Let me go straight ahead and say it, Marvel's Spider-Man is very possibly the most fantastic superhero game that has ever been created. A bold claim indeed when you have the Rocksteady Batman series, but one that I'm willing to stand behind. Let me briefly explain. Introduction One of the most beloved superheroes of all time, Spider-Man needed to be something special to appease all the comic book fans, and on that front Insomniac Games have done a truly fantastic job. They have included many of the iconic villains from the comic books, in surprising detail, and many of the alternative Spider-Man costumes. All the nuances of each character is here too, with the fast-talking, wise-cracking Peter Parker and J. Jonah Jameson with his constant barrage of disparaging comments being the highlights for me (brilliantly portrayed by Yuri Lowenthal and Darin de Paul respectively). New York is rendered in spectacular detail, the city feeling alive and bustling, with pedestrians going about their days, cars making their way to unknown destinations and skyscrapers looming large over the cityscape. This game is wonderous. Gameplay From the very outset of the game, you are thrust full speed ahead into the fray, helping the NYPD apprehend the Kingpin. This immediate action quickly introduces you to the controls, utilising not only every individual button the PS4 pad has to offer but even combinations of buttons. Some would say that the lack of ease-in tutorial is detrimental, and I can see why, but I personally loved the more frantic pacing. I'd only just learnt to swing using the R2 trigger (badly, may I add) before I had to perform combos to take out enemies with assault rifles and even rocket launchers. After a few hours of playing though, these button controls become second nature, and you can begin to enjoy the flow of combat and exploration. The game uses a level-based system to gain access to new abilities and skills. Your enemies aren't skill-based though, and you can explore the entirety of New York without having to worry about running into enemies that you simply cannot beat. Graphics and Sound Let's not beat around the bush, at the end of the PlayStation 4's lifecycle; this game will go down as one of the best looking, best sounding offerings of the last generation. Looking out across the channel, from a highrise, you'd be forgiven for mistaking the skyline is real. The amount of work that has gone into the look of the game is unreal; it's gorgeous. If you play the game, utilise the photo mode, you will not be disappointed with the results that you get. Every character model is lovingly created, zoom in on Spider-Man (once again in photo mode), and you will see the fabric of his suits. Each villain looks brilliant, with my personal favourite's being Rhino and Kingpin. Then we come onto the sound. The hustle and bustle of New York and the constant radio chatter of J. Jonah Jameson make the city feel alive. The Police radio is continuously abuzz with crimes being committed, and Yuri, your friendly Police contact will almost certainly be bending your ear every quarter of an hour with something of interest. But by far the best use of sound is with Peter Parker/Spider-Man himself, with the constant running commentary throughout the game, mocking and chatting to his assailers each time he gets into a fight, and running his mouth the entirety of the game. Just fantastic stuff. Final Thoughts As I write this, I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my PlayStation 5 and my day one purchase - the Deluxe version of Miles Morales. I will be playing through Miles Morales, but am equally looking forward to playing through Marvel's Spider-Man: Remastered. A game I have already completed, twice. I cannot recommend this game highly enough. Pros • Incredible Graphics and Sound • Fluid Gameplay with great combat and movement • Story is engaging and not drawn out • Side missions are varied and fun Cons • Not enough DLC :D ——— Original ratings: • Visual Design: 10/10 • Sound Design: 10/10 • Gameplay: 9/10 • Longevity: 10/10 • Fun: 10/10
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