Peter's, MJ's, and Miles' faces is wonderful to see.
• Seeing Peter cooking breakfast for Miles, Ganke, Rio, Hailey and MJ in the ending scene. Life certainly hasn’t been easy for the Spider-Men, but they have each other and their family.
  • Not just cooking breakfast, but cooking wheat cakes, which May was famous for making, and a trademark favorite of Peter's. Peter even mentioned them in the first game which ultimately convinced Gloria to check out F.E.A.S.T. Even in death, parts of May still live on.
• At the end, Peter decides to rebuild the Emily-May Foundation from scratch, not just to honor his late aunt and Harry's late mom, but now to honor his comatose friend to truly "heal the world" and keep their dream alive. There's a heavy implication that Peter will consider retiring from being Spider-Man one day to live a normal life as Peter Parker. Miles understands (having been inside Peter's head and all), but also assures him that New York will always have a Spider-Man or two there to save the day.
  • Peter has also witnessed Miles perform a feat he tried and failed to accomplish: reforming his greatest enemies. Peter had previously failed to reform Otto, who's indirectly murdered Aunt May. Yet Miles had reformed Martin Li, who murdered his father. It seems the student has finally become the master (maybe even more so).
    Peter: Wow. Reforming your greatest enemy. Can't say I've ever done that. Maybe MJ was right. Why would the city need me... [Turns to Miles] when it has you.
    Miles: [Bashfully] I don't know. This city still looks like a two-Spider-Man job to me.
  • In a post-credit scene, Rio introduces Miles to her new boyfriend, Albert Moon, who then introduces Miles to his daughter, Cindy Moon. It appears that Miles has (unknowingly for the moment) found a new potential Spider-partner if Peter decides to officially retire.
  • Also, regardless of whether Peter is continuing as Spider-Man, his backing off and letting Miles handle the situation is showing that he’s attempting May’s lesson about balance. Rather than obsess about every single mishap or threat, he’s easing up on himself.
• After the credits, Norman sends Peter a gift from Harry. It turns out to be one last EMF experiment that Harry put together after the attack on the foundation. The purpose? To splice together DNA from Emily’s tree and May’s flowers, and drones that will spread the seeds across the city so that the two will live on for generations. The message from Harry states that he’s sure that they’ll be able to continue their work together someday, and that he loves him.
• After Miles gets kidnapped by the Hunters, Jonah will go on the air and say that he hopes for Miles' safety because he would never wish harm on another human being...of course, he immediately adds "so he can face justice in court like he deserves!" but it's the thought that counts.
  • Furthermore, it's made evident that majority of New York is genuinely concerned for Miles' well being as this is going down. One person goes as far as starting a search party of 50 to go find him and Danika even ends her podcast early to join in. It really shows how much of an impact Miles had on New York during his first few years as Spider-Man.
• In the mission where Peter infiltrates Kraven's party in order to find the serum he used on Dr. Connors, you can pet Dima, Kraven's (currently tranquilized) pet Tiger.
  • In the post-game, you can visit the Prospect Park Zoo in Downtown Brooklyn to find that Dima has been moved to one of the exhibits. And yes, you can still pet her.
• The photography sidequest. Unlike the first game, which had you take pictures of various New York landmarks, this one is all about capturing scenes of city life. From small things, like two friends playing rooftop frisbee, to big ones, like people protesting Oscorp. It's best explained by what Robbie told Peter back at the Bugle, remembered at the start of the sidequest. "Don't show me the city. Show me New York."