After a seemingly endless two year wait after the game’s announcement at 2016’s E3, Insomniac’s Spider-Man PS4 has finally been released. This time following an original story with no connection to the current film, tv or comic book continuities of the red and blue web-slinger. With a focus on a Spider-Man and Peter Parker story with references and nods to the 65 year backlog of source material.
The start of the game begins with throwing the player into the one thing every Spidey fan was initially wary; web-swinging. In a scene that makes the player feel like they’re playing out a movie, a sunny day in New York City, police helicopter above you and a squadron of police cars beneath, sirens blaring and lights flashing. Insomniac taking the best opportunity to highlight the part of the game they spent their time changing, altering and redefining before release and it shows. With fluidity through a stunning recreation of the big apple that allows the player to feel like he is the wise-cracking and spandex-wearing wall-crawler in the same way I remember Spider-Man 2 was when I was barely in double digits.
The first 30-40 minutes are shown for you where to go and what to do, serving as an introduction to the story and the mechanics of the game. With the game stopping occasionally to explain what another button on the controller in your hands is capable of doing. Combat that would have never have been created without Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham franchise, but by no means is it another rehash of Batman’s attack and counter options. With prompts to show you when to dodge but not being a guaranteed save, dodge in the wrong direction or a couple of seconds either side of the perfect time and Spidey is vulnerable to take damage by a stray punch or well-timed bullet, rocket or grenade. A gadget wheel that will make webs fill the screen and cause enemies to fly across into or over walls and boxes. Attacks and enemy types that make the player never want to be stationary in fear of being shot down or hit across the screen by a brute in a hoodie.
With both movement and combat being geared towards being thrown towards speed and having an aim to be quicker and quicker as the game progresses and the enemies become more aggressive. Story and Stealth are where Insomniac took Spider-Man away from the throttle. The story beginning 8 years after Peter was bitten by the radioactive creepy-crawly, having almost a decade of experience and practice behind him and pre-beaten classic villains such as Rhino, Scorpion, Electro and others you don’t see but are referenced to him fighting in his run as the masked vigilante. This Spider-Man is confident, wise-cracking and spectacular while the Peter Parker is short of cash, awkward and hopeful. Aunt May is caring and heart-warming and all characters are helped through with some great examples of voice-acting. Especially, Yuri Lowenthal and Laura Bailey as Peter Parker and Mary Jane, respectively. With cutscenes and character interactions that hold comic book joy in one hand and cinematic character development in the other.
The plot is one that may at times seem as predictable for long-time fans but with enough creative difference for it to feel fresh while being careful not to offend any of the loyal fans that would have pre-ordered once the game was first announced. A difficult line to tread, especially with comic book fans such as myself. Twists and new takes on beloved characters that shock, amaze and tear at the heart strings. With new additions to the Spider-Verse finally being brought into the limelight such as Miles Morales, one of the main characters from Sony’s upcoming animated feature, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. While following the MCU’s lead by being packed with references, Easter Eggs and teases for future instalments throughout the game, some in the spotlight while others being more subtle and some being completely missed unless time is taken to find them.
As many of us had hoped, this is an open world title, and with any sandbox based video game released there is a lot of focus on what there is to do instead of progressing through the main story. Sometimes being either the downfall or rise of a game, and this is where the main issues begin to show in the game. There are some great things in the open-world to do. Crimes being randomly generated throughout the game, leaving it up to the gamer to either get involved in or to swing passed and pretend to not have seen it. Backpacks, Landmarks, Pigeons and other collectables they don’t tell you exist or show where to find them. Bases and Challenges taking on the roll of any challenge maps that similar titles may have. And side missions. There is a lot. But after all the collectables and the game has been completed to its entire 100% completion then things tend to fall down. Really the biggest issue with the title is once someone has done everything possible they still want more to do and that’s when things begin to be repetitive, doing the same randomly generated crimes over and over again until they release the New Game Plus mode and/or the post-launch DLC set to begin release October 23rd 2018.
As a lot of the time in the game is spent soaring through a seemingly fully realised New York City, being the largest open-world map we’ve ever been given for Spider-Man to play around in. The city itself has its several diverse and different districts, from the low buildings of Chinatown and Hell’s Kitchen to the skyscrapers of the Financial District. Landmarks, parks, dockyards and building sites that make the skyline and streets feel more like a living city instead of a flat island with carboard boxes for buildings. People, cars and birds create a constant buzz of noise and activity. Full sidewalks and constant traffic as well as the occasional citizen who wants to high five or point out something of interest. And throughout the exploration of the city and its people the sound editing comes into play, each footstep making a different sound depending on what surface the wall Spidey is running along is made of. The music feeling classic and designed to swell and change due to what the player is doing at the time. Finally, the sirens, and hustle and bustle from the world below clawing up to the top of the skyscraper Spidey happens to be perched on.
As a fan of the game and character, I would advise to pick up the web-slingers PS4 exclusive. Swing around the open world and have one of the few games that have made one of the most enjoyable moments when the objective is on the other side of the map.
I rate it 8.9 out of 10.
Graphics: 9
Music: 8.5
Cinematics: 9.5
Story: 8.5
Content: 8.5
Controls: 9
Gameplay: 9.5
The Nerdy Bartender 