Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is finally here, bringing with it a healthy slice of superhero power fantasy fulfillment. In narrative, thematic and mechanical terms, Miles Morales and Peter Parker's latest outing is, quite simply, the best at what it does – which is why we awarded Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment's latest venture five stars in our Marvel's Spider-Man 2 review.
As was true of the first Marvel's Spider-Man back in 2018, and its Miles-focused PS5 launch title-meets-DLC of 2020, this game is jam-packed with neat Easter eggs and nods to the wider Spidey multiverse, across previous games, comics, cartoons and films. From a lore perspective, the most interesting facet of this, for me, is tied to the dozens of era-specific suits both Peter and Miles can accrue and unlock over the course of the game's story mode (you should check out our 'All Marvel's Spider-Man 2 suits and how to get them' guide to this end). But from a style point of view, there's one cosmetic item donned by Miles in-game that I really hope is eventually sold in real-life: his post-story mode sneakers.
Nice webs, bro
"I missed out, which has made me especially keen to grab Miles' as-yet unreleased Ultra 4Ds if they wind up being sold IRL."
Full disclaimer: I'm a longstanding sneakerhead. I cut my teeth in the '90s by way of Nike's Air Max 95, 97 and 98 silhouettes, and have been partial to an OG Adidas Stan Smith, Bape STA, and Nike Air Force 1 since the turn of the millennium. In recent years, I've juggled everything from Jordan 1s to Off-Whites, New Balance 1906Rs, and Adidas Ultra 4Ds. If you're not interested in sneakers, this will likely sound like gibberish – but if you're interested in Spider-Man, you may have spied Adidas plugging its recent collaboration with Insomniac and Sony to mark the arrival of Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
That shoe is, indeed, an Adidas Ultra 4D, with a colorway that matches Spidey's signature blue and red suit, with its 3D-printed midsole designed to look like the symbiote's black tendrils growing from below. It's a cool shoe, but it's also sold out – meaning that if you failed to cop a pair at launch last Friday, October 20, the cheapest I can now find my size (UK 9; US 9.5) is £430 (~$525) on resale sites.
I missed out, which has made me especially keen to grab Miles' as-yet unreleased Ultra 4Ds if they wind up being sold IRL. Unlocked following the "Finally Free" story mission, the 'Evolved Suit' dons Miles in an entirely new outfit with glowing blue highlights created specifically for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 by Insomniac Games itself. And on Miles' feet are an unreleased and as yet unannounced pair of sneaks.
Have a look:
Absolute fire. At the time of writing, and from what I can see online, neither Adidas or Sony have mentioned the shoes in any capacity – but the level of detail here means I'm convinced it's a matter of when not if. Reminiscent of the Consortium-exclusive Ultra Boost Mid "Run Thru Time" of 2017, these Ultra 4Ds boast an electric blue 4D midsole, with a white upper and red toe box. Bolts of electricity cover the toe box, in the style of Miles' supercharged powers in-game, with white embroidered webs weaving up the elasticated body of the shoe towards its laces. Adidas' signature 'Ultra 4D' branding also features on the lateral side of each shoe.
I loved Marvel's Spider-Man 2 from start to finish, as evidenced in GR+'s glowing review, but guiding Miles around NYC while gawping at his new kicks is one of the main reasons I'm enjoying the game's post-story endeavors so much. Last year, I wrote about why I love NBA 2K23 despite not really caring about basketball – a feature within which I lauded the sport sim's masterful replications of real-world sneakers. I didn't expect Marvel's Spider-Man 2 to deliver the same vibes, but I'm pleasantly surprised and delighted all the same.
And with all due respect to Peter Parker – if it was ever unclear before, Mile Morales is the above and beyond the coolest spider in town.
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