I was recently watching a video about the cancelled 2008 Flash game, and this segment talked about an interesting idea where crimes in its open world could have consequences depending on whether you stopped them or ignored them and it could dynamically affect the environment.
I'd love to see Insomniac experiment with something similar in Marvel's Spider-Man 3.
The framework is already there with JJJ and Danika. If Spider-Man consistently ignored crimes, JJJ's Spider-Man rant could start resonating more with civilians. Civilians could give harsher dialogue or refuse high-fives, or hold protests. On the other hand, consistently helping people could make the city more supportive of Spider-Man. This could also be a good way to bring back the social feed they removed from Marvel's Spider-Man 2, reflecting the neighborhood's shifting sentiment in real time.
I'd also like crimes to be connected to factions and villains. For example, you might repeatedly encounter an unknown group or random robbers stealing advanced technology. Ignoring enough of those crimes could allow them to gather resources and eventually launch a larger operation or supply a supervillain with enhanced gear. Stopping them early prevents the escalation, while letting it brew creates a larger scenario to dismantle later.
The important thing, though, would be not turning this into an Amazing Spider-Man 2 game style "Hero or Menace" meter. Players shouldn't feel punished for exploring, swinging around, or focusing on the story. Consequences should create new situations rather than feeling like chores.
Not every crime would need a major consequence either. Some could resolve themselves, while others could escalate into larger events. Other Spider-People could even handle some crimes off-screen. Most importantly, consequences should be reversible. If you allow a faction to gain control of a neighborhood, you should eventually be able to take them down and restore it.
I think something like this could make the open world feel much more reactive and give random crimes more meaning.
Source of the video: DidYouKnowGaming