5 Ways Spider-Man Shows Other Superhero Games How It’s Done

5 Ways Spider-Man Shows Other Superhero Games How It’s Done

Traversing NYC Feels Amazing

Since Spider-Man PS4’s announcement years ago, the first question on everyone’s mind was whether or not Insomniac could truly nail that freeing, rushing sensation of thwipping through New York City, something that’s truly iconic to the web-slinger. Could the same incredibly enjoyable swinging be recaptured from the outstanding movie tie-in Spider-Man 2 game? Critiques and gamers alike were pleasantly surprised upon seeing initial footage of Spidey traversing New York City. Even more so than in the ancient Spider-Man 2, the swinging seemed faster and less constrictive, allowing players to run along buildings and launching themselves through the city’s skyline.

Actually playing the game feels almost like an entirely different experience than zipping through the streets of Spider-Man 2’s limited depiction of Manhattan. The swinging, though much more simpler than the aforementioned PS2 title, provides hours of leisure entertainment and encourages players to attempt aerial stunts while launching Spidey at the very peak of his swing. New York is much more vibrant and colorful with crime, jeering, and some friendly smiles on every corner. There’s plenty to see and plenty to collect in this living, breathing rendition of New York City, and you’ll no doubt spend hours stopping a robbery you’ve stumbled upon or just swinging through Central Park rather than completing the main objective. 

5 Ways Spider-Man Shows Other Superhero Games How It’s Done

Insomniac Nails Peter Parker and Spider-Man

A huge part of any adaptation of the Spider-Man comic series is finding the perfect balance between Spider-Man and Peter Parker’s separate story arcs while also intermingling the two so that one could not, and should not, live without the other. Much like the troubled and tortured Bruce Wayne, Peter needs his double life as a masked crime fighter in order to cope with the many daily stresses and contemporary dilemmas thrown in his path as an everyday citizen. Meanwhile, Spider-Man also needs a well-deserved lull once the sheer amount of life-threatening danger becomes too much to handle.

Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man film series suffered greatly from creating a dull, overly emotional Peter Parker. Meanwhile, the Spider-Man sequences were beautifully orchestrated and packed with tension. Spider-Man PS4, however, provides compelling story lines for both sides of the spectrum, giving both characters ample time to traverse through their own separate paths of growth and development. The scenes where you play as Peter aren’t too long and carry their own source of importance, whether that be rekindling his smoldering relationship with MJ or investigating the seemingly genteel Martin Li. That being said, the Spider-Man sequences are the true highlight, as they should be, giving players the chance to experience the life of a crime-fighter in a bustling world of super villains.

5 Ways Spider-Man Shows Other Superhero Games How It’s Done

The Story is Well Beyond Spectacular

A superhero is only as well-developed and interesting as his super villain counterparts. Both sides of this constantly flipping coin have to have interesting, compelling motivations that actually convince audiences that what they’re fighting for is real and worth it. That’s exactly what you get in Insomniac’s Spider-Man. Rather than feeding players the tired tale of how Uncle Ben’s death is what fuels Peter to don the mask every day of his life, Peter simply fights because it’s become something of a routine for him, something that feels unexplored in superhero media. Most of the major baddies have been locked away, and the day’s been saved several times. Though, Peter obviously can’t bear to give up this life of crime-fighting for the same reason his enemies won’t surrender.

Another excellent, albeit a bit cliched, addition to the story is the constant questioning of whether or not Spider-Man is actually necessary for the protection and order of New York. Jameson’s radio show constantly provides further proof that without Spidey and his antics, these villains would not be issues for the police and other officials appointed to handle these threats. Though, Spider-Man PS4 joins this age-old debate, thoroughly defending the argument that without heroes to combat these odds, the damage may be far more dire.

The many complex elements in this game create a black and white spectrum that’s clearly not one-sided at all. Though we do play as our friendly neighborhood superhero, the game is quick to make a relatively good case for the villains’ various causes.

5 Ways Spider-Man Shows Other Superhero Games How It’s Done

The Combat is Incredibly Spidey-Like

Right after the question of Spider-Man’s swinging mechanics was the question of the game’s combat. For those that may have played previous Spidey games or have seen one of his films, it’s clear that Spider-Man has utilizes a unique style of combat centered around acrobatic stunts and flinging his web to subdue evildoers. More than any of its predecessors, Spider-Man PS4 somehow creates the most fluid combat that feels wholeheartedly like our hero.

From its fast-paced beginning sequences, the game allows players to freely twist, flip and jump off of any surface in order to gain the upper hand in combat. Combos feel incredibly satisfying to pull off and are surprisingly easy to master despite the amount of activity happening on the screen. As each action has been carefully mapped to certain sequences or simply one button on the controller, Insomniac clearly wanted this game to fully capture what it feels like to truly become Spider-Man.

5 Ways Spider-Man Shows Other Superhero Games How It’s Done

Fun Photo Mode

We’ve all pretty much determined that the best thing to spawn from the Internet are memes. No other superhero game provides players with a unique feature quite like this. In Spider-Man Ps4’s photo mode, you can take a selfie in pretty much any location at anytime without regard for your surroundings. This, as most of the Internet quickly figured out, could lead to tons of hilariously bad pictures such as Peter posing with a piece sign in front of his dead uncle’s grave or Spider-Man crashing an impromptu yoga session in Central Park.

This feature, more than anything, displays the game’s polished, refined nature, giving a much more distinct feel that any other Spidey game or any superhero game that’s preceded it. As Peter is known for his pictures of the illustrious Spider-Man, the photo mode is such a clever feature to add to this game that gives players that much more incentive to run around for hours after completing the game’s campaign.