Fans regard Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man as one of the best adaptations of the web-slinger in years. Actor Tom Holland even said he "absolutely loved it" as he shot Spider-Man: No Way Home. According to Holland, the video game was so influential that the film went as far as to replicate at least one of its iconic fight moves from the PS4 game.
It's humorous to see Sony dipping into more than just Sam Raimi's and Marc Webb's films, taking inspiration from the recent video games as well. Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered even added the Black & Gold and the Integrated suits to mark the release of No Way Home. One fan has even gone through the trouble of helping pinpoint precisely what moves from the film were inspired by the video game.
More Moments Inspired by Marvel's Spider-Man
Warning - This article contains spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home and Marvel's Spider-Man.
Many fans in theaters watching Spider-Man: No Way Home noticed several references to Marvel's Spider-Man, some obvious and some not. One fan on Youtube, by the name of anakin, was able to make a helpful compilation of some of those more subtle references, albeit through leaked footage from the film still in theaters.
Driving Green Goblin Through The Floor
One move many players may have noticed was the start of Peter Parker's fight with Green Goblin began in Happy Hogan's apartment, when Spider-Man uses his increased agility and web-shooters to his advantage on the balcony.
As Osborn is prone in the air, after having already been driven through a floor above, Peter positions himself above him and anchors two webs to the floor to drive the villain through several more floors. Although it isn't exactly the same as the video game, as Wilson Fisk is already prone on the floor before being driven through it, it's doubtful this was accidental.
Hurling Norman Osborn Overhead
Another move Spider-Man used on Green Goblin in the film that could have been inspired by a takedown from Marvel's Spider-Man is when he flips the villain over in his final fight at the Statue of Liberty. But, again, while it isn't identical in execution, it visually looks quite similar.
In place of Spider-Man flipping Osborn using his webs like in the video game, Holland's Peter tosses up him and over with his arms.
May Parker's Grave and Memorial Quote
As many have pointed out already, the quote on Aunt May's grave, "When you help someone, you help everyone," is the same one used in Marvel's Spider-Man, which also had May working at FEAST. Holland's Parker paid his respects at the grave but lacked something apparent: Ben Parker's grave.
It was seen next to Aunt May's grave in the video game but inexplicitly absent in No Way Home, leaving fans to speculate whether Ben Parker in the MCU is actually still alive or simply Sony's most extreme example of them disallowing any mention of Uncle Ben in the MCU, unless it's animated with Marvel Studios in full control.
Regardless, it's a sweet quote that links heavily with the lesson May attempted to impart onto Peter when she pushed for him to help reform all these villains doomed to die.
A Familiar and Crappy Apartment
It could potentially be a stretch to say that Peter Parker's new apartment seen at the end of No Way Home was directly inspired by Marvel's Spider-Man. However, there are quite a few similarities, such as the two windows and the appliances like the stove being placed on the left side of the apartment with his bed on the right.
Not to mention that it doesn't look anything like any of Parker's previous live-action apartments. But, what makes the connection even more potentially intentional is another piece of inspiration following right after its introduction with the police scanner.
Peter Parker's Police Scanner
One of the most obvious and uniquely linked to Marvel's Spider-Man was Peter Parker using his phone to tap into police scanners for active crimes. It not only showed that Holland's Parker was no longer dependant on Stark's technology but that he'd have to scout for crimes on the dime.
The UI for Holland's police scanner app also feels reminiscent of the UI used in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales to track side-missions and crimes. So, it'll be interesting to see if audiences will see Peter using this again during his next film or if he'll manage to reintegrate it into his goggles.
A Lonely Christmas for Spider-Man
Considering that Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales was announced just months before shooting for No Way Home began, so the fact that both take place close to or during Christmas has to be a crazy coincidence. Of course, it doesn't help that both feature a brief scene of Spider-Man fighting through a mall with Christmas decorations and music everywhere.
What makes this especially apparent is seeing Holland's final swing as he leaped from snow-covered buildings and swung past the Rockefeller Center's ice rink and Christmas tree at night. Players of the expansion for Marvel's Spider-Man could see it being familiar, having already swung through New York at night as it snowed as Miles Morales.
Fans can currently enjoy Spider-Man: No Way Home in theaters and await the inevitable sequel that could take even more inspiration from the video games, which will also star Venom.