Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales gives any player a taste of what the PS5 is capable of. It utilizes the DualSense perfectly, and showcases everything the PS5 is able to do. It’s a great way to start off the next gen of gaming
The game starts off a lot like Marvel’s Spider-Man. It throws you right into the action, and you realize this isn’t Miles’ first rodeo. It’s a year after the first game’s events, and Peter has clearly been working with Miles to hone his skills. However, what Insomniac has done to make Miles feel like his own character is wonderful.
The first change I noticed was how he swings. Unlike the first game, Miles is new to his powers. Therefore, he is still grasping everything and isn’t as graceful as Peter. He flails more during every swing, but it doesn’t affect the gameplay. It’s just a small detail that really brings out his character and where he is in his development.
He also stumbles a bit when he web zips to perch on ledges. Again, this doesn’t affect gameplay and in no way does he feel clumsy to control, it is just a quirk. I really appreciated that they did this though, because after one year it makes sense that Miles wouldn’t be as skilled as Peter.
Insomniac wanted you to know Miles was new to traversal, but not sacrifice your experience as a player. I didn’t expect him to be perfect at anything yet, but it was great to see the change in character animations. Having replayed the first title before playing this one, I can confidently say that Miles feels different enough to make you aware that you’re not controlling Peter.
With that being said, traversal is just as fun and exciting, giving you many options to zip around the city. Tradition web swinging feels as great as before, and Miles can zip around just like Peter could. You have so many options of getting around the city, that I almost never fast traveled. Rest assured that if you do decide to fast travel, it is wicked fast. For me, there was practically no load screen at all.
Along with traversal, combat feels wonderful, even though he is new to that as well. All of the controls from the first game carry over, and Miles can do everything that Peter could do. He can disarm enemies with his web, launch them into the air with an uppercut, web kick enemies and much more. He fights and feels differently, but in the most satisfying way possible. It is a balancing act that I think Insomniac nailed perfectly.
Finishers work a bit differently in this game. In the first game, you would build up your Focus bar and use it to either heal or perform finishers. In this game however, Miles gains access to a finisher with every 10x combo he achieves. You can build combos in combat by hitting enemies or dodging attacks. Each finisher is unique to Miles and nothing like what Peter did in the first game.
Instead of building Focus energy, Mile’s builds Venom energy. This energy comes from a slight difference in his powers from Peter’s, as he was bitten by a different spider. It is a sort of bio-electrokenisis power that allows him to stun enemies with electric powers, and even camouflage himself.
As you build this energy you can use it to heal like in the first title, or you can execute a Venom attack. These are powerful moves that will stun your enemies and leave them vulnerable. With this power, Miles has a wide range of ways he can deal with even the biggest of foes. The thug enemies can be hit with a venom attack, and then followed up on with regular melee moves.
You’ll see Miles discover these powers as the story unfolds, and learn how to control them better. It’s an exciting journey that allows him to forge his own path away from Peter’s and become his own Spider-Man. It also makes this game feel fresh and new, instead of just a copy of the first one.
His Venom powers play a huge role, even outside of combat. You’ll recharge devices, hide from enemies and have access to more traversal options. For example, while swinging you can activate Venom Jump and propel yourself higher into the air. This lets you jump over buildings, or any other obstacles that might be blocking your path.
Open world activities such as crimes and side missions, also feel new and fresh. The only crime that was reused was the car chasing one, and even that one feels different. Miles faces his own challenges, missions and enemies in a way that further separates him from Peter.
You’ll complete challenges, fight crimes and collect objects that will reward you with different tokens. You’ll use these tokens, like in the first game, to build more gadgets or create more suits. You won’t have access to as many gadgets as Peter did, but your Venom powers more than make up for that.
Aside from gameplay, the game stands out on its own to showcase Miles as a character and how he grasps the new changes in his life. Unlike Peter, he is still a teenager, and balancing the superhero life can prove to be quite the challenge. It’s refreshing to see him conquer his fears and doubts though, and it really humanizes him. Behind every superhero’s mask is a person, and Insomniac did a great job letting you see both sides.
Graphics are solid, with two options here. The first being fidelity which caps the framerate at 30fps, but allows for added visual performance like ray tracing and enhanced lighting. This mode really shines in every window of the city and the way the light hits the snow. It’s incredible what they were able to do with a title that is cross-gen.
The second option is called performance and while it doesn’t add the extra visual effects, it does allow the game to run at 60fps. It’s a smooth 60fps as well, and it never dropped below that for me. I had hoped that we would be given both of these in one solid package, and not have to choose between them. I imagine making a title that is also available on the PS4 held them back a bit. Regardless of which option you choose though, you won’t be disappointed. I recommend trying both just to see which one suits you better.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a spectacular title, encompassing everything the PS5 and DualSense controller can offer. It wasn’t a very long game, running at about 15 hours to do everything that is offered. However, what is here is solid and well-made. I can only hope for either DLC or another Miles Morales title, because I had an absolute blast playing as him.
