Perspective: A Parent, Casual Performance Gamer, and Multi-System PC Owner
Reviewer Context
I want to start this review by giving some context, because how you judge performance really matters.
I’m a father with kids who actively play games, and I personally own multiple gaming systems:
- An Intel Arc system (B580)
- An AMD-based PC
- An NVIDIA-based PC
- Several living-room and handheld setups
I’m also not someone who chases perfect performance. I don’t need 100+ FPS to enjoy a game. If a game runs at medium or low settings, looks fine, and doesn’t constantly stutter, I’m happy. Even 30 FPS—or slightly below—doesn’t bother me if it’s consistent.
Because of that mindset, I’m generally very forgiving when reviewing games.
That’s what makes this experience stand out.
Why I Picked Up Spider-Man 2
My kids played through Marvel’s Spider-Man and Miles Morales, and loved both. Naturally, they wanted to continue the story with Spider-Man 2. I bought the game mostly so I could:
- Keep up with what they’re playing
- Experience the story alongside them
I wasn’t expecting cutting-edge performance. I just expected it to work.
Performance Experience (The Core Issue)
Unfortunately, this is one of the worst optimization experiences I’ve had in years.
System 1: Older NVIDIA PC
- 16 GB RAM
- Decent CPU
- GTX 1080 (still very capable for most games)
Result:
➡️ Severe stuttering, even after lowering settings significantly.
System 2: Intel Arc B580 PC
- 32 GB RAM
- SSD / M.2 storage
- Intel Arc B580 GPU
Result:
➡️ Same stuttering issues, despite better memory, faster storage, and a newer GPU.
Additional Tests
- Tried different settings
- Tried handheld devices with SSDs
- Eliminated storage bottlenecks
Result:
➡️ Stuttering persisted across platforms
This wasn’t a “your PC is too weak” situation. This was a system-agnostic problem.
What Makes This So Frustrating
This game doesn’t just run slow — it hangs, as if it’s getting caught on something internally. The stutters feel unrelated to raw GPU power or disk speed.
Possible causes (speculation):
- Ray tracing behavior
- Frame generation conflicts
- CPU scheduling or shader compilation issues
- Poor engine optimization compared to the previous two games
Whatever the reason, the result is the same:
➡️ Inconsistent, immersion-breaking stutter
And for many players, this would be nearly unplayable.
Story & Gameplay
From what I’ve been able to experience:
- The story itself is fine
- Gameplay is familiar and enjoyable
- My kids want to keep playing despite the issues
That says a lot about the core game design — it should be good.
But performance overshadows everything.
Platform Frustration
I honestly wish this game were available on Xbox. I don’t own a PlayStation, and I’m not buying one for a single game — especially when I already maintain multiple PCs.
The PC version should be the flexible option. Right now, it isn’t.
Final Verdict
Spider-Man 2 has the foundation of a great game, but the PC version is severely held back by optimization issues.
- ❌ Persistent stuttering across multiple hardware setups
- ❌ Poor experience even on capable systems
- ✅ Story and gameplay are strong enough that kids still want to play
Score (From My Perspective):
6 / 10
This score reflects potential, not execution.
With proper optimization patches, this could easily be an 8 or higher.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Play This Right Now
You might be okay if:
- You’re very patient
- You tolerate stutter
- You’re invested in the story
You should wait if:
- You care about smooth performance
- You expect PC flexibility
- You don’t want to troubleshoot endlessly