You've just booted up Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on your PS5. The visuals are stunning. New York looks denser than ever. But then, the game throws you into a massive boss fight against Sandman, and suddenly, you're fumbling with the triggers. It happens. Getting a handle on the Spiderman 2 game tutorial controller setup isn't just about knowing which button jumps; it’s about muscle memory. If you want to zip between skyscrapers without face-planting into a billboard, you need to understand how Insomniac Games evolved the controls from the previous entries.
Web-swinging feels different this time. It’s faster. The addition of Web Wings changes the fundamental flow of traversal. If you're coming straight from the 2018 game or Miles Morales, you might think you know the drill, but the dual-protagonist system introduces some specific nuances that the opening tutorial flies through pretty quickly.
The basic movement: Why R2 is your best friend
The core of the experience is R2. Hold it down to swing. Let go at the top of your arc to gain height. It sounds simple, but the haptic feedback on the DualSense controller adds a layer of resistance that tells you exactly when the web line is under tension.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make in the early game is overstaying their welcome on a single swing. To move fast, you want short, powerful bursts. Pressing X at the end of a swing gives you a massive leap forward. Then there's the Zip-to-Point mechanic. Point your reticle at a ledge or a flagpole, tap L2 + R2, and you’ll launch toward it. It’s the fastest way to turn a corner in lower Manhattan where the buildings aren't tall enough for long swings.
The Web Wings transition
This is the new kid on the block. By pressing Triangle while in mid-air, you deploy the Web Wings. It’s a literal game-changer. You aren’t just swinging anymore; you’re gliding.
✨ Don't miss: Why The Jester: Chapter 2 Is Making Everyone Nervous
Keep an eye out for wind tunnels. These are visual rings of air moving between buildings. If you fly into one, your speed triples. The Spiderman 2 game tutorial controller prompts will tell you to use the left stick to steer, but the trick is to use the R3 dive to gain momentum before popping the wings. If you just glide from a standstill, you’ll drop like a stone. It’s all about maintaining that kinetic energy.
Combat and the parry system
Combat isn't just "square, square, square" anymore. Well, it can be, but you'll get wrecked on higher difficulties. Insomniac introduced a dedicated parry mechanic that uses the L1 button.
When an enemy attacks, your Spider-Sense flashes. If it’s white, you can dodge with Circle. If it turns red, you’re about to get hit. But if it turns yellow/red with a specific ripple effect, that’s your cue to parry. Tapping L1 right as the attack lands stuns the enemy and opens them up for a counter.
Wait. There are also "Heavy Attacks" that you cannot dodge. You must parry these. They are usually highlighted by a larger, more aggressive icon. If you try to dodge a heavy attack from a brute, you’ll still take splash damage. It’s a shift in philosophy from the first game where dodging was the answer to everything. Now, you have to be more proactive.
Managing Peter and Miles' abilities
The L1 button is also your gateway to special abilities. Hold L1 and press any of the face buttons (Square, Triangle, Circle, Cross) to unleash a power.
- Peter eventually uses his mechanical Spider-Arms or the Symbiote powers.
- Miles uses his evolved Venom bio-electricity (now featuring blue "Evolved" Venom).
The cooldowns are separate for each ability. You can't just spam them. You build up your Focus bar—located in the top left—by performing combos and perfect dodges. One full bar lets you heal by pressing Down on the D-pad or perform a Finisher by pressing Triangle + Circle. Deciding whether to heal or take out a high-priority target is the constant "chess match" of the combat system.
Stealth and the Web Line
Stealth got a massive upgrade that the Spiderman 2 game tutorial controller walk-through highlights during an early mission with the Prowler tech. You can now create your own paths.
By aiming with L2 and pressing Triangle, you fire a Web Line between two surfaces. You can walk on this line like a tightrope. It allows you to create perches directly above enemies who previously would have been in "safe" areas. Once you're above them, hit Square for a Perch Takedown.
Be careful, though. If you take down an enemy and their buddy sees the body webbing up to the ceiling, the whole base goes on high alert. You can use the R3 scan (Spider-Sense) to see if a takedown is "Safe" or "Danger." If it says Danger, another guard is looking at your target. Wait for them to turn around or use a gadget to distract them.
Gadgets: The R1 menu
Gadgets are no longer a weapon wheel that slows down time. Thank goodness. It kept breaking the flow in the old games. Now, you hold R1 and hit a face button.
- Upshot: Launches enemies into the air.
- Web Grabber: Pulls multiple enemies and objects into a single point (great for setups).
- Sonic Burst: Vital for dealing with certain late-game enemy types.
- Ricochet Web: Bounces between targets, pinning them to walls.
Using these in tandem with your abilities is how you handle crowds. Pull them all together with a Web Grabber, then hit them with a Miles Venom Smash. It’s satisfying. It’s also the most efficient way to clear out those pesky Hunter Blinds.
Customizing your experience
The game is surprisingly flexible. If you find the swinging too easy, go into the settings and turn down the "Steering Assistance." Setting it to 0 makes the physics much more realistic—you can actually hit the ground if you don't pull up in time. It makes the Spiderman 2 game tutorial controller feel less like a guided tour and more like an actual flight simulator.
You can also remap almost anything. If you’re used to different action games where parry is on a different button, change it. The accessibility menu in this game is widely regarded by experts like Steve Saylor as the gold standard in the industry. You can slow down the game speed to 70% or even 30% if a specific boss fight is giving you a hard time.
Practical next steps for new players
If you want to get good fast, don't just rush the story. Spend twenty minutes in the open world just practicing the "Loop de Loop." To do this, dive from a great height and hold R2 without letting go. You’ll swing in a full circle, gaining massive speed.
📖 Related: Nintendo Switch 2 2025: Why Most Rumors Are Actually Right
Next, head to the "Skills" menu. There are three tabs: Peter, Miles, and Shared. Focus on the Shared tree first. These upgrades, like the "Slingshot Launch," benefit both characters and make getting around the city way more fun.
Lastly, pay attention to the DualSense speaker. It often gives audio cues for when your gadgets are recharged. If you rely on your eyes alone, you’ll miss the window to use a Web Grabber during a hectic fight. Listen to the controller; it’s basically your second Spider-Sense.
Once you’ve mastered the transition between swinging and the Web Wings, try to cross the East River without touching the water. It’s the unofficial "final exam" for movement. Use the wind tunnels over the bridges to maintain your height. If you can do that, you’ve officially graduated from the tutorial phase and are ready to take on Kraven’s hunters with style.
Get out there and protect New York. It's a big city, and those crimes won't stop themselves. Keep your thumb on the left stick, your finger on R2, and always keep moving. A stationary Spider-Man is a dead Spider-Man.