Spider-Noir Just Set Up The Perfect Spider-Man Project

2 weeks ago 31

Spider-Noir has officially arrived on Prime Video, and early reactions suggest Nicolas Cage’s long-awaited live-action take on the Marvel character may already be one of the year’s biggest superhero surprises. Set in a gritty 1930s New York, the series follows an older, worn-down Ben Reilly as he returns to life as “The Spider” while navigating a city filled with corruption, gangsters, and familiar Spider-Man villains from across the franchise.

One of the show’s biggest talking points is its unique presentation, with viewers able to watch every episode in either authentic black-and-white or true-hue full color. While reviews have been somewhat divided on the show’s tone, critics and audiences alike have praised Spider-Noir’s striking visual style and Cage’s eccentric performance. Many viewers are even encouraging fans to watch the series in black-and-white first, arguing that the noir-inspired format delivers the definitive version of the experience.

With such a strong reaction to the show's dual-viewing options, Spider-Noir may have just set up the franchise for the most intriguing Spider-Man video game project to date.

Spider-Noir Showcases The Perfect Spider-Man Mechanic

Ben Reilly swinging through New York in Spider-Noir

While there have been some absolute bangers when it comes to Spider-Man video games with Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man series, the dual-color options in Spider-Noir are just begging for an in-kind feature in the next major Spider-Man video game release. Currently, there aren't any major video games in development for the franchise, with Insomniac focused on the upcoming launch of Marvel's Wolverine.

This leaves an interesting opportunity for future Spider-Man projects, and it's worth considering how a video game that allows players to switch back and forth between black-and-white gameplay and full-color would land among players. The feature could easily be incorporated as a unique mechanic that gives players a different gameplay experience depending on which setting they use.

A future project could easily lean into the noir-detective style with this mechanic as well, letting players find various clues or items more easily with one setting vs. another, etc. Enemies, collectibles, or hidden areas and paths could be easier to detect depending on whether players are in monochrome or full color, almost like switching dimensions in games like Dishonored or The Medium. There's a ton of potential and endless possibilities, and it's a mechanic that could give fans a brand-new Spider-Man video game experience.

Spider-Noir's Style Is Ripe For Video Game Adaptation

Aside from the color mechanics alone, Spider-Noir's detective-based classic noir style has vast potential for a Spider-Man game that shakes things up beyond the superhero and exploration-based gameplay from Insomniac's beloved series. While there's no doubt the massive open-world NYC setting is a must, Spider-Noir opens up more stealth or detective-driven gameplay like you'd find in similarly styled games like Rockstar's L.A. Noire or even something like Rocksteady's beloved Batman: Arkham.

Ultimately, while there are no official plans in the works for a Spider-Noir video game, fans of the show and of Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man series would almost certainly welcome it with open arms.