This is a bit of a departure from what this blog usually is about, but this game is so amazing, so spectacular, so superior to anything else related to Spider-Man (my absolute favorite superhero of all time) that I can't help but put my thoughts and feelings about it here on this page. Also, video games have taken on a cinematic approach to storytelling so they can sort of count as movie related. Nevertheless, this brand new video game for the PlayStation 4 starring one of my all-time beloved fictional characters has made me so giddy and overjoyed as to make me recall how it feels to be a kid again. This game does so many things right and so many things passionately that it deserves a high place in gaming history.
To go over everything I love about this game would take too long. Therefore, I will go over just a few of the essential elements of this game that make so incredible to me.
The writing:
This game features some of the wittiest, intelligent, thoughtful, and fun storytelling I have seen in a video game, let alone a game about Spider-Man. First, the story of the game, while still true to the spirit of the character, is entirely original. While the script takes some cues from previous games, comics, and the movies (even some of the bad ones), the game interprets them all as bits of inspiration rather than as gospel. It is a self-contained universe with its own take on the character's history and future treated with the utmost amount of passion and conviction. Making this game a truly unique experience. Secondly, all of the characters are three-dimensional, sympathetic, and believable. Peter Parker/Spider-Man especially is played here as an older and more experienced character, making this experience a considerable departure from the usual practice of retreading Spider-Man's origin story. Third, everything builds up to an emotional and heart-pounding climax filled with character growth, loss, gain, and some relevant life lessons. This may very well be some of the absolute best writing for Spider-Man put to any medium.
Mary-Jane Watson and Miles Moralis:
It goes without saying that Mary-Jane Watson is an essential supporting character to the Spider-Man canon. This iteration of the character, in particular, is a beautiful addition. While Mary-Jane is more often than not the glamorous damsel in distress in other media, she is much more independent and strong-willed in the game. Once more, she plays a more active role in unraveling of the mystery within the story. Instead of remaining as a model or actress (as she has often been in previous incarnations), Mary-Jane is now a full-blown investigative journalist. Adding the cherry to the top of her excellent characterization in this game is her relationship with Peter. Even though they're not dating anymore in this story, they still care for each other and enjoy each other's company. Perhaps because there is always something brewing under the surface that just needs some time.
Miles Moralis also gets an incredibly significant and vital role in the game. For those of you who don't know, Miles Moralis is a recently created character in the Spider-Man universe who will eventually become the new Spider-Man. In the comics, he takes up the mantle after Peter Parker dies to save the city. Here, in this new game, they get to build a friendship. Peter Parker becomes a mentor for Miles after a tragic event which I will not spoil here. Soon, the two of them become close friends as one helps the other grow into the best version of himself possible. It's a dynamic that adds a lot of heart to the story, and I love the direction it goes. You'll see what I mean when you play the game.
The gameplay:
Before this brand new game hit shelves, the best Spider-Man video game to play, was Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It was the first Spider-Man game to introduce an open world concept where you as the player could explore the entire island of Manhattan. You could swing around all the building and achieve incredible ariel acrobatics just like everyone's favorite wall-crawler. Also, it also had a random crime generating system where you would spot a crime in progress as you would swing your way through the city. It was, at the time, the closest we could get to really feeling like Spider-Man.
Many games similar to it came out over the years, most of which maintained the open world style of gameplay. Sadly, however, none of them ever managed to reach the same level of quality or entertainment value as Spider-Man 2. For the most part, these games would offer very little in the way of variety. Maybe one game would have a new combat tactic for the player, while another game would feature some new graphical capabilities, but none of it was really worth the full purchase price.
Spider-Man on the PS4 is the perfect combination of all the best parts of the games that came before without any of the horrible aspects. The web swinging feels even more visceral and exciting, the combat feels satisfying and challenging, and the lucrative amounts of side missions and challenges are enough to keep anyone occupied for a long time. This game truly makes the player feel like Spider-Man.
Some issues:
Now, needless to say, as beautiful as this game is, it is not without its flaws. The biggest nitpick I have with this game is the occasional stealth oriented side character mission. Every once in a while the game places you in control of one of the supporting characters who are in the process of sneaking abound a dangerous area packed with bad guys. Because the roles you play in these sections have no combat skills, your only option is to carefully sneak around the enemies to reach your goal. While you do have stealth sections when playing as Spider-Man (which are equally as fun as the rest of the gameplay for Spidy), it is less enjoyable because of the sudden lack of the abilities you have grown accustomed to having at your disposal. Granted, these sections are very few and far in between, and I guess the game has to create a sense of variety somehow, but I can't help but feel these stealth sections don't add a lot to the overall experience. In fact, they honestly kind of feel more like an inconvinence than anything else.
Nitpicks aside, Spider-Man PS4 is the superhero game I have been waiting for. It has a compelling story, super enjoyable gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and tons of extra content to make the game experience last for quite a while. If you have a PlayStation 4, then you owe it to yourself to get this game. If you don't have a PlayStation 4, then start saving up for one. Because, honestly, with this game, as well as the abundant amount of incredable exclusive games for this system, owning a PS4 has never been more worth it.
Play this game.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you for reading.
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