Facing the Music
Spider-Man's hardest decision in gaming
Sometimes, there is no happy ending. A feel-good moment makes an abrupt exit, as darkness seeps in. The fire that pushed him to swing through the streets of Manhattan dwindles to a flicker. Behind Peter, a structurally sound wall is the antithesis of his disorganized life. Radiance bounces off the pool of crimson forming on his cheek as the aroma of Death permeates the room.
From panel to pixels, Peter’s misery transcends traditional comic books. Having the ability to halt a moving train doesnt exempt you from emotional burdens.
One could say his heroics got him into the situation. Diving off buildings may seem cool until shit hits the fan. With a rogue’s gallery akin to a zookeeper’s nightmare, the needs of the city sank its teeth into Peter’s domestication. The dream for balance remains in the realm of fantasy. Where precious moments last seconds but have to be remembered for a lifetime.
Graduations, weddings, hell, even dinner must be put on pause when a vibration radiates from the pocket. A few blocks to the right, there’s a mugging, 5 minutes later, a high-speed chase, and on the way there, a cat is stuck in a god damn tree. Time waits for no man, and it forsure doesnt wait for a spider.
The Sooner The Better?
Hindsight may be an Peters greatest rival. How could he not have seen this savagery smiling in his face or treachery patting him on the back? Danger can be shoulder-to-shoulder, and one may not even notice.
The sheep’s clothing is not made of wool but of false promises and manipulated trust. The wolf has a hunger that can only be satiated not by flesh but the soul. Blaming a monster for his actions may ease the pain, but when does it start to become his fault?
The curses of humanity demand perfection from a faulty species. Even though our flaws may define us, the anguish endures. His face reflects the gravity of making the right choice, even thought its psychological suicide.
Choices dominate our existence, and some are just more detrimental than others. And now Peter is standing in flames with doubt singeing his toes. He owns the features of a man crippled by his own deeds. Will guilt break Peter, or better yet, if you were placed in the same shoes, would you suffer the same fate?
Bite The Bullet
No one knows how they will react when they’re placed in the worst predicament imaginable. For some, watching The Reaper hold hands with a loved one may be too much to handle. Hesitation may cloud the field of view as the heart’s desires may outweigh the needs of millions. Questions crawling from the abyss of culpability run rampant.
Do I even know these people?
Have they done anything for me?
Would anyone even miss them when theyre gone?
These inquiries may fuel apprehension. Even the one who’s coughing up blood the most is urging him to let destiny take its course. But how can one respect their wishes without ripping Peter to shreds?
Every Tomorrow Sucks
Regardless of the iteration, afflictions persist. How is one able to look towards the future without disdain? Loneliness is the only thing on the calendar. This world is already cold and lonely, and now Peter may have to navigate without his moral compass. Whether it be an aunt, a friend, or a partner, trauma forges a symbiotic bond between the player and protagonist.
I question the vitality of Peter’s willpower, or if he’ll view the mask the same. How long will the city of New York take priority over his family? One has to know when to jump ship before water hits the deck. Whether that be The Big Apple or The Wall Crawler’s sanity, something will be damaged beyond repair.
No amount of Spider-Sense could save him from avoiding this car crash. If one were stronger, faster, and smarter, potentially things could have been different. A world where a perfect Spider-Man is able to stop catastrophes like the one going on in that very room. But no matter how many punches, kicks, or web blobs thrown, reality will remain the same.
Is this what I want
How does one know the merit of this action will pay off for the greater good? Placing myself in Peter’s shoes whos knows what I would do. Some people lack the confidence to say Worcestershire in public, let alone be responsible for millions.
The world needs more champions, so why would one offer a helping hand to the riddance of a saint? The sentiment of righteousness must be absolute, but human nature dictates the complete opposite. I watch as Peter struggles to find the words to say, as no one in this room is gullible enough to believe the words leaving his lips.
Decite tries to suppress the inner turmoil. Tears muddy the waters of confidence. He steps forward, not as Spider-Man but as a broken man grappling with sorrow. The arachnid’s emblem has no place here as Peter desperately tries to find the strength to say goodbye.
Why do I feel like two bad things at once?
After this day, Peter will never be the same. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, there is no way to go except down. Positive and Negative emotions battle for dominance. One spirit traded for the majority sounds like the best thing to do, but why do I feel so awful? Blood is not only on Peter’s hands but mine as well.
A superhero’s life pairs well with calamity like a red wine and steak. An angel left this world that night, and her exit was Peter’s first way ticket into self-loathing.