Marvellous Spider-Man

Marvel’s Spider-Man generated a lot of buzz because it was the first superhero game in a long time, other than Batman Arkham, that was made with a high budget and a known developer and publisher behind it. I can now say with confidence that if you are a fan of anything related to Spider-Man, this is the game you have waited all of your life to play.

I quite enjoyed the story because of how much it focused on Peter Parker and the people in his life. I was surprised by how much I got to play as Peter or MJ, and they offered a change of pace from the usual swinging and fighting. Their sequences often included three-four other types of mini-games and light puzzles. I loved these quieter moments, as they did a good job of fleshing out the characters and their relationships. But MJ’s missions also included forced stealth, that really were a downer and completely unnecessary. While they were very few and relatively easy, you would instantly fail the mission upon being spotted.

Thankfully, Marvel’s Spider-Man excels at two of its most important aspects — swinging and combat. You can start swinging by holding R2, releasing it and then holding it again for the next web to carry you forward. If you release mid swing, you gain more speed but if you release it at the end, you gain more height. It is possible to play some parts of the game like a beat’em up, as you kick and punch to increase your focus which allows you to utilise a finisher; but it becomes harder when the game starts throwing a variety of enemy types at you. Most of the time, you will find yourself surrounded by opponents and making good use of your acrobatic skills. Gadgets are the key to victory. Every activity gives you unique tokens, which allows you to upgrade gadgets and unlock suits as well as their enhancements.

Standard web shooters, electric shots, web bombs and spider drones are just some of the tools available to you. Each of them can also be upgraded, giving you plenty of options for customisation. Each and every fight feels satisfying because the combat is extremely responsive and stylish. Spider-Man takes advantage of his agility, which lets him pull off those perfect dodges and deadly finishers. Adding more depth are the sheer number of suits available to you, and most of them come with unique special powers. The open world is filled with side activities and collectables. There are towers in the game, but since you’re Spider-Man, you can just swing your way to it, play a short mini-game and complete it under 10 seconds. The side activities and quests are otherwise pretty engaging and often involve chase sequences, which is easily the most rewarding part of the game. Every activity gives you unique tokens, which allow you to upgrade gadgets and unlock suits as well as their enhancements. Marvel’s Spider-Man is a dream come true for any fan. The exhilarating traversal, fun and varied combat, exciting boss fights, relatable characters and a real focus on Peter Parker make it the best Spider-Man game that has ever released. A few blemishes, like the forced stealth sequences, do sour the experience, but not enough to prevent it from earning its place among the PS4 elite.