Spider-man on ps4 is an incredible game, I was so hooked by it I completed the 15-hour campaign in 3 days. All together; the story, the web-swinging and all the gadgets and upgrades, made for flawlessly put-together action. The game intended to really make you feel like Spider-man, and it absolutely succeeded. Swinging around the game’s immersive open-world makes you feel fantastic. Once you’ve got the knack for it, it becomes nearly effortless to make Spider-man look graceful in every swing, leap, and lunge. I have honestly spent hours just swinging around the city and jumping off tall buildings without stopping to complete any tasks. The combat, too, is spectacular; the mix of gadgets, attacks, and dodges makes you really feel in control of every battle and experimenting with new equipment and upgrades makes every fight feel unique and fun. Adding to that variety is all the different, unlockable, Spidey-suits in the game, each with their own power.
The open-world map of Manhattan is an absolute blast to swing around; in part thanks to how gorgeous the graphics are, particularly on a ps4 pro, and because of the amazing Avengers-style score that really hypes you up as you swing around the city. The map is also full of side-quests and optional side missions that are all fun in their own way. I’ve heard a lot of people criticise the side-quests for occasionally being boring or repetitive but (aside from the fact that I could never say a bad word about anything Spider-man related) I really disagree. You could argue that doing things like going around collecting backpacks or taking pictures of Landmarks is a bit unnecessary but, for me, they all just added to the immersion. All the fun, little things you find in the backpacks really add to the world-building of this version of Spidey; one who has held the super-hero mantle for a while now, as opposed to the young, naïve Spidey that we’re used to seeing in the film adaptations.
And, of course, the story. No good Spider-man story is complete without a good slice of duality. You have Peter Parker’s awkward persona, contrasted with the confidence of his alter ego, The twisted tale of Peter’s mentor, juxtaposed with his own mentorship of Miles Morales, and of course, the age-old ditty of juggling power and responsibility. Peter Parker is a veteran Spidey, but still suitably dorky, and his relationships with his friends and family members have a major role to play. Pete’s elderly aunt May works in a homeless shelter that is run by Martin Li; a selfless entrepreneur with good intentions, but also a more negative side. Li and other antagonists benefit from a lot of time devoted to exploring their humanity. The game features segments where you explore key locations as Pete, finding all sorts of clues and chatting with other characters. There are also a few missions where you play as other characters like MJ and Miles Morales. These supporting segments really help create a stronger attachment to characters, through some memorably tense scenarios. When the game reaches its tipping point it’s shocking how devastating the events can feel, even when you can predict what’s coming. The story is emotionally charged and effective at spurring you into action. Spider-man’s story missions are definitely one of the highlights of the game.
I could honestly talk about how good I think this game is forever; from the little details like the inclusion of the infamous J Jonah Jameson serving as a pessimistic background narrator, to the heart-wrenching ending of the game. I basically just wanted somewhere I could talk in-depth about how much I love this game without having to directly subject someone I know to it against their will. But yeah, play the game, you won’t regret it.
Barley Perceptible 